A new step in European payments

Wero is a digital payment system developed by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), a partnership of major European banks. Wero’s goal is to offer a single, uniform and independent European alternative to existing payment solutions, such as international card networks and large technology companies. With Wero, consumers can transfer money instantly, both online and in physical shops, as well as between themselves (peer-to-peer). The system is based on direct bank payments, which ensures fast transactions and a high degree of reliability and security.

What sets Wero apart is its focus on European sovereignty. Payments are a crucial part of the economy, and Europe wants to be less dependent on non-European parties. By organising payment transactions within Europe, data, standards and infrastructure remain under European control. In addition, Wero makes it easier for companies to operate in multiple European countries without having to integrate a separate payment system for each country.

For Europe, Wero represents an important step towards harmonising payment transactions. Consumers benefit from a uniform payment experience, regardless of which European country they are in, while businesses can operate more easily across borders. Wero is thus laying the foundation for a stronger and more independent European payment landscape.

The Dutch payment system iDEAL, which has been the standard for online payments in the Netherlands for many years, is also on the verge of this change. iDEAL will be merged into Wero, making the trusted Dutch payment system part of a broader European network. Dutch consumers and online shops will continue to enjoy the same ease of use, while also benefiting from the advantages of a pan-European payment system. This will give Wero an immediate strong position in the Netherlands and accelerate the transition to a European payment model.