Payment service Wero limited availability for online shopping
The European payment service Wero is available for online purchases. However, not yet for all customers and with initially only one online retailer.
The payment service Wero is cautiously entering online shopping.
(Image: Wero)
Only at the beginning of October, the payment service Wero, launched by the European banking consortium, had announced that it would be available for online shopping in the fall. Now, the PayPal alternative has at least been introduced as a payment option with a first retailer. However, not all users can use Wero yet.
Few banks, one retailer
This is reported by SĂĽddeutsche Zeitung: Since Tuesday, customers should be able to use Wero with the ticket provider Eventim. Those who want to buy an event ticket through the portal now can choose Wero in addition to the usual payment options such as credit card, bank transfer, PayPal, or Klarna.
Users who select the new payment service for their ticket purchase will be shown a QR code that must be scanned with a smartphone camera. Afterward, they will be directed to their banking app. Here they can finally check the amount to be paid and confirm the purchase.
However, some Wero customers may be disappointed during the payment process, as not all the currently participating Wero partners are yet on board with the new online shopping option. According to the SĂĽddeutsche Zeitung report, only customers of Sparkassen and VR-Banken can initially settle their bills on Eventim. Customers of other participating banks, such as Norisbank, BW Bank, ING Deutschland, and Deutsche Bank, will receive an error message during the payment process.
Videos by heise
Brick-and-mortar retail also in focus
Connectivity to online retail is considered important for Wero's success. However, the rollout is apparently not going as smoothly as hoped. The European Payments Initiative (EPI) behind it originally planned to integrate the first retailers into the payment system as early as the summer of 2025. The EPI will announce how the push into online retail will continue in about two weeks at a press conference, according to Süddeutsche. Other candidates are said to be Deutsche Bahn, the mail-order company Otto, and Mediamarkt-Saturn. In addition to expanding in online retail, Wero also aims to penetrate brick-and-mortar retail—but not until 2026 or 2027.
(afl)
