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 available for use in Swiss e-commerce. Payrexx is integrating VERD pro bono into its payment solution, thereby enabling payments with the orange VERD card in around 7,000 Swiss online shops.
Sheila
Matti
“VERD is like a toolbox,” says Christian Wohlwend, founder and initiator of the VERD cooperative, “and with the tools it contains, anyone can generate 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 through the VERD cooperative. In this way, projects are supported and invested in lively villages and neighborhoods.”
For users
VERD behaves like a prepaid debit card: pay contactlessly in the store and enter the card details online – with one crucial difference. The fees charged do not go to anonymous networks, but flow back through the VERD cooperative into local projects, into the villages and neighborhoods. You can become a cooperative member when ordering the free card by paying a one-time amount of 5 francs.
For merchants
VERD stands out for its low transaction fees: In-store, you pay only 0.6 percent per payment – significantly less than with other payment methods. In addition, VERD strengthens the local profile of shops, restaurants and hotels. Those who accept VERD visibly support regional values – and reach customers who consciously pay for charitable causes.
In recent months, VERD has gained noticeable momentum: over 400 cards have been activated, more than 2,200 transactions completed, over 140’000 CHF deposited into the card accounts and around 100 businesses now accept VERD. The online launch is the next logical step.
Entry into e-commerce thanks to exclusive partnership
Together with the Thun-based payment provider Payrexx, VERD.cash is set to become available not only in village shops, but also online. Through integration into all products and services of Payrexx, 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 associated costs and carrying out the entire integration pro bono. For online payments, transaction costs are also only 0.85 %.
“VERD and Payrexx have many similarities: 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 payment business. A collaboration was therefore only logical for us.”
Ivan Schmid
Founder and CEO of Payrexx
According to Christian Wohlwend, it makes sense for VERD to address online retail as early as possible: “A lively village needs a lively business community, and many village shops already have an online store today. This allows them to offer their products and services independently of opening hours.” Through integration into the Payrexx network, regional businesses could increase their visibility. “In addition, it is also about self-determination,” emphasizes Andrea Bargetzi, “users should be able to decide for themselves how or where they shop. No one should be forced to go into a store in order to support their village.”
