The EU payment reset is here – time for a technological revolution
In April 2026, the European Parliament, the EU Council, and the European Commission reached a final agreement on the PSD3 (Third Payment Services Directive) and PSR (Payment Services Regulation) package. The new regulations are not just minor legal adjustments, but a major overhaul for the financial sector, banks, and fintechs. Unlike directives, the EU's PSR regulation applies directly in every member state, putting an end to past fragmentation in interpretation.
For the IT industry, this means one thing: a massive demand for specialists capable of translating strict regulatory requirements into secure and efficient systems architecture. The role of a PSD3/PSR Compliance Engineer is emerging as one of the most stable and highest-paying niches in 2026. Why should API developers and cybersecurity (Cybersec) specialists steer their careers in this direction?
API Developers in the PSR Era: No More Half-Measures in Open Banking
The implementation of PSD2 showed that integrating banks with Third-Party Providers (TPPs) was often problematic. PSR drastically changes the rules of the game, generating a massive workload for backend developers and integration architects:
- Mandatory, dedicated APIs: The new regulations completely eliminate fallback interfaces based on screen scraping, unless an institution obtains a rare, special exemption. Banks must provide stable, fast, and fully documented APIs dedicated to TPPs.
- Verification of Payee (VoP): This is one of the most technically demanding aspects of PSR. Payment service providers are required to implement systems that verify the alignment of the IBAN with the recipient's name in real time—before a transfer is authorized. This requires building ultra-fast, interbank APIs with minimal latency.
- Consent Dashboards: Users must be provided with clear dashboards to view and instantly revoke consent granted to third parties. Designing and coding these workflows is a task for API engineers and full-stack developers.
Cybersec Under Pressure: The Fight Against Spoofing and the Evolution of SCA
Ensuring compliance with PSD3 and PSR is also a massive challenge for security teams. The new EU regulatory framework shifts financial liability for fraud from the customer to banks and payment institutions—especially in cases of spoofing (impersonating a bank's identity) and APP (Authorized Push Payment) fraud. What does this mean for Cybersec engineers?
- Next-Generation SCA (Strong Customer Authentication): Traditional SMS codes and passwords are becoming obsolete due to phishing vulnerabilities. FIDO2 keys, WebAuthn, and advanced biometrics are becoming the standard. Crucially, the regulations forbid making authorization dependent solely on owning a smartphone—engineers must design secure alternatives for the digitally excluded.
- Artificial Intelligence and Behavioral Biometrics: To avoid millions in losses from fraud refunds, banks must implement AI-driven transaction monitoring systems. These systems must analyze keyboard typing patterns, mouse movements, and other signals in a fraction of a second to detect if a customer is operating under the pressure of a fraudster.
- Synergy with DORA: PSD3/PSR do not exist in a vacuum. In 2026, the DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) regulation will already be in full force. Payment architecture must be resilient to incidents, requiring DevSecOps engineers to perform continuous API hardening, vulnerability management, and automated penetration testing.
Salaries in the Regulatory Niche in 2026: Stability and Record Rates
While the broader IT market is undergoing a correction and recruitment selectivity is rising, experts who combine technical knowledge with GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) and fintech are calling the shots. The banking and financial sector simply must comply with EU requirements, which guarantees the stability of project budgets.
What do salaries in this niche look like in Poland in 2026?
- Senior API / Backend Developer (Java, Go, Rust): Experienced developers building payment API architecture can expect rates in the range of PLN 22,000 – 34,000 net on a B2B contract. For leadership and architectural roles (Lead/API Architect), these amounts soar to PLN 30,000 – 50,000 net.
- Security Architect / DevSecOps Engineer: Specialists responsible for API hardening, WebAuthn/FIDO2 implementation, and compliance with DORA and PSD3 earn an average of PLN 25,000 to 40,000 net on B2B, while the highest rates for outstanding security architects in enterprise projects reach up to PLN 40,000 – 64,000 net per month.
- IT Compliance Specialist (Compliance/GRC Analyst): Individuals combining infrastructure knowledge with legal procedures can expect salaries in the range of PLN 18,000 – 26,000 gross on an employment contract (UoP) or the B2B equivalent.
How to Enter the PSD3/PSR Niche and Where to Find Jobs?
To become a highly sought-after payment compliance engineer, it is worth developing competencies in the following areas:
- Authentication and Authorization Protocols: Flawless knowledge of OAuth2, OpenID Connect (OIDC), FIDO2, WebAuthn, and FAPI (Financial-grade API) standards.
- Identity and Access Management (IAM): Knowledge of modern, identity-oriented IAM systems (e.g., Keycloak, Okta, Ping Identity).
- Data Analysis and AI in Cybersec: Ability to integrate machine learning models for real-time transaction risk analysis.
- Industry Standards: Knowledge of technical specifications developed by the EBA (European Banking Authority) and the correlation of PSD3 regulations with DORA and eIDAS 2.0.
Where should you look for such job offers? Since these are highly specialized roles, they rarely appear under generic titles. It is worth using advanced job boards and aggregators like ITcompare (itcompare.pl). By gathering listings from the entire market in one place, ITcompare allows you to quickly filter offers using keywords like "PSD3", "PSR", "DORA", "API Architect", or "IAM", providing a comprehensive overview of the highest-paying projects in the banking and fintech sectors in Poland.