TWINT

Last updated
Twint AG
Company type Joint-stock company
PredecessorMonexio AG
FoundedSeptember 2016;8 years ago (2016-09) in Zurich, Switzerland
Headquarters,
Switzerland
Key people
Markus Kilb (CEO)
Services Mobile payment
Website twint.ch

Twint is a Swiss mobile payment app rolled out nation-wide in 2017. As of 2024, Twint has become ubiquitous in Switzerland, with practically all stores accepting Twint payments and nearly all banks taking part in the payment system. The app was developed by Monexio, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PostFinance, beginning in 2014.

Contents

The first banks that cooperated in Twint were the Berner Kantonalbank and Valiant Bank in 2015, joined by the Basler Kantonalbank and Bank Cler in 2016.

Twint had approximately five million users at the begin of 2023, [1] out of the seven million adult population of Switzerland at the time.

Company

History

Monexio AG was founded in July 2014 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of PostFinance. PostFinance Executive Board member Thierry Kneissler was appointed CEO, while Hansruedi Köng, CEO of PostFinance, became Chairman of the Board of Directors. The company became operational in August 2014. [2] The pre-launch of Twint took place from 6 August 2015, starting in the cities of Bern and Zurich. [3] The national rollout began on 3 November 2015. [4] [5]

Function

Each Twint account is connected a mobile phone number, a bank account, or both.

Payments to other Twint users

When making a payment to a private Twint user, the payer selects the receiver's contact in the app, and specifies the sum. A receiver can also request a sum from a mobile phone contact if that person is also using the Twint app. [6]

Payment in stores

Payment when making purchases can happen in two ways:

Specifically the latter method has allowed many small stores to be integrated into cashless money transfer, e.g. mountain huts, club restaurants at sports matches, and second-hand shops, without having to invest in credit card terminals.

Sources

  1. "Das einst belächelte Twint hat über 5 Millionen User – wichtiger ist aber eine andere Zahl" [The once ridiculed Twint has over 5 million users – but another number is more important]. Watson (in German). 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  2. Gerber, Samuel (13 August 2014). "Postfinance gründet Tech-Start-Up". Handelszeitung (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  3. "Twint startet in der Schweiz". Swiss IT Reseller (in German). 6 August 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  4. "Postfinance-Bezahl-App Twint schweizweit gestartet". SWI swissinfo (in Swiss High German). 3 November 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  5. Pöschl, Fabian (3 November 2015). "Twint ist da". Netzwoche (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  6. 1 2 "FAQ – frequently asked questions". Twint. Retrieved 2024-07-04.