With Payrexx digital: VERD, the fair Swiss payment card, goes online
VERD.cash, the non-profit payment method of the VERD cooperative, is now also usable in Swiss e-commerce. Payrexx integrates VERD pro bono into its payment solution, thereby opening approximately 7,000 Swiss online shops for payments with the orange VERD card.
Sheila
Matti
«VERD is like a toolbox», says Christian Wohlwend, founder and initiator of the VERD co-operative, «and with the tools contained in it, anyone can earn money for their own village.» Andrea Bargetzi, Managing Director of VERD.cash, takes the floor: «The VERD.cash payment method is exactly one of these tools. Every payment with VERD.cash generates money, which is later distributed via the VERD co-operative. In this way, projects are supported and invested in living villages and neighbourhoods.»
For users
VERD behaves like a prepaid debit card: pay contactlessly in-store and enter the card details online – with one decisive difference. The fees charged do not go to anonymous networks, but flow back via the VERD co-operative into local projects, into the villages and neighbourhoods. You can become a co-operative member when ordering the free card by paying a one-off amount of 5 francs.
For merchants
VERD is characterised by low transaction fees: in-store, you pay just 0.6 per cent per payment – significantly less than with other payment methods. In addition, VERD strengthens the local profile of shops, restaurants and hotels. Anyone who accepts VERD visibly supports regional values – and reaches a customer base that deliberately pays for the common good.
In recent months, VERD has gained noticeable momentum: over 400 cards have been activated, more than 2200 transactions carried out, over CHF 140’000 paid into card accounts and around 100 businesses now accept VERD. The launch online is the next logical step.
Entry into e-commerce thanks to an exclusive partnership
Together with the Thun-based payment provider Payrexx, VERD.cash is set to be available not only in village shops, but also online. Through integration into all Payrexx products and services, around 7’000 Swiss merchants will in future have access to VERD.cash and can let their customers pay with the orange card. To support VERD’s non-profit idea, Payrexx is also covering all costs incurred and carrying out the entire integration pro bono. For online payments, the transaction costs are also only 0.85 %.
«VERD and Payrexx have many things in common: both companies want to support small and medium-sized enterprises, both care about the region and both want to bring about change in the traditional payments business. A collaboration was therefore only logical for us.»
Ivan Schmid
Founder and CEO Payrexx
According to Christian Wohlwend, it makes sense for VERD to tackle online retail as early as possible: «A living village needs a living local economy and many village shops now already have an online shop. This means they can also offer their products and services independently of opening hours.» Through integration into the Payrexx network, regional businesses could increase their visibility. «Moreover, it is also about self-determination», Andrea Bargetzi emphasises, «users should be able to decide for themselves how or where they shop. No one should be forced to go to a shop in order to support their village.»
