For a long time dominated by players such as PayPal or Paylib, person-to-person payments are evolving with the arrival of Wero, a European solution that aims to become the reference for instant payments. Deployed gradually by numerous French and European banks, Wero allows you to send and receive money in a few seconds, directly from your bank account, without having to enter an IBAN.
But how does Wero payment work? Which banks are compatible? Is the service free? Can it really replace Paylib or compete with PayPal? In this Wero review, Café de la Bourse presents how it works, its advantages, its limitations, the banks that offer it, as well as our opinion to help you determine whether this payment solution meets your needs.
Wero: what is it? History and key figures 2026
Wero: essential information to know
| Information | Wero |
| Nature of the service | European instant payment solution |
| Creator | European Payments Initiative (EPI) |
| Launch | 2024 |
| Countries covered | France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands (progressive extension to other European countries) |
| Potential users | More than 150 million bank customers in Europe in the long term |
| How it works | SEPA instant transfer between bank accounts |
| Usage | Sending, receiving and requesting money between individuals |
| Goal | Gradually replace Paylib and create a European alternative to PayPal |
| Who is it for? | Individuals wishing to send or receive money instantly from their bank account |
| Our opinion | A modern, easy-to-use payment solution with promise, whose features continue to grow as it is rolled out. |
Wero is the fruit of a European project launched in 2020 by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), a company created by several major European banks and financial institutions. Among the founding members are notably BNP Paribas, BPCE, Crédit Agricole, Deutsche Bank, ING, KBC, or also Société Générale. Their objective is to develop a common European payment solution that can be directly integrated into the banking apps of participating institutions.
After several years of development, the first deployments of Wero began in 2024. The service is gradually being adopted by partner banks, which are gradually replacing their old person-to-person payment solutions.
In the long term, the European Payments Initiative plans to enrich Wero with new services, to make it a payment platform used both for person-to-person transfers and for online purchases and merchant payments.
Why was Wero created?
Wero responds to a clear ambition: to build a European payment solution capable of competing with internationally established players. Behind this project, several objectives emerge:
- Strengthening European sovereignty in digital payments, by developing an infrastructure led by European banks.
- Offering an alternative to services like PayPal or Apple Pay, largely dominated by American companies.
- Harmonizing payments within the European Union through a common, user-friendly solution compatible with SEPA instant transfers.
- Supporting the progressive disappearance of Paylib, expected to be replaced by Wero in partner banks.
With Wero, the ambition is therefore to eventually create a single payment solution for all Europeans.
How does a Wero transfer work?
A Wero transfer relies on SEPA instant transfer to move money directly from one bank account to another, without going through an intermediate e-wallet.
Concretely, each user links their mobile phone number (or, depending on the banks, their email address) to their bank account.
When you send money, Wero automatically identifies the recipient’s account using this identifier, without the need to enter their IBAN.
Once the payment is validated, funds are transferred in a few seconds via the banking network. All operations are secured by your bank’s authentication, allowing simplicity of use while maintaining a high level of security.
Is Wero free?
Yes, Wero payments are completely free for individuals. No fees are charged to send, receive or request money. Transfers are made directly between users’ bank accounts via the SEPA instant transfer, without going through an intermediary that would levy a commission.
If Wero can offer a free service, it is because it is integrated into the partner banks’ applications. They fund the development and operation of the service within the framework of the European Payments Initiative (EPI), with the goal of providing a common European payment infrastructure. Ultimately, Wero is also intended to be used for online payments and at merchants. It is these new uses, as well as the services offered to professionals, that should contribute to the platform’s business model, while person-to-person payments should remain free.
What are the payment limits with Wero?
Wero applies safety limits to prevent fraud and abuse. At the service level, you can perform up to 100 payments and 100 money requests within a seven-day period, for a maximum amount of €100,000 per transaction.
In practice, these limits are rarely reached, as the actually applicable limit is usually set by your bank. Each institution can define its own SEPA instant transfer limits, whether daily, weekly, or monthly, and these also apply to payments made with Wero. Depending on your bank and your account package, these limits can be adjusted from your customer area or simply by requesting from your advisor.
Which banks are compatible with Wero?
The number of banks compatible with Wero is gradually increasing as the service is deployed across Europe. In France, most major groups now offer this payment solution, whether traditional banks, online banks, or certain neobanks. Availability may vary depending on institutions and even subsidiaries of the same banking group. If your bank is compatible, the Wero payment is usually accessible directly from your bank’s mobile app, without needing to download the Wero app.
Below are the main French banks currently offering Wero, along with their integration dates.
