Overview

• Stefan G. Reuß urges policymakers, the ECB and national central banks to promote the bank‑run system and apply “gentle pressure” on hesitant institutions.
• Wero, built on SEPA instant payments, has been live since July 2024 and is available in Germany, France and Belgium through Sparkassen, Volksbanken, Postbank and ING.
• EPI aims to build a European rival to PayPal, Visa and Mastercard, a goal Reuß links to resilience if US providers were to exit Europe due to political upheaval.
• Major German retailers including MediaMarkt‑Saturn, Otto and Rossmann are preparing online checkout tests starting in October, with broader in‑store QR/NFC acceptance planned for 2026.
• Usage remains limited in Germany despite registrations, and trade groups caution that merchants will demand cost‑efficient, reliable processing before embracing the new option.