25 April 2023

EPI Company announces acquisitions, additional shareholders and the coming launch of its new instant payment solution

We are developing a new, scalable platform to address the modern and evolving payment needs of European consumers and merchants in the best possible way, with efficient, state-of-the-art technology.

Building a unique, European-grown instant payment solution – The European Payments Initiative (EPI) welcomes four additional shareholders and announces two acquisitions. EPI Company today confirmed its planned acquisition of payment solution iDEAL and payment solutions provider Payconiq International (PQI). EPI, iDEAL and PQI will join forces to realise EPI’s vision to set up a new, innovative and unified payment solution for Europe. 

Currence iDEAL is the leading Dutch payment scheme, and PQI is a Luxemburg-based payment solutions provider that currently serves iDEAL in the Netherlands, Bancontact Payconiq Company in Belgium and Payconiq in Luxembourg. Agreement with the shareholders of these companies has been reached, and the acquisition is planned to go ahead, subject to approval by the competent national and European authorities. 

The EPI shareholders—BFCM, BNP Paribas, BPCE, Crédit Agricole, Deutsche Bank, DSGV, ING, KBC, La Banque Postale, Nexi, Société Générale and Worldline—by combining their expertise over the past two years, have proven their determination and ambition to build a solution that will ensure Europe’s payment sovereignty. They also welcome four new shareholders: Belfius and DZ Bank, who joined at the end of 2022, and ABN Amro and Rabobank, two more major Dutch banks, who are now coming on board alongside existing Dutch shareholder ING. 

Martina Weimert, CEO of EPI Company: “EPI is delighted to welcome Currence iDEAL and PQI. Together we will join forces to realise EPI’s vision as we build an innovative solution based on a new, unified instant payment scheme and platform for Europe. EPI will leverage the strong operational experience, know-how and local market knowledge of these companies. We are developing a new, scalable platform to address the modern and evolving payment needs of European consumers and merchants in the best possible way, with efficient, state-of-the-art technology.” 

Built for Europe by European payment industry leaders 

The EPI solution is built for Europe by European payment industry leaders and leverages the instant, account-to-account payment scheme that is widely available in the region. EPI will enable European banks and acquirers to join forces, delivering greater efficiency and value for customers through direct and instant payments between bank accounts. .. 

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