European payment service companies join forces to help 130 million Europeans move away from Visa and Mastercard

European payment firms announced partnerships to interconnect Wero with national services, creating a shared regional payment rail.

The rollout will begin with person-to-person transfers in 2026, then expand to online and in-store payments in 2027.

The move is designed to reduce Europe’s reliance on Visa and Mastercard for fees and payment data.

A stronger homegrown payments infrastructure is seen as a boost to Europe’s financial sovereignty and security.