Euronet Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement to Acquire Merchant Acquiring Business of CrediaBank in Greece
MWN-AI** Summary
Euronet Worldwide, a leader in payments processing and cross-border transactions, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the merchant acquiring business of CrediaBank in Greece, the country’s fifth largest bank. The transaction, expected to close by Q3 2026 pending regulatory approvals, aims to merge CrediaBank’s merchant portfolio with Euronet’s existing operations, strengthening Euronet's position in Greece's merchant acquiring market.
Together, the two companies anticipate processing over $22 billion annually and serving more than 240,000 merchants. This collaboration not only enhances service quality and diversifies product offerings but also ensures ongoing customer support through CrediaBank’s extensive branch network. Euronet’s advanced technology, combined with CrediaBank’s local expertise, is poised to accelerate the evolution of financial services in Greece.
In addition to the acquisition, the agreement outlines the launch of a modern digital wallet, harnessing Euronet's infrastructure and integrating it with Greece's national instant payment system, IRIS. This digital wallet is designed to meet the European market's growing demand for cardless payment solutions.
Furthermore, Euronet will extend its services to CrediaBank, providing credit, debit, and prepaid card issuing services while also managing the bank’s ATM operations. This will allow CrediaBank to offer innovative payment solutions utilizing Euronet’s proprietary technology, enhancing operational efficiency and customer experience.
Euronet has been active in the Greek market for over 25 years, and this partnership marks a significant step in expanding its influence and introducing new digital financial services in the region. Both companies expect the collaboration to drive transactional growth, improve customer service, and ultimately enhance profitability.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Euronet Worldwide's strategic acquisition of CrediaBank's merchant acquiring business in Greece is a significant move that seeks to capitalize on the growing digital payments landscape. By merging its existing merchant portfolio with CrediaBank's operations, Euronet is poised to enhance its market dominance, servicing over 240,000 merchants and potentially processing over $22 billion annually. As investors, it’s essential to recognize the implications of this partnership both for Euronet’s growth trajectory and the broader payments industry in Greece.
Euronet's decision to offer additional financial services to CrediaBank, including card issuing and ATM management, underscores its commitment to deepen operational ties within the Greek banking sector. This vertical integration should drive cost efficiencies and bolster revenue through enhanced service offerings. Furthermore, the planned introduction of a modern account-to-account payment wallet utilizing the national IRIS payment network aligns with the growing European trend towards cardless transactions—a clear path toward capturing the evolving consumer preferences for digital solutions.
As the transaction moves towards its expected closure in Q3 2026, investors should closely monitor regulatory approval processes and potential operational synergies. The competitive landscape in Greece is shifting, and Euronet's established presence alongside its new capabilities positions it well against local and global competitors.
Additionally, Euronet’s commitment to expanding its technological capabilities via the CoreCard acquisition enhances its platform resilience and ability to innovate. Given the accelerated shift towards digital finance, this initiative complements Euronet’s long-term strategy, offering potential growth in revenue streams.
In conclusion, the strategic acquisition not only strengthens Euronet’s footprint in Greece but also places it at the forefront of the digital transformation in payments. Investors should consider this a pivotal development, potentially leading to robust financial performance and increased shareholder value in the coming years.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
LEAWOOD, Kan., Jan. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euronet (NASDAQ: EEFT), a global leader in payments processing and cross-border transactions, and CrediaBank S.A. (“CrediaBank”), the fifth largest operating bank in Greece, have entered into a definitive agreement for Euronet to acquire CrediaBank’s merchant acquiring business. In addition, Euronet will provide financial services to the bank, and the companies plan to launch an account-to-account consumer digital wallet.
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Agreement Expands Merchant Acquiring in Greece
The agreement will merge CrediaBank’s merchant portfolio with Euronet’s existing merchant acquiring business in Greece, further strengthening Euronet’s leading position in merchant acquiring services in the country. The combined operations are expected to process more than $22B annually and serve more than 240,000 merchants.
By combining Euronet’s industry-leading payments technology and international experience with CrediaBank’s country-wide branch network, the partnership will enhance service quality, expand product offerings, ensure uninterrupted nationwide customer service and deliver additional digital services to the bank’s customers.
The agreement also provides Euronet with a long-term strategic partnership with the bank for exclusive sales distribution through the bank’s branch network and the development of new, incremental value-added services.
