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June 24, 2025
On the wires
EuroPA and EPI Launch Collaboration to Expand Sovereign Pan-European Payments
EPI
"The EuroPA alliance (European Payments Alliance) – represented by Bancomat, Bizum, MB WAY (SIBS), and Vipps MobilePay – and EPI Company (EPI) have announced their cooperation, now exploring solutions to rapidly address Europe’s sovereignty challenge in payments, especially regarding cross-border transactions."
June 9, 2025
On the web
ECB Consults on Extending RTGS Hours – Could Help DLT Payments, Digital Euro
Ledger Insights
"On Friday the European Central Bank launched a consultation on extending the hours of T2, its main real time gross settlement (RTGS) system. DLT payments and the digital euro are one of the considerations, although not the primary driver of the plans. T2 already operates 22.5 hours a day, but consumer and interbank payments are only possible during a narrower window. Additionally, the system closes for 48 hours over the weekend."
May 27, 2025
On the web
Europe’s Banks Brace for Real-Time Payments —And Millions in Lost Interest
IBS Intelligence
There’s no such thing as banking hours anymore. Weekends, evenings, holidays — they’re all fair game now. With the EU’s SEPA Instant Payments Regulation set to become mandatory by October 2025, banks are being pushed into a world where euro payments must clear in seconds, 24/7/365. It is a landmark shift designed to modernise European payments, but it comes at a steep cost.
May 23, 2025
Top Post
BBVA and Caixabank Process Europe’s First Interbank RTP Transactions
FinTech Futures
"Spanish banking giants BBVA and CaixaBank have successfully conducted the first bank-to-bank Request to Pay (RTP) transactions in Europe. The transactions were part of a ring-fenced pilot programme conducted between April and May, and were completed via instant transfer processed by domestic payment services provider Iberpay."
On the wires
ECB Hopes to Have Political Deal on Digital Euro by Early 2026
Reuters
"The European Central Bank hopes to have all the political decisions in place by early next year to issue a digital euro and would then need two to three years to launch the currency, ECB board member Piero Cipollone said on Thursday. The ECB has been working on a digital version of the euro for years but progress has been slower than expected, mostly because legislation is still not in place to allow the bank to proceed."
May 5, 2025
On the web
European Central Bank Partners With Private Sector Through Digital Euro Innovation Platform
European Central Bank
"The European Central Bank (ECB) has established an innovation platform to collaborate with European stakeholders in the context of the digital euro project. Almost 70 market participants – including merchants, fintech companies, start-ups, banks and other payment service providers – have signed up to work with the ECB to explore digital euro payment functionalities and use cases."
April 28, 2025
On the wires
ECB Forms Group to Simplify Banking Rules
Reuters
"The European Central Bank has launched a task force, chaired by Vice President Luis de Guindos, that will look for ways of simplifying banking rules in Europe, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Saturday. The central bank governors of Germany, France, Italy and Finland are also part of the task force, the source said."
April 8, 2025
On the web
Viva.com Expands Near Instant Payment Footprint Across Europe, With UK Launch of Mastercard Move
Viva
"Viva.com, the 1st Tech Bank in Europe for Businesses, has expanded its pan-European activation of Mastercard Move on its payments and banking platform to 24 countries, following the addition of the UK as an additional live origination market. This step enables businesses across 24 European countries to send and receive near-instant payments regardless of currency and geography, enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction."
April 2, 2025
On the web
Enhancing Cross-Border Payments in Europe and Beyond
European Central Bank
" Speech by Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Regional Governors’ Meeting ...The pressing need to enhance cross-border payments is not just a regional concern, it is a matter of urgency worldwide. As international transaction volumes have surged, outstripping GDP growth, the economic toll of inefficient cross-border payments has continued to mount."
March 13, 2025
On the web
Europeans Show Little Interest in Digital Euro, ECB Study Reveals
Cointelegraph
A new European Central Bank survey reveals significant consumer reluctance toward adopting a digital euro, with Europeans seeing little value in the CBDC. An ECB working paper on “Consumer attitudes towards a central bank digital currency,” which surveyed about 19,000 respondents across 11 euro-area countries, highlighted significant communication challenges that are discouraging European households from adopting the digital euro.
March 11, 2025
On the web
Eurosystem to Offer Verification of Payee Service
European Central Bank
"The Eurosystem has concluded its exploratory work for offering a Verification of Payee (VoP) service for payment service providers (PSPs). The service is expected to reduce the risk of fraud and payment errors by allowing payers to verify the account details of the intended recipients before payments are initiated. This service will be available for instant payments, including those settled in TARGET Instant Payment Settlement, as well as for SEPA credit transfers."
February 28, 2025
On the web
ECB: “Card Increasingly Used, Raising Concerns About Strategic Autonomy of Payments”
Eunews
"There is continued scrutiny on how people shop in the EU and its euro area, and there have been renewed calls to reconsider established customs and practices. The European Central Bank, in its latest report on non-cash payments, points out that “since 2019, the rate of card usage in the EU has grown significantly,” the ECB said."
February 25, 2025
On the web
Is Wero an ‘Existential Threat’ to Europe’s Payments Startups?
Sifted
"Backed by a consortium of 14 banks under the European Payments Initiative (EPI), France and Belgium, Wero is a digital wallet enabling consumer peer-to-peer transfers in under ten seconds."
February 20, 2025
On the web
Eurosystem Expands Initiative to Settle DLT-Based Transactions in Central Bank Money
European Central Bank
"The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to expand its initiative to settle transactions recorded on distributed ledger technology (DLT) in central bank money. The initiative will follow a two-track approach."
