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A leading payments industry news source for more than 17 years. Glenbrook curates the news and keeps you abreast of the important daily headlines in payments.
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November 20, 2025
On the web
Eurosystem Moves Forward on Work to Connect Tips With India’s Unified Payments Infrastructure and With Nexus Global Payments
European Central Bank
"The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to further advance the ongoing initiatives to interlink the Eurosystem’s TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) service with other fast payment systems globally. The decision is part of the Eurosystem’s overall efforts to make it easier for businesses and consumers in Europe to send and receive payments to and from other countries, including remittances."
November 19, 2025
On the wires
Nuvei and European Payments Initiative Launch Wero Payments for European eCommerce Merchants
Cision
"Nuvei announced that its eCommerce merchants have started processing transactions via Wero, the innovative digital wallet of the European Payments Initiative (EPI). Wero is designed to deliver instant, secure account-to-account payments across Europe. Wero enables instant account-to-account (A2A) payments through SEPA Instant Credit Transfer protocols, allowing consumers to pay securely and directly from their bank accounts in seconds."
November 10, 2025
On the web
Italy’s Banks Support Ecb’s Digital Euro Plan, but Want to Spread Out Costs Over Time: Reuters
The Block
"Italy’s banks support the European Central Bank’s plan to introduce a digital euro but want its required investments to be spread out over time, a top official of Italy’s banking association said, per Reuters. The ECB in recent weeks has advanced its plan to introduce a digital euro, finalizing a roadmap with EU finance ministers to develop the central bank digital currency (CBDC), projected to launch in 2029 given EU approval next year."
October 30, 2025
On the web
Eurosystem Moving to Next Phase of Digital Euro Project
European Central Bank
"The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to move to the next phase of the digital euro project. This decision follows the successful completion of the preparation phase. The Governing Council’s decision aligns with European leaders’ request to accelerate progress on the digital euro, as recently stated at the October 2025 Euro Summit."
October 29, 2025
On the web
Google Taps Yepily to Power Bank Account Verification in Europe
IBS Intelligence
"Yapily has partnered with Google to enable the rollout of Google’s bank account verification service for business customers across Europe. The partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing digital finance, combining Yapily’s secure, API-driven connectivity with Google’s innovative financial technology to deliver a seamless, fast, and trusted verification experience for businesses. The announcement comes at a pivotal time for open banking in Europe, as adoption continues to accelerate across markets."
October 8, 2025
On the web
European Central Bank Selects Digital Euro Service Providers
European Central Bank
"The ECB has signed framework agreements with the following providers for the five digital euro components and related services: Alias lookup: (1) Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L, (2) equensWorldline; Risk and fraud management: (1) Feedzai, (2) Capgemini Deutschland; App and software development kit (SDK): (1) Almaviva SpA & Fabrick SpA, (2) Sapient GmbH & Tremend Software Consulting S.R.L; offline solution: (1) Giesecke+Devrient, (2) To be announced in due course; secure exchange of payment information: (1) Senacor FCS, (2) equensWorldline"
September 29, 2025
On the web
Swiss National Bank, European Central Bank Explore Linking Up Instant Payment Systems
Reuters
"The Swiss National Bank and the European Central Bank are exploring interlinking their instant payment services, Switzerland's central bank said on Monday. "This initiative supports the general goal of making cross-border payments faster, cheaper, more transparent and more accessible," the SNB said in a statement."
September 25, 2025
On the web
Digital Euro May Be Rolled Out in Mid-2029, ECB’s Cipollone Says
Luxembourg Times
"The digital euro could become a reality in 2029 as efforts intensify to get the long-running project off the ground, according to European Central Bank executive board member Piero Cipollone. The ECB has been pushing for a digital euro for years in a bid to reduce the region’s reliance on firms like Visa and PayPal for retail payments."
On the wires
European Banks to Launch Euro Stablecoin in Bid to Counter US Dominance
Reuters
"A consortium of nine European banks, including ING and UniCredit, said they are forming a new company to launch a euro-denominated stablecoin, a move they hope will help counter U.S. digital market dominance."
September 23, 2025
On the web
ECB Paper Explores What Makes Stablecoins a “Fungible” Means of Payment
Ledger Insights
"The European Central Bank published a notable paper on stablecoin fungibility. This is not related to the debate around fungibility of EU versus foreign stablecoins, where the EU’s comparatively generous redemption rules are causing concerns that a run on a US stablecoin could encourage foreigners to redeem from the EU version of the same stablecoin. Instead, the paper explores a broad definition of fungibility. The authors focus on stablecoins, but note that the framework outlined also applies to retail CBDCs."
September 22, 2025
On the web
Wero Has Successfully Positioned Itself on Payments and Is Preparing Its Entry Into the Online and In-Store Payment Market
EPI Company
"The European Payments Initiative (EPI), presents the results of its first twelve months of official activity and unveils the outlines of the launch of its e-commerce payment solution, expected in 2026. Available since the second half of 2024 for transactions between individuals in Belgium, France and Germany, Wero already has more than 43.5 million registered users. Designed as an alternative to international payment systems, Wero offers Europeans a secure and seamless mobile payment solution."
September 16, 2025
On the web
BNP Paribas Partners With Wero for E-commerce Payment Solutions
BNP Paribas
"A step further towards European sovereignty in the payments sector: EPI (European Payments Initiative), in which BNP Paribas holds a stake, is actively pursuing its goal of creating a benchmark digital payment solution in Europe with Wero. In its first year of operation in Germany, France and Belgium, the solution gained over 43 million registered users for private transactions. Wero is now accelerating deployment through strategic partnerships and preparing for an e-commerce launch in 2026."
August 26, 2025
On the web
Why Local Payments Win in Europe
80 Level
"A patchwork of languages, cultures, and—critically—payment preferences shapes Europe’s gaming market. While credit and debit cards remain common, a clear shift is underway: mobile wallets, QR code transactions, and instant bank transfers are rapidly gaining ground, especially among younger, mobile-first users."
August 22, 2025
On the web
EU Accelerates Digital Euro Plans, Considering Ethereum and Solana for Public Blockchain Implementation
Bitcoin News
"European Union officials are accelerating plans for a digital euro in response to the recent passage of a stablecoin law in the United States, which has raised concerns about the competitiveness of a European digital currency."
July 17, 2025
On the web
ECB Publishes Third Progress Report on the Digital Euro Preparation Phase
European Central Bank
"The European Central Bank (ECB) has published its third progress report on the preparation phase of a digital euro, which was launched on 1 November 2023 and is laying the foundations for the potential issuance of a digital euro. Since the publication of the second progress report, the ECB has continued to make progress on the draft digital euro scheme rulebook, which aims to harmonise digital euro payments across the euro area and ensure a modern, user-friendly experience."
On the wires
Payabl. Expands Platform With SEPA Direct Debit for Businesses
Business Wire
"Payabl, a leading European financial technology provider, announced the launch of SEPA Direct Debit capabilities across its product suite. The new functionality enables businesses to automatically collect recurring euro payments from customers via Payabl’s gateway and automate recurring supplier payments through Payabl's business accounts, each optimised for different business needs and pricing structures."
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."
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