Computop Makes Wero Available for Merchants

Wero, the new European payment solution developed by the European Payment Initiative (EPI) will be available to Computop customers from the moment it launches e-commerce payment in mid-2025. Computop, the leading payment service provider, will integrate the payment method, which is based on real-time credit transfers (SEPA Instant Payments), in Q4 2024. While payments between individuals will be available in 2024, online retailers will be able to offer wero payments by mid-2025.

Simple Merchant Integration

The new cross-border payment method, which is initially launched in Germany, France and Belgium, will be available to merchants for the most important technical connections through the Computop Paygate payment platform.

All APIs, as well as the preconfigured Hosted Payment Page, will enable payments with wero without the need for major development. Retailers who are interested can register now for the pilot phase in Q4 2024.

Wero transactions will usually be carried out by the customer in the bank’s own app or in the new wero wallet. Merchant apps will also be enabled to use wero payments in the future, while the payment process in desktop e-commerce will be triggered by QR code.

Wide availability for multiple countries

Wero will be available to customers of all banks participating in EPI as it is launched to merchants. In addition to savings banks and co-operative banks, these include BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, Postbank, ING, Société Générale, KBC, Fortis, Belfius, Crédit Agricole, Crédit Mutuel, BPCE, and La Banque Postale. wero will be available to around 85% of all bank customers in Germany, France and Belgium.

Merchants will benefit from the new payment method being expanded after the online launch, to include use in bricks-and-mortar retail and numerous other functions. These include reservations and refunds, so that a scope of services similar to that of the debit card can be achieved, with ‘payments without a terminal (scan and go)’ also added. Over time, additional value-added services like integration of merchant loyalty programs and BNPL will be integrated.

Stephan Kück, Managing Director of Computop, emphasises: ‘With the integration of wero, Computop is once again involved in the market launch of innovative payment methods and is therefore securing a competitive advantage for its merchants. As EPI will be structured as a four-parties scheme that is similar to credit card payments, merchants benefit in particular from the multi-acquirer concept of our payment platform. Another strong advantage is the unique merchant integration for multi-country merchants’

Martina Weimert, CEO of EPI: ‘Our collaboration with Computop marks the beginning of our e-commerce journey with wero, which will complete the payment scheme to be offered by the solution in the future. We’re pleased of this first agreement that will allow merchants to project themselves with a new payment scheme that fits their needs and the customer ones of easiness, security, service-offering and cost-effectiveness for both parties. We’re happy that Computop joins us empowering our European solution in our journey of setting up a real alternative to international solutions. Many more steps to follow…!”