Five national payment apps have announced plans to interconnect, creating a unified payment system across Europe. On Wednesday, September 30, Italian Bancomat, Spanish Bizum, EPI (the company behind Wero), Portuguese SIBS with MB WAY, and Nordic Vipps MobilePay announced the creation of the European Network for Payments (ENP), which will be based in Madrid. This initiative aims to allow users to send money across borders without switching apps. For example, a Wero user could send money to a friend using Bizum in Spain without either person needing to change their app. The ENP stems from an agreement signed by the five partners in February 2026, with each company holding equal shares in the new network. Together, these payment solutions serve approximately 130 million users in 13 countries, covering more than 70% of the European Union’s population and including Norway. The network will be built using European standards, enabling instant, direct transfers between bank accounts—without relying on traditional card networks. Each app will keep its own brand and user interface. The rollout will start with individual-to-individual transfers across countries by the end of 2026, with online and in-store payments following in 2027. Currently, Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal dominate these payment methods in Europe. The initiative is driven by a desire for European financial independence. Fernando Rodríguez, deputy general manager of Bizum overseeing international expansion, said the project "strengthens Europe's strategic autonomy." Kim Fuglsang Kristoffersen, head of payment strategy at Vipps MobilePay, emphasized the need for "a strong European alternative" to global payment giants. Some cross-border connections already exist. For instance, since March 2025, Bizum, Bancomat Pay, and MB WAY have been linked through the EuroPA alliance. This allows users to send money across borders, with about 6 million euros already transferred in 2025 without any marketing push. Vipps MobilePay operates in four Nordic countries, while Wero is used for peer-to-peer payments in Belgium, France, Germany, and Luxembourg, as well as for online purchases in Germany. In France, Wero will be available on the websites of Decathlon, Lidl, Leclerc, Fnac, and Darty this autumn. Martina Weimert, CEO of EPI, said the network will allow merchants to accept payments from customers across Europe "without major investment." Other European payment apps may join the ENP in the future, provided they meet the technical requirements and the five founding companies agree.