After 15 years of faithful service, iDEAL is getting a successor: Wero. A European payment solution designed to make payments within Europe simpler, faster and more independent.
For online shops and entrepreneurs, this is a development to keep an eye on - as Wero promises to be not only a better version of iDEAL, but also a new standard for online payments.
What exactly is Wero?
Wero was developed by the European Payments Initiative (EPI) - a collaboration of major European banks with one ambition: a common European payment method.
In 2023, EPI took both iDEAL as Payconiq about to realise that vision. This makes Wero not just another new brand, but the result of a European fusion of existing payment technologies.
The first versions are now active in Germany, France and Belgium. The Netherlands is expected to follow in 2026.
This is how it works
Wero is a account-to-account payment method (A2A). This means that payments are made directly between bank accounts - without credit cards or external payment networks.
Making a payment through Wero is easy:
- The customer chooses Wero at checkout.
- Be redirected to its banking environment or the Wero app.
- Confirms payment.
- The amount is transferred immediately, and the shop receives immediate confirmation.
No waiting time, no middlemen, no extra costs.
Why this matters
The arrival of Wero could offer great benefits for entrepreneurs selling online:
- Faster money in your account - instant transfers, real-time confirmation.
- Lower costs - Fewer links means lower transaction costs.
- Safe and reliable - verification through the customer's bank, with minimal risk of fraud.
- European coverage - one payment solution for multiple countries.
For companies operating internationally, this can go a long way.
What happens with iDEAL?
Wero takes over from iDEAL, but not all at once. The transition will be phased in, allowing consumers and businesses to switch over calmly.
The technology behind iDEAL will be integrated into the Wero platform. The familiar user experience will remain largely the same - only the name, network and scale will become European.
For business owners working through their PSP (such as Mollie, Adyen or Buckaroo), little will change for now. Once Wero is live, it will be automatically added as a payment option.
When is Wero coming to the Netherlands?
Wero is already active for personal payments (P2P) in Germany, France and Belgium. The business variant - including online payments for online shops - is planned for 2026, with the Netherlands as one of the first new countries.
This will also be followed by shop payments via QR code, which allows customers to pay directly from their phones.
Ready for the future
Whereas iDEAL was mainly Dutch, Wero European in scope. One system, one experience - from Amsterdam to Paris.
For online shops, that means getting paid faster, lower costs and easier international sales.
Whether you're a local business or an online shop with European customers: Wero makes online payments a little smarter again.
