Since mid-2024, bank customers in Germany, Belgium, and France have been using Wero to send money in seconds—directly from account to account, right from their banking app. It can now also be used to make payments in online stores. For merchants, this raises a very practical question: How much does it cost, how do you integrate it into your store—and at what point is it worth the effort?
At a Glance
- Wero is the payment solution from the European Payments Initiative (EPI), backed by European banks—launched in mid-2024, initially for transfers between individuals.
- Available in Belgium, France, and Germany, according to the provider, “for most bank customers.” The Netherlands is scheduled for 2026, and Luxembourg is in the works.
- Payments are made in real time from account to account —without a card number and without the chargeback process used by card networks.
- Merchants need a payment service provider. In Germany, VR Payment offers a “WERO-ONLY” plan with no base fee for the first 12 months (as of August 2026, subject to change).
- EPI does not publish verifiable user figures. The actual reach cannot currently be reliably quantified—this is part of the decision-making process.
What is Wero—and who is behind it?
Wero is an effort by European banks to build their own payment infrastructure rather than leaving it to American corporations. It is backed by the European Payments Initiative, an alliance of major financial institutions—the Wero website features over 50 bank logos, including those of Sparkassen, Volksbanken, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, ING, BNP Paribas, and KBC.
Technically, Wero is neither a card nor a traditional wallet with a stored balance, but rather a real-time money transfer with a user-friendly interface. The customer confirms the transaction in their banking app, and the money is transferred directly from the buyer’s account to the merchant’s account. Wero launched in mid-2024 with payments between individuals; online retail payments are the second phase of expansion, and in-store payments and subscription payments have been announced.
Where does Wero work—and where doesn’t it yet?
Wero is available in Belgium, France, and Germany. According to EPI, the company is working on launching the service in the Netherlands and Luxembourg; the Netherlands is slated for 2026, with additional countries to follow. For a store with customers outside these markets, Wero is therefore not yet a widely available payment method, but rather a supplement to the core European market.
Important for planning: Even within these three countries, availability depends on the customer’s bank. Wero is already integrated into the banking apps of many financial institutions; where that’s not the case, the standalone Wero app is available.
How does a customer pay with Wero?
The process is quick—and that’s the whole point: The customer selects Wero at checkout, confirms the payment in their banking app via fingerprint, facial recognition, or PIN, the transfer is initiated immediately, and confirmed within seconds. There’s no card number to enter and no need for additional registration with a third-party provider. For the online store, this means payment confirmation is received before the customer has even read the order confirmation.
How much does Wero cost the merchant?
The costs aren’t incurred by Wero itself, but by the payment service provider through which you offer Wero. In Germany, VR Payment—the payment service provider of the Genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe—is currently the most obvious choice. When signing up, you can choose from three contracts:
| Contract | Base Fee | Per Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| E-Commerce – WERO-ONLY | €0.00 for 12 months, then €24.90 | €0.05 plus 0.85% commission |
| Omnichannel E-Commerce | €24.90 per month | €0.15 plus commission |
| Omnichannel In-Store (POS) | €24.90 per month | €0.09 plus commission |
For a shopping cart totaling 100 euros, the WERO-ONLY plan costs a maximum of 90 cents—0.85 percent commission, including the transaction fee. For amounts under 15 euros, VR Payment charges an additional 0.04 euros; the contract term is 12 months, and funds are paid out weekly to the designated bank account (daily payouts can be added as an option). An account with a Volksbank or Raiffeisenbank is not required.
As of August 2026. Information provided by the provider—subject to change without notice, not guaranteed, and valid until further notice. The currently valid terms and conditions of VR Payment apply.
How do I add Wero to my online store?
Wero is not set up directly through the store system, but rather through a payment service provider—just like credit cards or direct debit. You sign a contract with the provider, and the store system integrates the payment method. In the XONIC Shop System, integration with VR Payment is included as standard; all you need to do is set up the login credentials and select the desired payment methods.
A clarification that often causes confusion in practice: Wero can currently only be offered via Stripe in the Netherlands, where it’s processed through iDEAL. Sellers in Germany, Belgium, or France cannot currently access Wero through Stripe.
Is Wero worth it for my store?
Honest answer: It depends less on the costs than on your customer base. The terms are favorable, and the setup effort is manageable—but a payment method is only useful if it’s actually used.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Favorable terms; initially no base fee with the WERO-ONLY plan | Reach cannot be quantified—EPI does not publish reliable user figures |
| Funds deposited into your account in real time—no need to wait for payment to be received before shipping | Only three markets; currently not an option for shops outside of Germany, Belgium, and France |
| No chargeback procedures from card networks and no chargeback fees | Customers need to become familiar with the payment method first—communication during checkout is necessary |
| Can be set up as a standalone supplement without replacing the current provider | Requires an additional contract and additional coordination with accounting |
In practical terms, this means: If you primarily sell in German-speaking countries anyway and want to expand your checkout process to include an affordable, European alternative, you can add Wero with minimal risk—especially as long as there is no base fee. If you sell internationally, you should plan to use Wero as a supplement, not as a replacement.
What Changes in Day-to-Day Operations
Shipping: Because payment is confirmed immediately, there’s no need to wait for payment to be received, as is the case with prepayment or bank transfers. This noticeably shortens the time to shipment.
Risk: The fact that there is no chargeback process, as with credit cards, is an advantage—but not a free pass. Disputes don’t disappear; they just no longer go through the card systems but are handled directly between you and the customer.
Refunds: You process refunds through your payment service provider; in the XONIC Shop System, this can be done directly from the order.
Accounting: Payments are disbursed in batches according to the agreed-upon schedule—weekly by default with VR Payment. The reconciliation process works the same way as with other payment service providers.
What the XONIC Shop System offers for this
Integration with VR Payment is standard in the XONIC Shop System—Wero is one of about 15 payment methods that are processed through this single contract. Before displaying any payment options, the shop system checks whether the payment method matches the delivery country, currency, and order amount, and if not, it doesn’t display it at all. Payments are processed on a hosted payment page, so card details never reach the store; you initiate refunds in the backend, and the test environment is separate from the live environment, allowing you to test the entire ordering process in advance.
This is described in detail on our two pages about the WERO interface and VR Payment. The interface overview provides an overview of all connected services.
Current Offer from VR Payment
With the “E-Commerce – WERO-ONLY” plan, the monthly base fee is waived for the first 12 months; starting in the 13th month, a fee of €24.90 applies. Registration is handled directly through VR Payment; an account with a cooperative bank is not required.
Partner link: Through this link, we are listed as a partner with VR Payment—this does not change the offer for you in any way. Information provided by the provider, as of August 2026; subject to change without notice and until further notice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wero in E-commerce
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Stephan Dunger
Stephan Dunger is one of the brains behind the XONIC store system. He has been developing the platform together with the team since 2012 - from the database to the interfaces to the checkout.
A passionate programmer, technical mind and consultant at the same time: with his in-depth knowledge of store systems and e-commerce, Stephan combines the depth of a developer with an eye for the big picture. Together with the XONIC team, he shapes the technical direction, consistently thinks about functions from the retailer's perspective and advises on customized solutions.
The result is software with a face: customers don't get an anonymous provider, but a direct line to the people who develop XONIC. Pragmatic, fast and at eye level.
