What Cardlink does

Cardlink (legal entity: Monoprosoipi Anonymi Etairia Diacheiriseos kai Leitoyrgias Diktyon Ilektronikon Synallagon CARDLINK) is Greece's largest payment acceptance network, founded in 2004 by Alpha Bank and Eurobank to unify Greek POS infrastructure. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Worldline (Euronext: WLN) since September 2021, headquartered in Nea Psychiko, Athens, with 101-250 employees serving 267,000+ connected businesses and processing 2.9 million transactions daily. Its product portfolio spans Android-based POS terminals (A80, A8900, A920 Pro, A77, A50), self-service and unattended terminals (SK800, IM30), the Worldline All-in-One Platform unifying cash register and POS functionality with AADE tax authority integration, the Cardlink Checkout e-commerce gateway, Payment Links, and add-on modules including Apollo analytics, Giftcard, Ticketing, Promos, Dynamic Currency Conversion, and EV charging payment solutions.

The underlying technology is built on Android POS hardware paired with cloud-based transaction management (Cardlink Apollo), certified to PCI PTS standards and integrated with AADE for Greek fiscal compliance, supporting card schemes (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, UnionPay, Amex, Diners, Discover) plus Apple Pay, Google Pay, and IRIS bank transfers. A developer portal (developer.cardlink.gr) exposes e-commerce gateway and Payment Link APIs for merchant integration.

Cardlink's revenue model combines transaction-based merchant service fees (the primary stream, scaled to €30-€60B in estimated processed volume), one-time POS hardware sales at €169-€299 per device, recurring monthly support subscriptions at €7.40-€15.50 per device, e-commerce gateway transaction fees, enterprise custom integration revenue, and value-added services such as POS Fast Cash financing (Flexi Finance). Go-to-market spans a self-serve e-commerce portal for SMBs, an enterprise field sales force targeting large retailers, hotel chains, restaurant groups, banks and government, an authorized reseller network, and the Worldline merchant-shop.gr distribution channel. Customer concentration is highly diversified across retail, HORECA, tourism, cultural sites, automotive/EV charging, car rental, and e-commerce verticals, with named enterprise logos including Hondos Center, ACS Courier/Lockers, EV Loader, and the ODAP archaeological site deployment (Acropolis, Ancient Olympia, Epidaurus, Delphi).

Name

Cardlink

Legal name

Monoprosoipi Anonymi Etairia Diacheiriseos kai Leitoyrgias Diktyon Ilektronikon Synallagon CARDLINK (ΚΑΡΝΤΛΙΝΚ Μ.Α.Ε)

Website

https://cardlink.gr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cardlink is Greece's largest payment acceptance network, providing Android POS terminals, e-commerce payment gateways, and the Worldline All-in-One Platform to 267,000+ merchants processing 2.9 million transactions daily. Founded in 2004 and now a Worldline subsidiary, it serves SMB and enterprise clients across retail, HORECA, tourism, and EV charging verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payment Processing Services

NAICS

Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Payment Processors (PSP/Acquirer) (FSAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Card-Present Acquirers (Retail & POS Focus) (FSAMABAC), Merchant Acquiring & Card Processing (PSPs) (CRAFALAB), Merchant Acquiring & Processing Platforms (BPAMAFAB), EMV Chip, Magstripe & PIN Debit Acceptance (FSAMADAG), Card Clearing & Settlement (Interchange, Network Settlement) (FSABAJAJ)

Keywords

• Payment processing services
• POS terminal solutions
• Merchant acquiring services
• E-commerce payment gateway
• Card acceptance network

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Transaction/Merchant Service Fees: Cardlink earns commission on each card transaction processed through its POS network. Merchants pay a percentage or fixed fee per transaction for card acceptance services.
2. POS Hardware Sales: One-time sales of Android POS terminals (A80, A8900, A920 Pro, A77, A50) and accessories (PIN pads, cases, mounting stands) to merchants. Prices range from €169 to €299 per device plus VAT.
3. Monthly Support and Maintenance: Recurring monthly fees for technical support services. Two packages available: Fixed Support (Package 1) and Usage-Based Support (Package 2), billed either semi-annually or as consumption-based.
4. E-commerce Payment Gateway: Online payment processing services for e-commerce businesses including Cardlink Checkout and Payment Links, charging transaction fees for online card acceptance.
5. Acquiring Services: Card acceptance and clearing services for merchants under the Cardlink One brand, providing end-to-end transaction processing.
6. Enterprise and Custom Solutions: Customized payment solutions for large enterprises, banks, and organizations including dedicated integrations, API access, and white-label arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Cardlink operates Greece's largest payment acceptance network, providing Android-based POS terminals, e-commerce payment gateways (Cardlink Checkout), payment links, and acquiring/transaction processing services. The company serves 267,000+ businesses processing 2.9 million transactions daily through a comprehensive portfolio of in-store, online, and unattended payment solutions.

