The Directive establishes rules by which Member States shall distinguish between categories of payment service provider: (a) credit institutions as defined in point (1) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, including branches within the Union; (b) electronic money institutions within the meaning of point (1) of Article 2 of Directive 2009/110/EC, including, where applicable, branches located within the Union whose payment services are linked to the issuance of electronic money; (c) post office giro institutions entitled under national law to provide payment services; (d) payment institutions; (e) the ECB and national central banks when not acting in their capacity as monetary authority or other public authorities; and (f) Member States or their regional or local authorities when not acting in their capacity as public authorities.

The Directive also establishes rules concerning the transparency of conditions and information requirements for payment services and the respective rights and obligations of payment service users and payment service providers in relation to the provision of payment services as a regular occupation or business activity.