HiPay becomes a principal member of the European Payments Initiative and strengthens its multi-local expertise in service of merchants
September 8, 2026
HiPay becomes a principal member of the European Payments Initiative and strengthens its multi-local expertise in service of merchants
Paris, 9 September 2026 - HiPay, the French fintech specialized in multi-local payments in Europe, announced today it has become a principal member of the European Payments Initiative (EPI), the entity behind the innovative and competitive pan-European payment method Wero. Building on several years of expertise in deploying and optimizing local payment methods across Europe, HiPay intends, together with EPI, to extend this know-how to a continental scale.
By combining on-the-ground expertise, technological agility, and a European vision, the fintech is naturally furthering its mission by integrating Wero: absorbing payment complexity at every level so that merchants can operate easily and competitively on an international scale.
Recognized expertise in local payments in service of a European vision
HiPay draws on proven expertise in deploying account-to-account (A2A) and wallet payment methods across Europe. The Payment Service Provider was a pioneer in Portugal, offering online payment via Multibanco MB Way. It is one of the only international players – and the only French player – to offer Bancomat Pay (Italy). Its platform also integrates major solutions such as Bancontact (Belgium) and Bizum (Spain).
With local teams based in Paris, Brussels, Lisbon, Milan, Madrid, and Munich, HiPay supports its merchants end to end: from the technical integration of payment methods to ongoing performance optimization. This on-the-ground proximity, combined with expertise in banking, regulatory, and technological ecosystems, is a key growth lever for its clients.
A natural convergence with EPI's ambition
EPI's ambition with Wero to build an interoperable pan-European payment solution that complements existing national solutions fits fully within HiPay's strategy: giving merchants access to the widest possible range of international and domestic payment methods. While respecting local practices and established consumer preferences, this approach aims to build trust, ease the purchasing act, and boost sales performance.
Indeed, in a European market still highly fragmented by national specificities, HiPay favors an approach based on complementarity rather than standardization. The goal is twofold: to let merchants target each market with precision while leaving consumers free to choose their trusted payment method. In this context, Wero represents a strategic opportunity to accelerate the adoption of A2A payments, particularly in countries where such practices remain emerging, such as France.
At the same time, HiPay will continue to offer the local solutions already well established in their respective markets. This approach aims to extend payment coverage at the European level by building on existing practices rather than replacing them. The fintech thus intends to contribute to a more fluid European payment ecosystem, where local solutions and pan-European initiatives coexist and reinforce one another, in service of merchant performance and user experience.
Recently, a proof of concept demonstrated the feasibility of interoperable cross-border payments between several European solutions (MB Way, Bancomat Pay, and Wero), via QR-code payments at the point of sale. This development confirms that consumers can pay abroad using their local solutions. HiPay aims to accelerate its merchants' growth by focusing on in-store interoperability and the continued expansion of its range of online payment methods.
Wero in HiPay's unified commerce strategy in France
HiPay plans to be among the first to roll out Wero at the point of sale in France, via checkout journeys already widely adopted by its clients — from card terminals to emerging uses such as Tap to Pay — thereby helping to establish new standards. This integration fits fully within HiPay's unified commerce strategy: delivering a smooth, consistent payment experience across both online and physical commerce. At the same time, this approach unifies operations management for merchants, across all payment methods and all sales channels.
Offering Wero was an obvious choice for HiPay, we are happy and proud to join this major initiative. Our vision and strategy are indeed fully aligned with EPI's: making European commerce more fluid, more interoperable and more competitive. Wero is the payment solution natively designed for exchanges at the European scale, allowing us to capitalize on the latest advances in our sector, such as instant account-to-account payment.
Building an independent European payments ecosystem relies on partners capable of supporting merchants close to their local realities. We are pleased to welcome HiPay as a principal member of EPI, reflecting a shared ambition to offer merchants payment solutions that are efficient, innovative, and adapted to the specificities of each market. HiPay's expertise will help accelerate Wero's development among merchants. Already available for e-commerce in Germany and Belgium, Wero will launch for online payments in France by the end of the year, before progressively extending its uses to the point of sale.
About HiPau
HiPay optimizes online and in-store payments across Europe. Its solution adapts to the needs of every merchant type — pure player, omnichannel brand, marketplace, or franchise — regardless of store network size. By offering more than 200 currencies and payment methods, the fintech facilitates expansion across Europe and internationally while ensuring smooth, secure purchasing journeys that meet consumer expectations.
About EPI
EPI (or European Payments Initiative) is supported by 18 European banks and payment service providers. Beyond the shareholders, over 50 institutions in Europe are now members of EPI. They have joined forces with a common goal: to offer a unified mobile payment service, to all European companies and citizens, Wero. EPI intends to enable European consumers and merchants and to carry out all types of retail transactions simply, via a resolutely sovereign digital wallet.
Find out more at epicompany.eu and follow us on LinkedIn
About Wero
Based on instant account-to-account (A2A) payments, Wero further streamlines payments in Europe by eliminating intermediaries in the payment chain and the associated additional costs. Wero already supports payments between individuals, and will shortly unveil payments to professionals (P2Pro). Wero has been live for P2P payments in Belgium, France, and Germany since 2024, currently serving 59 million users. For retail payments, Wero is live in Germany since the end of 2025 with progressive roll-out in France and Belgium throughout 2026. Major migrations of at least 15 million consumers are also planned for Payconiq in Luxembourg (by 2026) and iDEAL in the Netherlands (by 2027). Point-of-sale payments will also be offered in 2026, as well as value-added services such as integration of merchant loyalty programs and recurring payments and subscription management.
Find out more at wero-wallet.eu and follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Wero’s LinkedIn
EPI/Wero media contact: media@epicompany.eu