Defrancq Pioneers Wero Invoice Payments in Belgium, Expanding Use Cases for European Digital Wallet

Defrancq België has become the first company in Belgium to enable invoice payments via Wero — the pan-European digital payment solution backed by the European Payments Initiative (EPI) — marking a significant milestone in the commercial rollout of next-generation payments. The new capability, delivered in partnership with Belgian payment service provider POM, allows customers of major Belgian banks to pay business invoices directly through Wero, moving the wallet’s use case beyond person-to-person (P2P) transactions into business-to-consumer and business-to-business payment flows. This development demonstrates the readiness of the Belgian and broader European payments ecosystem to support higher-value digital payments and aligns with growing adoption of instant, account-to-account payment solutions across Europe.

Defrancq’s rollout leverages Wero’s streamlined payment experience — which is already integrated into the banking apps of several Belgian banks — to make paying invoices simpler, faster and more secure. The launch underscores Wero’s transition from an initial P2P wallet to a comprehensive European payment tool capable of handling a wider range of digital payment use cases, including invoice settlement, e-commerce and future business-centric payment scenarios.

Key Highlights

• Pioneering invoice payments: Defrancq is the first company in Belgium to accept Wero for invoice settlement.
• Partnership with POM: Payment service provider POM enabled the technical and commercial integration.
• Major Belgian banks supported: Customers of leading banks like ING and KBC can use Wero for invoice payments, with additional banks to join later this year.
• Expanded use case: The move marks Wero’s evolution from P2P to business payment workflows, including higher-value invoices.
• Readiness of European infrastructure: The launch showcases the maturity of Wero and the Belgian payments ecosystem.

What’s New: Wero for Invoice Payments

Originally introduced as a mobile wallet and instant account-to-account payment solution in Belgium — following successful launches in Germany and France — Wero has been designed to simplify everyday payments using QR codes, phone numbers or contact lists integrated into banking apps.

Historically, Wero has focused on peer-to-peer (P2P) payments, enabling users to send or receive money instantly within seconds. But with Defrancq’s adoption of Wero invoice payments, the platform is now being used to settle business-issued invoices, a major step forward in broadening its commercial utility. This helps customers pay bills — including those issued by companies — using a familiar, secure and friction-less payment interface.

The integration allows users to initiate payments directly from their banking app via a Wero link or QR code, offering a fast, secure alternative to traditional bank transfers, credit card payments or manual invoice settlement processes. The feature’s rollout initially supports customers of ING and KBC in Belgium, with other banks expected to enable the functionality later in 2026.

Why This Matters for Payments in Europe

1. Wero’s Evolution from P2P to Business Payments

Wero was launched by the European Payments Initiative (EPI) as part of a broad effort to build a sovereign European digital wallet that enables instant account-to-account payments for consumers and merchants. The platform’s capabilities — embedded within participating banks’ mobile applications — aim to unify payment experiences across countries and use cases.

Until now, Wero’s primary use case in Belgium has been peer-to-peer transactions, such as sending money to contacts or scanning QR codes for small everyday payments. With its first invoice payment implementation, Wero moves beyond simple transfers into higher-value, business-oriented payment scenarios, which will be crucial for merchant adoption and broader commercial utility.

2. Adoption by Merchants and Businesses

Invoices represent a significant portion of daily business payment flows — particularly in B2B and recurring billing environments. Allowing customers to pay invoices via Wero removes friction associated with IBAN entry, manual bank transfers or card payments, offering a seamless instant payment experience. This can improve cash flow for businesses and simplify payment reconciliation.

Driving this innovation in Belgium — a market with strong digital payment infrastructure and ongoing e-invoicing mandates — sets a strong precedent for broader European expansion. As Wero becomes more widely accepted for e-commerce and invoicing, the platform is positioned to challenge legacy payment rails and enhance cross-border payment efficiency.

Market and Regulatory Context

Belgium is simultaneously advancing national e-invoicing requirements, with B2B electronic invoicing becoming mandatory from 1 January 2026 under evolving government mandates. While mandatory invoicing focuses on invoice issuance formats and compliance, the emergence of digital payment options like Wero reinforces the broader shift toward digital business payments.

Wero’s development aligns with European efforts to promote digital payment sovereignty and reduce reliance on non-European payment infrastructures — a strategic priority for banks, regulators and merchants looking for alternatives that are secure, interoperable and compliant with European standards.

What to Expect Going Forward

With Defrancq’s pioneering implementation, Wero is likely to be adopted for additional invoice payment use cases across sectors, including utilities, subscriptions and professional services. As more banks enable the feature throughout 2026, businesses and consumers across Belgium can expect a more consistent and integrated payment experience.

Looking ahead, Wero is also expected to expand its wallet capabilities beyond P2P and invoice payments to include online e-commerce purchases, subscription management, point-of-sale (POS) payments and value-added services, further strengthening its position as a pan-European digital payment solution.

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