Worldline : equensWorldline to process de Volksbank's Multi-Currency Payments

Utrecht, 28 November 2018 - De Volksbank, the fourth largest bank in the Netherlands, has chosen equensWorldline SE, a subsidiary of Worldline [Euronext: WLN], the European market leader in payment and transaction services, to process its Multi-Currency Payment transactions. This step consequently follows de Volksbank's strategy to strengthen their focus on delivering value-added services to their customers even further and move the processing of their non-euro payments to equensWorldline as a highly reliable, future-proof and efficient payments service provider. LastMarch the bank already selected equensWorldline as their Instant Payments Back-Office Processing partner. The contract will initially be for five years.

The decision of de Volksbank to outsource parts of their back-office payments processing is a logical choice, given the rapidly changing customer demands and the accelerating digitalization of the payments arena. Moving towards a global end-to-end real-time and technically standardized payments world, banks are now seriously reconsidering their business and operational model for their payments processing business. Because of the massive investment needs and running costs for establishing and maintaining an end-to-end stable infrastructure, sourcing models for payments processing are more and more becoming a viable solution for banks of all sizes, as this will lower their costs, reduce complexity and free up resources.

De Volksbank is a Dutch holding which has four distinctively positioned customer-oriented bank brands: ASN Bank, BLG Wonen, RegioBank and SNS, and is one of the first Dutch banks taking steps towards outsourcing their payments processing back-office.

The Multi-Currency Payments service will ensure that non-euro currency payments around the world of de Volksbank´s customers will be processed in an efficient and future-proof way. This flexible Multi-Currency Payments solution, which offers very rich functionalities, is part of the extensive and modular Back-Office Processing product portfolio of equensWorldline, which also handles other payment types such as Instant Payments and SEPA and supporting services, like Embargo- and FATF (Financial Action Task Force) Check. This modular EPC (European Payments Council) and PSD2 compliant portfolio can be used by any bank; large, midsized or small.

Michael Steinbach, CEO of equensWorldline SE: 'We are very pleased that de Volksbank chose equensWorldline as their preferred provider for processing Multi-Currency Payment transactions, following their previous decision to select us for the processing of Instant Payments. It demonstrates their trust and satisfaction regarding the way we've been supporting them. Outsourcing parts of their payments business will lower de Volksbank's complexity and costs and will allow them to focus on the front-end, where they can differentiate themselves and strengthen the relation with their customers.''Last year, we started a program with equensWorldline for the instant payments back-office engine accompanied with clearing and settlement, as a first step for us to outsource parts of the payments processing chain. The successful instant payment program is for us extra proof that we chose the right partner and therefore it was not a difficult choice to select equensWorldline's Multi-Currency Payments service as a natural follow-up. Of course, equensWorldline offers outstanding value for money, a fast time-to-market and has a track record in offering demanding and critical services which were for us other important decision criteria', added Terry Smit, Manager Payments & Savings at de Volksbank.'We value their modular and future-proof concept of services. With this flexibility we can focus on items where we really can make a difference to our clients and save costs.'

About Worldline

Worldline [Euronext: WLN] is the European market leader in payment and transaction services. Worldline's forward-looking innovations and services enable companies to reach their end customers in a targeted way and to offer them modern and seamless services. With more than 45 years' experience, Worldline is a major player in the B2B2C field. Worldline supports all companies and public administrations in this ever-changing market and makes a major contribution to their success. Worldline offers a unique and flexible business model based on a growing global portfolio and which includes comprehensive support. Worldline's activities are divided into three business areas: Merchant Services, Mobility & e-Transactional Services, and Financial Services including equensWorldline. Worldline employs more than 9,400 people worldwide and generates an annual turnover of €1.6 billion. Worldline is an Atos subsidiary. worldline.com

About equensWordline

equensWorldline is the pan-European leader in payments and transactional services. Being part of the Worldline Group, equensWorldline combines long-standing proven expertise in traditional mass payment systems (issuing, acquiring, intra- and interbank payment processing) and innovative e-commerce and mobile payment solutions. Building on more than 50 years of experience equensWorldline services a broad, international client base in numerous countries across Europe. Clients rely on equensWorldline's expertise to anticipate European regulatory changes, benefit from transformative technologies, optimize processes, ensure operational excellence and manage risk and fraud. The company's unparalleled footprint makes equensWorldline a cost-efficient and competitive business partner for seamless, secure and efficient payment solutions. equensworldline.com

Press contact equensWorldline

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