February 14, 2025
On the web
BNP Paribas and BPCE Join Forces in Payment Processing
Reuters
"BNP Paribas PA, the euro zone's biggest lender, and French rival BPCE said they have finalized an agreement to create Estreem, a joint venture in the payment processing, with the ambition to become one of the top three European players in the sector."
February 13, 2025
On the web
Accelerating Payments Into and Out of Europe
Barclays Investment Bank
"Existing schemes for euro payments into and out of Europe can result in delayed payments outside European business hours. New schemes, such as OCT Inst, offer 24/7 availability and should ensure a seamless customer experience. While adoption will take time, it could be a big change for European payments."
February 4, 2025
On the wires
Checkout Complete: Helping Europe’s Longest-Named Towns Pay Online Without the Pain
Mastercard
"Mastercard is teaming up with Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch and six other 'sesquipedalian' — a long way of saying long — towns across the continent to take the pain out of online shopping, with Click to Pay."
December 17, 2024
On the web
Nordic Fintech Two Collaborates With Leading Dutch Banking Leader ABN AMRO to Modernise B2B E-Commerce Payments
Fintech Finance
"Two, a European leader in B2B payments technology today announces a strategic collaboration with ABN AMRO, a leading financial institution in the Netherlands. Together, they are launching a state-of-the-art “Pay on Invoice” solution, designed to bring seamless, secure, and flexible payment options to B2B e-commerce transactions."
December 11, 2024
On the web
European Banks Face a Mandatory Digital Euro. Now What?
The Global Treasurer
"...the ECB aims to make the digital euro the most private digital payment solution in regulated markets. While banks will maintain oversight for regulatory compliance, the ECB will not have visibility into individual digital euro transactions or balances. The project, which began in 2021, is expected to launch between 2028 and 2030, pending political approval and legislation."
December 5, 2024
On the web
CBDCs: Where Do We Stand in Europe?
Deutsche Bank
"Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) have gained traction globally. In 2023, 94% of central banks have been engaged in some form of research, experimentation, pilot programme or deployment, a survey by the Bank of International Settlement (BIS) published in June 2024 found."
November 27, 2024
On the wires
Adyen and Doctolib Join Forces to Modernise Consultation Payments
Adyen
"Adyen and Doctolib are joining forces to offer medical professionals innovative and secure financial services. The partnership, which was recently launched in France and Italy, allows Doctolib to offer its users online payment solutions, as well as broader financial services to simplify their daily lives and consolidate business and financial management in one place."
November 25, 2024
On the wires
Klarna Opens New Hub in Warsaw to Recruit 100 of Poland’s Top Tech Talents
Cision
"Klarna, the AI-powered global payments network and shopping assistant, announced the launch of its new technology hub in Warsaw. This strategic investment underscores Klarna’s commitment to advancing its global technology capabilities, and recognising Poland as a key player in Europe’s innovation landscape."
October 22, 2024
On the web
Tinaba with Banca Profilo Becomes Europe’s First Fintech to Integrate Alipay+ Mini Programs
TravelDailyNews International
"Tinaba, Italy’s leading fintech app in partnership with Banca Profilo, has become the first European fintech to integrate Alipay+ Mini Program solution, transforming itself into a Super App. The integration of technology by Ant International enables Tinaba to develop an open platform for 3rd party developers to publish Mini Programs inside its app."
September 27, 2024
On the web
Europe’s Banks Launch Wero Payments to Dislodge Visa, Mastercard
Luxembourg Times
"The European Union’s biggest banks have spent years quietly creating a new way to pay that could finally allow customers to ditch their Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. cards — the latest sign that the region is looking to dislodge two of the most valuable financial firms on the planet."
September 11, 2024
On the wires
Atradius and Mondu Team up to Enable Better Payment Solutions for B2B E-commerce
PR News Wire
"Atradius, a top global credit insurer, and Mondu, a pioneering fintech offering Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solutions, have launched a collaboration aiming at empowering businesses across Europe with the seamless integration of the most popular B2B payment options into their e-commerce channels without the need for external payment gateways."
September 6, 2024
On the web
ECB to Challenge American, Chinese Payment Systems With Digital Euro
Crypto News
"The European Central Bank is gearing up to challenge international payment giants by introducing its digital currency to strengthen Europe’s economic sovereignty."
September 4, 2024
On the web
CTS Eventim Adds Tink’s User-Friendly Pay by Bank Service to Its Checkout Options
Tink
"Harnessing Tink’s expansive pan-European network, Pay by Bank is now a checkout option for CTS EVENTIM customers across Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom – with ambitions to expand into more markets throughout 2024."
September 3, 2024
On the web
Polish Mobile Payment System Blik Expands Abroad
Notes From Poland
"Polish mobile payment system BLIK, which is used by millions of people in its homeland, has moved forward with its international expansion after becoming available to customers of one of Slovakia’s largest banks. BLIK also has plans to expand to Romania."
June 12, 2024
On the web
XTransfer and Banking Circle Announce Strategic Partnership
Banking Circle
"XTransfer, the leading B2B cross-border payment platform from China, and Banking Circle have entered into a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to reduce the cost and processing time of cross-border payments for XTransfer’s clients, particularly benefiting Chinese suppliers with significant markets in Europe and the Middle East."
June 4, 2024
On the wires
Boku Connects Poland’s 16.3m BLIK Users Into Google With New Payment Relationship
Business Wire
Boku Inc., the global network for localized payment solutions announced that it now supports BLIK, the instant payment system in Poland, as a payment method for Google Play Store.
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