iDEAL operated as an account-to-account push payment system where transactions became final once a customer confirmed the payment in their banking app. This irrevocability gave Dutch merchants a near-zero credit risk profile. Merchants could release goods immediately upon payment confirmation without reserve requirements. Wero replaces this finality with a scheme-based dispute framework where customers can challenge transactions weeks after completion.
Under iDEAL, a confirmed payment was in practice never reversed. Under Wero, PSPs may impose delayed payouts, rolling reserves, and minimum threshold amounts before releasing revenue to merchants. For high-velocity e-commerce businesses, the share of revenue exposed to credit risk could rise from near zero to more than 50 percent during active dispute windows, according to Consultancy.eu analysis. Merchants that currently release goods immediately upon iDEAL confirmation will need to reassess delivery policies and working capital requirements.
The technical routing migration from iDEAL to Wero infrastructure is planned for H2 2026, pending De Nederlandsche Bank approval. iDEAL currently processes approximately 72 percent of Dutch e-commerce payments. PSPs including Adyen, Buckaroo, CCV, and CM.com have confirmed transition support. Wero transaction identifiers differ from iDEAL's format, requiring merchant reconciliation system updates. The full phase-out of iDEAL is expected by end of 2027.