Your bank does Wero offer? Find below the main French banks offering this service, as well as their integration date.
Wero with LCL
LCL has offered Wero since 2025, directly in its application LCL Mes Comptes. Clients can send, receive, or request money in a few seconds using a simple phone number, email address or a QR Code. Activation is done from the app’s “Transfers” area.
Wero with Fortuneo
Fortuneo, a subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, integrated Wero in October 2025. The service is freely accessible from the mobile app and allows instant person-to-person transfers without providing an IBAN. This evolution is part of Fortuneo’s ongoing goal to regularly enrich its payment services.
Wero with BoursoBank
BoursoBank plans to offer Wero to its customers in the coming months, but has not yet announced a precise launch date. In the meantime, the online bank still allows sending money to a private individual via its SMS transfer service, a system that is quite close to Wero.
Wero with Crédit Agricole
Crédit Agricole has offered Wero to its clients since December 4, 2024, the launch date of the service in France. Wero is directly accessible from the Ma Banque app and allows sending, receiving, or requesting money in a few seconds from a phone number, an email address or a QR Code, without needing to provide an RIB.
Wero with La Banque Postale
La Banque Postale was among the founding banks that participated in the launch of Wero in France on December 4, 2024. Unlike most institutions, it first chose to offer the Wero app developed by EPI, with secure authentication via Certicode Plus.
Wero with Monabanq
Monabanq was one of the first French online banks to adopt Wero. The service is directly integrated into its mobile app and allows sending or receiving money instantly using a phone number, while benefiting from the security of SEPA instant transfer.
Wero with Revolut
From July 2025, Revolut gradually joined the Wero ecosystem to offer its customers a real-time payment solution compatible with participating banks in Europe. This integration allows users to make fast account-to-account transfers directly from the Revolut app, without needing an IBAN.
Wero with Hello bank!
Hello bank! has offered Wero since February 2025, directly from its mobile app. Customers can send, receive, or request money instantly using just a phone number, without sharing their IBAN. This integration aligns with BNP Paribas online bank’s aim to progressively enrich its payment services offering.
Wero with Nickel
Nickel integrated Wero in March 2026 directly in its mobile app. Customers can thus perform person-to-person payments using a phone number, while benefiting from the speed of SEPA instant transfer. This development allows Nickel to offer its users a simple and secure European payment solution.
Wero with N26
N26 announced its partnership with the European Payments Initiative (EPI) in December 2025. The mobile bank plans to progressively deploy Wero from the second half of 2026 for its customers in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Users will then be able to send and receive money instantly directly from the N26 app, without entering an IBAN.
Wero with BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas is among the founding banks of the European Payments Initiative and participated in the launch of Wero in France on December 4, 2024. The service is directly integrated into the bank’s mobile app and allows sending, receiving or requesting money instantly using a phone number or email address, without having to share banking details.
What are the advantages and drawbacks of Wero?
In practice, Wero is already mature enough to meet the needs of most individuals. That said, the service is still young and its development continues. Before using it, here is what we appreciated… and what could still be improved.
Advantages of Wero
- A free service for individuals, with no sending or receiving fees.
- Instant payments, available 24/7, including weekends and holidays.
- No IBAN to share: a simple phone number or an email address is enough to send money.
- High security, thanks to the strong authentication implemented by partner banks.
- A European solution, developed by European banks within a payments sovereignty framework.
- Features expected to grow, with online payments, in-store payments, and subscriptions gradually deployed across several countries.
Drawbacks of Wero
- The service is not yet offered by all banks, even if the number of compatible institutions is regularly increasing.
- Some features are not yet available everywhere, their deployment depending on banks and countries.
- The recipient must also have Wero with a compatible bank to receive a payment via the service.
- The service is currently limited to euro payments, within participating countries.
- Limits may vary by bank, which can limit certain uses.
Wero or Paylib: what are the differences?
For several years, Paylib established itself as the main person-to-person payment solution offered by French banks. Since 2024, this service is gradually being replaced by Wero, developed by the European Payments Initiative (EPI).
For users, the operation remains very similar: it is still possible to send or receive money using just a phone number, directly from your bank account. The main difference lies in the project’s ambition: while Paylib was a French solution, Wero is intended to become a European-wide payment solution and to offer, in the long term, more services.
| Criterion | Wero | Paylib |
| Launch | 2024 | 2013 |
| Origin | European Payments Initiative (EPI) | Consortium of French banks |
| Coverage area | Several European countries | France |
| Person-to-person payment | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Phone number payment | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Instant payment | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Online payment | Progressive deployment | Available depending on merchants |
| Future of the service | Ongoing development | Progressively replaced by Wero |
| Goal | Become a European payment solution | National payment wallet |
Wero or PayPal: which to choose?
