norisbank has introduced the Wero payment app, enabling customers to send money and pay online across Europe.
The app removes the need to enter an IBAN or BIC, allowing transactions to be completed in a way comparable to sending a text message from a smartphone.
Wero is linked directly to a customer's norisbank current account, with amounts debited or credited immediately and no requirement for prior top-up. norisbank stated that the integration is intended to simplify cross-border banking for its customers as a direct bank. According to Maik Wennrich, chairman of the management board of norisbank GmbH, the rollout follows earlier launches at Deutsche Bank and Postbank and is positioned as a European alternative aimed at combining security, efficiency, and digital sovereignty. The company added that Wero will be integrated into the norisbank app itself in future, with the aim of further simplifying digital payments for its customer base.
Background on Wero and EPI
Wero was launched in July 2024 and is operated by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), an alliance backed by 18 major European banks and payment service providers. The initiative's stated aim is to establish a unified mobile payment solution and a digital wallet for use across Europe, positioning Wero as an alternative to non-European payment schemes for both peer-to-peer transfers and retail transactions.
Since autumn 2025, Wero has supported payments for goods and services at participating online merchants, extending its functionality beyond person-to-person transfers. EPI has outlined further plans for the service, including support for recurring payments such as subscriptions and point-of-sale payments at physical retail locations. Additional features under development include ‘buy now, pay later’ functionality, integration with merchant loyalty programmes, and tools for managing shared expenses among users.
Martina Weimert, chief executive officer of the European Payments Initiative, said the addition of norisbank extends the scheme's network of participating banks, with the stated goal of offering a single, secure payment method for individuals and businesses across national borders in Europe. The rollout at norisbank follows the same pattern seen at Deutsche Bank and Postbank, indicating a phased expansion of Wero across banking groups operating in the German market.
For norisbank, the addition of Wero is framed as part of a broader effort to strengthen its digital current account offering, alongside existing services such as overnight money products. The bank did not disclose a specific timeline for the planned integration of Wero directly into its own mobile app, nor further detail on when point-of-sale or subscription-payment functionality will become available to its customers.