Product overview

Cardlink is Greece's largest payment network, offering a comprehensive portfolio of payment acceptance solutions. The core product portfolio includes Android-based POS terminals (A80, A8900, A920 Pro, A77, A50, SK800, IM30) for in-store and self-service payments, alongside e-commerce solutions (Cardlink Checkout, Payment Links, e-Commerce Gateway, Live-Pay). The Worldline All-in-One Platform extends POS functionality into unified cash register systems with vertical variants for Retail, Ordering, Booking, and Travel sectors. Add-on modules include Cardlink Apollo (transaction analytics), Application Store (POS apps), Giftcard, Ticketing, Promos, POS Fast Cash financing, and EV charging payment solutions. The company operates as a Worldline brand, with Cardlink one serving as the core acquiring and transaction processing service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cardlink POS: Android smart POS devices for businesses
• Cardlink Checkout
• Cardlink Apollo
• Worldline All-in-One Platform
• Cardlink IM30
• Cardlink Giftcard
• Cardlink Ticketing
• Cardlink Promos

Products and services

• Android POS Terminals (A80, A8900, A920 Pro, A77, A50) Cardlink's flagship Android-based point-of-sale terminals accepting card and digital payments across wired (A80), wireless (A8900, A920 Pro), and compact MiniPOS (A77, A50) models. PCI PTS certified devices with thermal printers, cameras, and WiFi/4G connectivity.
• SK800 Self-Service POS Self-service POS terminal designed for unattended operation, enabling customers to complete transactions independently. Used in applications such as automated parcel lockers and vending environments.
• IM30 Unattended POS Compact unattended POS terminal designed for self-service environments and automated vending. Powers the ACS locker self-service order pickup experience for parcel collection.
• Cardlink Checkout E-commerce payment gateway enabling online businesses to accept card payments securely with support for multiple payment methods and currencies including cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
• Payment Links Solution enabling businesses to accept payments without a full e-commerce website. Merchants generate shareable payment links sent via email, SMS, or messaging apps for customers to complete transactions.
• Worldline All-in-One Platform Combined cash register and POS solution that transforms Android POS terminals into full point-of-sale systems. Offers comprehensive business management features including inventory, sales tracking, and AADE (Greek Tax Authority) integration for fiscal compliance.
• Cardlink one (Acquiring Services) Card acceptance and transaction processing services enabling businesses to accept all card types (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, UnionPay, Amex, Diners, Discover) and digital payment methods in-store and on-the-go through POS terminals.
• Cardlink Giftcard Digital and physical gift card solution allowing businesses to offer prepaid gift cards to customers and partners as a loyalty and rewards mechanism or employee incentives.
• Cardlink Ticketing Automated ticketing solutions deployed at archaeological sites and tourist attractions, enabling card payments for admission tickets. Used at Acropolis, Ancient Olympia, Epidaurus, and additional Greek cultural sites.
• EV Charging Payment Solutions Payment solutions for electric vehicle charging stations including unattended POS systems and smart kiosks that enable contactless payments via card, mobile wallet, or wearable devices. Developed in partnership with Optechain, EV Loader, Elpe Future, and Mastercard.
• e-Commerce Gateway Worldline's e-commerce payment gateway offered through Cardlink for online merchants, providing secure processing of online transactions with comprehensive payment method support.
• Live-Pay Real-time payment solution enabling instant payment acceptance for online transactions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 267,000+ businesses trust Cardlink as their payment acceptance provider
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability8 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• ACS (Courier)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025ACS courier service used for POS terminal delivery to customers. Also serves as case study partner for ACS Lockers self-service parcel locker solution using Cardlink IM30 terminals.
• OptechaincoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2024Partnership for plug and play EV charging payment solutions. Optechain provides charging station technology while Cardlink supplies POS terminals at each charge point and central payment kiosks. Drivers can select charging amount, enter phone number, pay by card, and receive digital receipt.
• EV LoadercoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2024Partnership for developing the first open network of EV chargers in Greece and Southeast Europe. Cardlink provides unattended POS systems enabling seamless contactless payments via card, mobile wallet, or wearable devices. Collaboration introduced via Visa Innovation Program Europe.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2024Mastercard collaborates on EV charging payment solutions and sponsors the Retail Innovation Hub Summit. Eleni Gkouti, Director and Technical Architect at Mastercard, participates in RIH Summit speaking on innovation in payments.
• KeyvotominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2024Selected from Business Factory open innovation program for collaboration. Keyvoto is a retail tech startup providing PXM (Product Experience Management) platform enabling suppliers, retailers, and partners to update and manage product information across multiple channels.
• iSPACEminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2024Selected from Business Factory open innovation program for collaboration. iSPACE provides integrated virtual reality experiences to businesses with physical spaces and stores through VR technologies.
• Found.ationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Strategic partnership with Found.ation (Greek digital transformation organization) for the Retail Innovation Hub open innovation program. Collaboration includes annual Retail Innovation Hub Summit events, co-authored annual Retail Innovation Reports, and startup engagement programs. The partnership drives innovation in Greek retail through connecting startups, retailers, and technology companies.
• ODAP (Organization for the Management of Archaeological Sites)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023Five-year collaboration for automatic ticketing machines at Greek archaeological sites and museums. Initial deployment at Acropolis, Ancient Olympia, Epidaurus, and Archaeological Museum of Delphi. Expansion includes 22 additional machines at sites including Sounion, Olympia, Ancient Agora, Mystras, Delos, Spinalonga, Ancient Corinth, and Aigai by end of 2025. Over 200,000 tickets issued at Acropolis within 1.5 years.
• VisacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023Partnership with Visa for automatic ticketing machine solutions at archaeological sites across Greece. Visa provides high security standards for payments and supports the digital transformation of visitor services at Greek cultural heritage sites.
• WorldlineflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Cardlink became a member of Worldline (Euronext: WLN) in September 2021, joining Europe's leading payment services provider. This acquisition provides Cardlink access to Worldline's €250M+ annual R&D investment, global payment technology, and international expertise while maintaining its Greek market leadership. Worldline generated €4.4 billion in revenue in 2022.
• Alpha BankflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Co-founding partner of Cardlink in 2004 alongside Eurobank. Founded to create a common POS network for developing electronic transactions in Greece. Alpha Bank contributed to initial network establishment and ongoing merchant relationships.
• EurobankflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Co-founding partner of Cardlink in 2004 alongside Alpha Bank. Founded to create a common POS network for developing electronic transactions in Greece. Eurobank contributed to initial network establishment and ongoing merchant relationships.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Mollie: European SMB-focused payment service provider offering multi-method online checkout and in-person payments. Comparable to Cardlink Checkout and Payment Links for European SMB and e-commerce merchants, with growing geographic reach that could extend into Greece.
• Verifone: Global POS hardware manufacturer competing in the Android smart terminal space that Cardlink sells (A80/A8900/A920 Pro/A77/A50). Comparable in delivering Android-based EMV/contactless acceptance terminals, though Verifone is hardware-only and does not own acquiring.

