Nexi is set to begin connecting the first German merchants to the Wero wallet from the European Payments Initiative in the third quarter of this year, following the launch of the bank-backed digital wallet for German e-commerce this summer.
As a Wero acquirer, Nexi will utilize technical interfaces to the EPI through gateway provider Computop. Initially available for P2P payments in Germany, Nexi will start as an acquirer for e-commerce merchants before eventually rolling out to physical retail locations.
Carola Wahl, CEO of Nexi DACH, stated: “The Wero payment system, based on account-to-account transfers, represents the solutions that we at Nexi are committed to enhancing: intuitive, simple, scalable, and pan-European. With Wero, there are no significant changes for merchants. The payment method seamlessly integrates into existing e-commerce payment processes. Merchants will also benefit from an attractive pricing model, real-time payments, and international reach. As a founding member and shareholder of the European Payments Initiative (EPI), and now a Wero acquirer, Nexi is playing an active role in shaping the future of digital payments.”
In a related development, PPRO has also joined the initiative, offering acquirers, issuers, and merchants platform connectivity to manage various aspects of the payments cycle, including payment method activation, acceptance optimization, operational onboarding, and fund management.
Motie Bring, CEO at PPRO, remarked: “Our strong collaboration with EPI enables us to deliver their comprehensive e/m-commerce capabilities to our clients this summer, ensuring that they only need to build their integration once to access a world of local payment methods.”
Wero has already launched in Belgium, France, and Germany, with plans for expansion into the Netherlands and other European countries in the coming years. Currently, Wero supports P2P payments, with e-commerce integration expected by mid-2025 and a payment function for smaller merchants (P2Pro) anticipated by the end of 2025. The introduction of Wero in brick-and-mortar retail is scheduled for 2026.