Belgian Banks Join European Payments Initiative to Expand Wero Digital Wallet Across Europe

Five Belgian banks — Argenta, Bank Van Breda, Beobank, Crelan, and vdk bank — announced on Monday that they are joining the European Payments Initiative (EPI) and will roll out the EPI’s digital wallet, Wero, to their customers starting in 2026.

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Why It Matters:

The European Payments Initiative was created by European banks to challenge the dominance of U.S. payment giants Visa and Mastercard. Although the EPI has faced setbacks due to some banks exiting the network, it continues to expand its presence.

Key Quote:

Dirk Wouters, CEO of Bank Van Breda, said:
“By integrating Wero into our offering from 2026, we will empower our clients – entrepreneurs and liberal professions – with a fast, secure, and intuitive way to manage their payments which is fully aligned with their daily needs.”

By the Numbers:

• Wero, launched last year by EPI, already has 40 million registered users across Belgium, France, and Germany.