Sending money to a phone number or email address to pay for online purchases or just send or collect money instantly from acquaintances – this is the task of Wero.
More than 50 million European users will now be able to pay for their online purchases to Belgian merchants accepting this payment method that is now part of Europeans’ daily lives. Belgium is the second market to effectively enable online payments through Wero after Germany, which was launched late 2025. This new feature comes in addition to invoice payments and peer-to-peer transfers in Belgium.
Wero is part of the European Payments Initiative (EPI), the pan-European initiative to create a sovereign and unified payment alternative for Europe. It was created to encounter political influences on global payment systems – like the ones used for credit cards or online payments – which could eg. block access to the accounts of certain users because of their social media behavior. Other concerns are data privacy protection at lower than EU standards.
Credit card companies usually charge high fees to merchants while online payment providers retain money from receivers or push them to keep the funds inside the companies without any guarantee or interest. EU has installed the SEPA initiative that reduces the bank fees and makes many transactions execute instantly without extra cost, all while deposits in banks are guaranteed up to certain amounts. Also, SEPA direct debits include extended consumer protection rights.
Currently, credit card companies or mobile phone producers with payment options charge 0,8 % – 3 % of the amount, paid by the merchant but ultimately charged to the customer. The money is debited about a day later but arrives at the merchant with a delay. In addition, the merchant needs a terminal that he has to rent. With Wero, funds would arrive at much lower cost and immediately, taking payment risks and transaction cost out of the system and making it more attractive for merchants to accept electronic payments. A QR code captured by a mobile device replaces the payment terminal and identification is provided by the device of the user, reducing the fraud risk by the receiver.
Wero as an eCommerce solution is now deployed and powered by ING, KBC and BNP Paribas Fortis in Belgium, other banks will follow. Merchants to express their intention to activate Wero as an e-commerce payment solution in Belgium, include Ahold Delhaize, Bpost, Just Russel, LIDL, Pairi Daiza, or Parfum Dreams. They are joining the first names announced earlier in Germany as Air Europa, Decathlon, Dott, Eventim and Veepee.
“Across Europe, banks, payment providers and merchants are actively building together a secure and truly sovereign payment solution, made by Europeans for Europeans. The launch of Wero’s eCommerce solution in Belgium, and soon in France, Luxembourg and Netherlands, marks another important milestone in our way to accomplish this together. We acknowledge the enthusiasm of Europeans, whether they are users or merchants, for Wero, as it demonstrates the need for a European alternative to international payment systems.”
Martina Weimert, CEO of EPI.
The European Payments Initiative (EPI) is supported by 16 European banks and payment service providers (acquirers) and continues to expand the integration of its payment solution, Wero, with new banking partners. EPI now counts more than 25 members – with 30 more to come – in Europe, including banks acting on the consumer side and acquirers operating on the merchant side. France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are also supposed to start Wero in 2026.
Based on instant account-to-account (A2A) payments, Wero further streamlines payments in Europe by eliminating intermediaries in the payment chain and the associated additional costs. Wero already supports payments between individuals, and will shortly unveil payments to professionals (P2Pro). Wero is currently launching online and mobile purchases in Germany and Belgium. Point-of-sale payments will also be offered in 2026, as well as value-added services such as integration of merchant loyalty programs and recurring payments and subscription management.
Find out more at wero-wallet.eu
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