The transaction accelerates Euronet’s strategic goal of a diversified, future-ready revenue mix, providing multiple customer touchpoints that span the digital and physical world of payments. Designed for the next generation of digital financial services across the globe, the strategy is anchored by Ren, Euronet’s modern and scalable payments platform, and was recently enhanced through the acquisition of the CoreCard revolving credit platform.
Agreement Includes Plans to Launch Account-to-Account Payment Wallet
As part of the agreement, Euronet and CrediaBank are partnering to deliver a modern digital wallet built on Euronet's wallet platform and payment infrastructure. The wallet will integrate IRIS, the national instant payment rails for account-to-account transactions, and combine it with Euronet’s loyalty and other value-added services, thus aligning with the accelerating European shift toward cardless payment models.
While supporting each company’s broader digital and growth strategy, the agreement brings together Euronet's technology and payments expertise with CrediaBank’s banking capabilities, creating mutual commercial benefits through expanded customer reach, increased transaction volumes and the development of new digital use cases.
Euronet to Offer Financial Services to CrediaBank
Under the agreement, Euronet will provide CrediaBank with issuing services for credit, debit and prepaid cards. In parallel, Euronet will extend the existing ATM participation agreement by fully managing the acquired in-branch and off-site bank ATMs. These agreements will also enable CrediaBank to extend to its customers Euronet’s established and proven proprietary technology products, including, among others, the provision of cash, card-based acquiring, alternative payment acquiring, online acquiring and tokenized payments.
“Euronet has been present in the Greek market for more than 25 years with all its business divisions, including EFT, Money Transfer and epay,” said Nikos Fountas, Euronet EVP and CEO of EFT EMEA and Americas. “With our combined assets and state-of-the-art technology, we have emerged as the largest payments provider in the country. We have a long history of success and deep knowledge of the payments products that are in demand by consumers and businesses. This partnership marks a milestone for expanding our presence and introducing additional digital payment innovations to the Greek market.”
“We are pleased to announce this new collaboration with Euronet, which spans multiple areas of our operations. Euronet’s cutting-edge technological expertise is expected to enhance our operational flexibility, support the reduction of operating costs, and drive improvements in efficiency and profitability. This partnership further strengthens our ability to deliver innovative, high-quality services to our customers, ensuring a seamless and top-tier experience,” said Eleni Vrettou, CrediaBank CEO.
About CrediaBank
CrediaBank is the fifth largest bank in Greece by total assets serving c. 300,000 active corporate and retail customers through a total of 65 retail banking branches and 5 business centers across the country offering a broad range of financial services, including loans, deposits, insurance products, investment products, mutual funds and stock trading services to retail and corporate customers.
About Euronet
A global leader in payments processing and cross-border transactions, Euronet moves money in all the ways consumers and businesses depend upon. This includes money transfers, credit/debit processing, ATMs, point-of-sale services, branded payments, currency exchange and more. With products and services in more than 200 countries and territories provided through its own brand and branded business segments, Euronet and its financial technologies and networks make participation in the global economy easier, faster and more secure for everyone.
Starting in Central Europe in 1994, Euronet now supports an extensive global real-time digital and cash payments network that includes 57,534 installed ATMs, approximately 592,000 EFT point-of-sale terminals and a growing portfolio of outsourced debit and credit card services which are under management in 69 countries; card software solutions; a prepaid processing network of approximately 712,000 point-of-sale terminals at approximately 346,000 retailer locations in 65 countries; and a global money transfer network of approximately 638,000 locations serving 199 countries and territories with digital connections to 4.1 billion bank accounts, 3.4 billion digital wallet accounts and 4.0 billion Visa debit cards through Visa Direct payments. Euronet serves clients from its corporate headquarters in Leawood, Kansas, USA, and 67 worldwide offices. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.euronetworldwide.com.
Euronet ContactStephanie TaylorDirector, Financial Planning and Investor Relations+1-913-327-4200
FAQ**
How will Euronet Worldwide Inc. (EEFT) leverage its existing technology to enhance CrediaBank's operations post-acquisition, and what specific challenges do they anticipate in this integration?
What key performance indicators will Euronet Worldwide Inc. (EEFT) use to measure the success of the merchant acquiring business and the new digital wallet services in Greece?
Given Euronet Worldwide Inc. (EEFT)'s extensive global presence, how does this acquisition align with their long-term growth strategy in Europe, particularly in terms of digital payment innovations?
What are the anticipated regulatory hurdles Euronet Worldwide Inc. (EEFT) expects to face before the transaction closes in Q3 2026, and how will they prepare to address these challenges?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Euronet Worldwide Inc. (NASDAQ: EEFT).
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