EPI Launches wero, Its Innovative Digital Payment Wallet in Germany, Alongside Founding Members – DSGV and DZ Bank, Followed by Deutsche Bank

European Payments Initiative (EPI), a European-grown player committed to offering a sovereign payment solution to all consumers on the continent, has announced the launch of its mobile-first wallet and instant account-to-account payment solution, wero, for customers of German Sparkassen and Volksbanken, Raiffeisenbanken.

Deutsche Bank will launch wero later this year starting with Postbank at the end of summer. Furthermore, the service will also be available in Belgium by the end of July for KBC customers. Wero will begin service in France in September / October, after pilots processed over summer. All EPI bank members will roll-out within the next six months.

The first service of wero to be launched are person-to-person (P2P) transactions. One of the main advantages of wero is its speed, allowing the consumer to send and receive money easily, by using just a phone number or an app generated personal QR code or an email address, within 10 seconds, that will be received directly in his bank account, without the need of an intermediary account.

Wero will enable customers in Germany – soon in Belgium and France as well – to transfer and request money simply and instantly to and from third parties. Transfers beyond Germany’s borders will also be available, as cross-border payments will be integrated as well. The Netherlands and Luxemburg will follow in a subsequent step.

Wero’s promise for the future is simple: to become, over time, a single, trusted wallet bringing together all the payment functionalities that meet the needs of users across Europe. Thanks to its integration with the banking applications of member banks in Europe, wero will give users a complete overview of their account balance and spending in real time, directly from their bank account and enable them to manage their payments in a secure and convenient way.

In 2025, wero’s services will be enhanced with new features, including the ability to pay any small professional from the wallet, and also pay merchants online and upon invoices via QR code. This includes the ability for consumers to manage recurring payments for subscriptions or installments, but also to pay in merchant apps at point of sale without going through the cashier, or in any other payment scenario.

In-store payments at the cash register will also be added in 2026, along with other capabilities, such as Buy Now-Pay Later, merchant loyalty, program integration, expense sharing, etc.

‘We are delighted to announce the launch of wero, which begins with the start of the service in the German market. To familiarize consumers with wero, we’re starting with person-to-person transactions, but wero’s aim in the future is to offer all kind of payments through a single wallet combining the simplicity, immediacy and security of the banks. We are excited that from now on we can progressively deliver new value through additional services to the European market.’ said Martina Weimert, CEO of EPI.

Dr. Joachim Schmalzl, Chairman of the Board (EPI) said: ‘The launch of wero marks an important step towards enhancing Europe’s financial independence. Further steps and functionalities will follow, gradually establishing wero as a central solution for all transactions. Our goal is to sustainably build this innovative solution, paving the way for a secure and efficient digital payment future in Europe.’