Viva.com Integrates Directly with Multibanco to Boost European Payment Acceptance

Viva.com has established a direct connection to Multibanco, Portugal’s national payment network, becoming the first international bank to achieve this level of integration. For fintech professionals, this move signals a significant consolidation of European payment infrastructure, allowing merchants across the continent to tap into Portugal’s dominant domestic payment methods through a single provider.

What was announced

Viva.com has announced its direct connection to Multibanco, the primary national payment network in Portugal. This technical integration allows the bank to facilitate MB card and MB WAY acceptance for its network of businesses both within Portugal and across the wider European market. By achieving direct connectivity, Viva.com becomes the first international bank to bypass intermediary layers to interface directly with the MB Scheme.

The integration is designed to support both physical in-store transactions and digital online payments. For merchants, this provides immediate access to a significant portion of the Portuguese population; the Multibanco network currently serves over 9 million MB cardholders. Furthermore, the integration includes MB WAY, a popular mobile payment solution in the region that boasts more than 7 million users.

This development is positioned as a key milestone in the bank's effort to provide pan-European critical payments and banking infrastructure. By integrating domestic schemes directly into its cloud-based platform, the company aims to streamline how international businesses handle localized payment preferences. The rollout ensures that businesses using Viva.com’s technology can accept these specific Portuguese payment methods without needing separate local banking relationships or complex third-party integrations.

"Joining the MB scheme and offering MB WAY is the latest proof point of Viva.com's role as pan-European critical payments and banking infrastructure."

Viva.com

The companies involved

Viva.com identifies itself as the first Tech Bank in Europe specifically designed for businesses. The firm operates as a fully licensed credit institution, providing a range of integrated banking and payment services across the continent. Unlike traditional legacy banks, Viva.com focuses on a cloud-based infrastructure that allows for rapid deployment of payment technologies, such as localized domestic scheme integrations and specialized merchant services. The company’s presence spans multiple European markets, where it serves as both an acquirer and a provider of business accounts and debit cards.

Multibanco is the cornerstone of the Portuguese financial ecosystem. It is the national payment network that connects the majority of banks in Portugal, providing a unified platform for ATM services, point-of-sale transactions, and digital payments. Its mobile component, MB WAY, has become a dominant force in the Portuguese market for peer-to-peer transfers and mobile-initiated merchant payments. As a domestic scheme, Multibanco is deeply integrated into the daily financial habits of Portuguese consumers, making it a mandatory requirement for any merchant looking to achieve full market penetration in the region.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has tracked Viva.com’s expansion across various European sectors and its integration of emerging payment technologies. In August 2026, the company reached a significant milestone by securing a major contract to power Cyprus state electronic payment services. This followed the bank's move to integrate the Wero digital wallet, a move aimed at scaling instant account-to-account payments across the continent.

The firm has also been active in specialized regulatory and event-based payment sectors. FF News reported on its partnership with European Dynamics to power EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism payments, highlighting its role in government-level infrastructure. Additionally, the bank has focused on the UK market, where it scaled a partnership with MARI to manage payments for events reaching up to 3 million visitors.

What this means

This move highlights the increasing pressure on traditional pan-European acquirers to offer more than just Visa and Mastercard acceptance. As domestic schemes like Multibanco maintain their dominance in local markets, the ability for a single provider to offer direct, non-intermediated access to these networks becomes a significant competitive advantage. It raises questions for other international players about the sustainability of relying on third-party gateways to access local European markets. For the Portuguese sector, the entry of an international bank into the domestic scheme may trigger a shift in how local merchants evaluate their banking partners, potentially forcing local incumbents to innovate faster to retain their merchant bases.