Although Wero and PayPal both allow sending and receiving money, their operation differs. Wero relies on account-to-account instant transfers and integrates directly into partner banks’ apps.
PayPal, on the other hand, is an independent digital wallet used worldwide for person-to-person payments as well as online purchases.
The choice will therefore mainly depend on your needs: Wero prioritizes simplicity and bank integration, while PayPal offers broader international coverage and more services.
| Criterion | Wero | PayPal |
| Launch | 2024 | 1998 |
| Origin | European Payments Initiative (EPI) | PayPal Holdings (USA) |
| Coverage | Several European countries | Over 200 countries and territories |
| Person-to-person | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Phone number payment | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Email address payment | ✅ Yes (depending on banks) | ✅ Yes |
| Online payments | Progressive deployment | ✅ Yes |
| In-store payments | Progressive deployment | ✅ Yes (at certain merchants) |
| Fees between individuals | Free | Free under certain conditions, but fees may apply depending on payment method or international transfers |
| Currency conversion | ❌ No (payments in euros) | ✅ Yes |
| Goal | European banking payment solution | International electronic wallet |
Marc’s Comment:
Wero is the best choice for person-to-person payments in Europe thanks to its simplicity and bank integration. For international payments or purchases on foreign sites, PayPal still has an edge.
Our view on Wero
Wero seems to us to be a logical evolution of person-to-person payments in Europe. The service takes the main strengths of Paylib, while fitting into a much more ambitious project: to build a common European payment solution across several countries. Its direct integration into bank apps, the fact that Wero payments are free for individuals, and its SEPA instant transfer-based operation make it a simple, fast, and secure everyday solution.
There is also another aspect that seems interesting with Wero. Today, online payments largely rely on solutions developed by American companies like PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay. With Wero, European banks aim to offer their own European-focused alternative. This is a project that goes beyond simple person-to-person payments and contributes to the development of a European payment infrastructure.
Wero has obviously not yet reached full maturity. The service continues to grow, new banks are gradually joining, and some features are still awaited. Nevertheless, the foundations appear solid. If its deployment continues at the same pace, Wero has every chance to become a major player in payments in Europe. For person-to-person payments, it is already a solution we gladly recommend, both for its ease of use and for the long-term vision it carries.
How to use Wero in practice?
Using Wero is usually done from your bank’s mobile app, or via the Wero app when your institution allows it. Depending on the institution, prior activation may be required. Here are the main steps to follow:
- Open your bank’s app and go to the section dedicated to transfers or payments.
- Enable Wero if the service is not yet configured, then link your phone number to your bank account.
- Choose the desired action: send money, receive it, or request a payment.
- Select the beneficiary from your contacts or enter their phone number.
- Enter the amount and, if you wish, add a message.
- Review the information, then confirm the operation using your bank’s authentication system.
- The transfer is completed in a few seconds, provided the recipient also uses Wero with a compatible bank.
Thanks to this operation, it is no longer necessary to share your IBAN or bank details to send money. Transfers become simpler, faster, and benefit from the security level provided by bank authentication.
Frequently asked questions about Wero: everything you need to know before using it
Yes. Wero relies on the security standards of partner banks and on the SEPA instant transfer. Each transaction is validated through your bank’s strong authentication system (biometrics, PIN, or in-app validation), which limits fraud risks.
Yes. Wero progressively replaces Paylib within partner banks. For users, the operation remains similar, but Wero sits within a much larger European project, with the goal of offering a common payment solution for several countries.
Yes. You can use Wero abroad, provided you have internet access and an account with a compatible bank. However, the recipient must also use Wero in a country where the service is available. To date, Wero is deployed in France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, with a progressive extension to other European countries.
Not necessarily. In most cases, Wero is directly integrated into your bank’s mobile app. Only some institutions still offer using the official Wero app.
Anyone with an account at a bank compatible with Wero can use the service after activating it in their banking app. The recipient must also use Wero at a compatible institution to receive a payment.
All of our information is, by its nature, generic. It does not take into account your personal situation and does not constitute personalized recommendations for carrying out transactions, nor should it be considered financial investment advice, or any encouragement to buy or sell financial instruments. The reader is solely responsible for using the information provided, and no recourse against Cafedelabourse.com’s publisher is possible. The publisher cannot be held liable in case of error, omission or imprudent investment.
