European Payments Initiative (EPI), the unified digital payment service committed to offering a sovereign digital payment alternative to European consumers, has welcomed five new members in Belgium.
Argenta, Bank Van Breda, Beobank, Crelan, and vdk bank are the five new members from Belgium that will work alongside the European Payments Initiative to prepare to roll out Wero, EPIâs digital wallet and instant account-to-account (A2A) payment solution, with plans to offer it to their customers starting in H1 2026.
Sander Blommaert, chief retail officer at Argenta, discussed why the bank has elected to work with EPI: âTheir solution fits seamlessly with our vision of putting ease of use and simplicity first. It will enable us to serve our customers even better with an accessible payment tool. It is a significant step forward in our ambition to bring proximity and technology together in a smart way.â
The addition of these five banks strengthens EPIâs footprint in Belgium, expanding national coverage and reflecting the countryâs leadership in digital payments. With recent additions including neobank Revolut and five Luxembourgish banks, EPIâs growing membership highlights the increasing adoption of Wero across Europe.
âThe Wero wallet offers our customers payment convenience, security and control,â added Jo Baetens, director of payments and investments at Crelan. âIt fits perfectly with our digital strategy to offer smooth and accessible payments for consumers and professional customers alike.â
Bringing payment innovation into Belgium
Once deployed, customers of the new member banks will be able to access Wero services directly within their banking apps, enabling instant account-to-account payments. They will benefit from a smooth and secure journey for their daily transactions â whether paying back a friend, sending money to their family, transferring money to a professional, or making immediate payments directly from their bank account for online or mobile shopping.
âIn line with our strong digital journey, mobile app usage at Beobank has grown by over 300 per cent in just five years,â said Koen Spinoy, member of the executive committee at Beobank. âIntegrating payment solutions such as Wero is a logical next step in our digital evolution. Wero aligns perfectly with our commitment to provide innovative, secure, and convenient payment experiences that meet our customersâ everyday needs.â
Bank Van Breda will use the Wero standalone app, enabling its consumers to download the app to access Wero services independently.
Bank Van Bredaâs CEO, Dirk Wouters, commented: âBy integrating Wero into our offering from 2026, we will empower our clients â entrepreneurs and liberal professions â with a fast, secure, and intuitive way to manage their payments, which is fully aligned with their daily needs. Our decision to offer Wero as a standalone app reflects our commitment to flexibility and customer-centric innovation, ensuring our clients can access seamless payment experiences on their own terms.â
Expanding Wero influence
âWero is about Europe, and it starts with the âweâ, the people, in their daily lives and local communities,â said Martina Weimert, CEO of the EPI Company. âThatâs why Iâm particularly proud to see the number of members trusting us is growing.
âThese new membersâ local presence and close relationship with their customers will be essential to making Wero a trusted part of everyday payments across the continent. Together, we are shaping a truly European solution rooted in the realities of everyoneâs everyday life.â
Available since Summer 2024 for person-to-person transactions in Belgium, France and Germany, Wero has already gained more than 40 million registered users. As part of its ambition to become Europeâs main payment solution, Wero will begin to offer e-commerce payments in the second half of 2025. In-store payments, subscription management, and loyalty services are set to follow in 2026.
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