Finance
Belgian prosecutors launch money laundering probe into Worldline's local unit
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 27, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Quick Summary
Belgian prosecutors are investigating Worldline's local unit for potential money laundering, affecting the company's shares and prompting enhanced risk controls.
Belgian Authorities Investigate Worldline for Potential Money Laundering
By Gianluca Lo Nostro
(Reuters) -The Brussels Public Prosecutor's office said on Friday it had opened an investigation into potential money laundering activities at the Belgian unit of French payments processor Worldline.
The investigation follows articles published in Le Soir and De Standaard which said that the company had processed payments for companies involved in illegal activities, the Brussels Public prosecutor said in a statement.
The investigation has been entrusted to the Federal Judicial Police, it said.
Worldline said in a statement to Reuters it has taken note of the opening of the investigation and that it will cooperate with the authorities.
In response to the media reports, Worldline said on Wednesday that, since 2023, it has strengthened merchant risk controls and terminated non-compliant client relationships.
The probe is the first formal investigation to be launched after the allegations made by the European Investigative Collaborations network of 21 media outlets across Europe.
The economic and financial crime section of the Paris public prosecutor's office could not immediately be reached for comment.
Worldline, one of Europe's largest payments processors by transactions handled, is headquartered in France.
The company's shares fell as much as 10% on Friday morning after partially recovering on Thursday from a 38% slump the previous day that was their second-biggest one-day loss since 2023.
(Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro in Gdansk, Dominique Vidalon and Florence Loève in Paris; Editing by Matt Scuffham and Hugh Lawson)
Key Takeaways
- •Belgian authorities are investigating Worldline for money laundering.
- •The probe follows reports of payments linked to illegal activities.
- •Worldline has strengthened merchant risk controls since 2023.
- •The investigation is led by the Federal Judicial Police.
- •Worldline's shares experienced significant volatility.
Frequently Asked Questions about Belgian prosecutors launch money laundering probe into Worldline's local unit
1What prompted the investigation into Worldline?
The investigation was prompted by articles in Le Soir and De Standaard, which reported that Worldline processed payments for companies involved in illegal activities.
2How has Worldline responded to the investigation?
Worldline stated that it has taken note of the investigation and will cooperate with authorities. They also mentioned that they have strengthened merchant risk controls since 2023.
3What impact did the investigation have on Worldline's shares?
Worldline's shares fell as much as 10% on the morning following the announcement of the investigation, after experiencing a significant 38% slump the previous day.
4Who is conducting the investigation?
The investigation has been entrusted to the Federal Judicial Police in Belgium.
5What is the significance of this investigation?
This probe is the first formal investigation launched following allegations made by the European Investigative Collaborations network, which includes 21 media outlets across Europe.
