Wirecard Bank, a Germany-based providers of electronic payment and risk management solutions, has entered into an agreement with Diners Club International, a business division of Discover Financial Services, to become a licensed acquirer for the credit cards Diners Club and Discover.

The agreement comprises the acceptance as well as processing and settlement of the two credit card brands. Diners Club and Discover cardmembers will have the ability to use their cards in markets where Wirecard has a presence. The European countries include Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and UK as well as in the markets of Asia China, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Moreover, from the outset, 12 settlement currencies will be processed that are AUD, CAD, CHF, DKK, EUR, GBP, JPY, NOK, SEK, SGD, USD, ZAR.

Thomas Kappner, head of acquiring and chief representative of Wirecard Bank, said: “Our existing portfolio is now being extended to include two of the world’s most renowned credit card brands. This is a key step especially in view of our expansion in Asia.”

Gerry Wagner, executive vice president of international acceptance at Diners Club International, said: “Diners Club International is an integral part of Discover’s global payments strategy and we are committed to our goal of expanding our global footprint. This agreement with Wirecard, a leader in the Customer Not Present (CNP) space, is an important step in reaching merchants across Europe and Asia as we make progress on this initiative.”