Digitalization in all spheres of social life, widespread distribution and numerous possibilities of smart phones as well as increasing amounts and scope of electronic contents and services lead to the emergence of new expectations and new requirements of banks, buyers and sellers, which refer to contemporary architecture of payment card operations. Payments make integral part of business operations regardless of whether we talk about traditional or on-line business operations, and this is why it is necessary to find the best manner to pay for goods or services using new technological and communications solutions. The subject of research in this paper is the analysis of characteristics of contemporary risks, development factors, economic effects and distribution of payment cards within the system of e-money, e-payment and e-banking, with a view to indicating the possible positive economic consequences and necessity to innovate and complete legal regulations in this area. The paper uses both general and specific scientific methods and procedures of logical conclusion, statistical, as well as positivist legal method. The manner of research includes the selection and application of scientific methods, the selection of data and the scope of research.