Broad incumbents

• Worldline: European payment services leader and Cardlink's parent company. Operates a much broader portfolio of acquiring, issuing, and digital services across Europe, providing Cardlink's technology backbone (Worldline All-in-One Platform, €250M+ R&D) but also serving as the strategic ecosystem Cardlink competes within.
• Stripe: Global online payment processor with growing presence in Greek e-commerce. Competes with Cardlink Checkout and Payment Links for SMB and mid-market online merchants, particularly developers and SaaS-enabled sellers using its API-first platform.
• Adyen: Global unified payments platform serving enterprise merchants across in-store, online, and mobile. Active in Greece for enterprise and e-commerce merchants, representing a competitive threat to Cardlink Checkout and to Cardlink One's enterprise segment, with broader international reach and scale.
• Block (Square): Multi-channel payments provider combining POS hardware (Square Register, Square Terminal) with software and acquiring for SMBs. Operates a broadly comparable integrated hardware-software-acquiring stack targeted at SMB merchants, the same core segment Cardlink serves.

Direct peers

• Nexi: Italy's leading payment processor and merchant acquirer, comparable in scale and integrated PSP-acquirer model across Southern Europe. Directly analogous to Cardlink as a domestic-dominant European acquiring platform now merged with Worldline, making it the closest functional peer in the same product category.
• Viva Wallet: Greek-founded payment processor (now majority-owned by JPMorgan) that competes head-to-head with Cardlink in Greek SMB acquiring and e-commerce. Operates an integrated software-led acquiring platform serving the same merchant verticals (retail, hospitality, services) in the same Greek market.
• National Bank of Greece Merchant Acquiring: Greek systemic bank offering in-house card acceptance services to its merchant base. Competes with Cardlink One for Greek merchant acquiring relationships, leveraging its own banking customer base as a captive distribution channel.
• Piraeus Bank Merchant Acquiring: One of Greece's four systemic banks operating an in-house acquiring business that competes with Cardlink One for merchant card acceptance. Directly comparable as a Greek merchant acquiring alternative, though typically distributed through the bank's own branch network rather than independent channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Cardlinkgr

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cardlink