Simple and fast. Digital and secure.
Blog
2/5/2026
TWINT has quickly established itself in Switzerland as a convenient and secure digital payment method – and customers of Hypothekarbank Lenzburg are also benefiting from the advantages of the app. Sergio Sutter, e-banking team leader at Finstar AG, explains how the implementation went, how TWINT is being used, and what the future holds.
What is the current status of TWINT?
Finstar integrated TWINT into the overall banking solution on behalf of Hypothekarbank Lenzburg. The app for simple, fast, and secure payments has met with great interest: by the end of January 2026, TWINT was being used by around 7,000 Hypi customers – and the trend is continuing to rise.
How can users be characterized?
I find it particularly revealing to look at the age of users: the oldest are over 90, while the youngest were born in the 2010s. This shows how widely accepted the app is among users and how easy it is to use: people born in the 1930s are not digital natives. A closer look at the data shows that around half of the people who use TWINT were born between 1960 and 1980. TWINT has established itself as a convenient and secure means of payment for this age group.
Confidence in safety
What can be said about the transactions?
Thousands of transactions are carried out every day. These are not just small amounts, but also larger sums. The impression that TWINT is only used for transferring small and micro amounts is misleading.
What do these figures mean?
The ability to transfer large amounts at the touch of a button demonstrates the high level of trust in the security of TWINT. Nevertheless, Hypi also has a daily and monthly limit.
No alternative to TWINT
What about using the various functions?
With TWINT, you can pay, send and request money, split bills, and use additional functions such as parking, donating, buying digital vouchers, or withdrawing cash. The TWINT app also features new special offers every week. Sending money is the most frequently used function. Splitting bills is mainly used by younger people, for example when they go out for a meal together.
In your opinion, is there an alternative to TWINT?
In my opinion, there is currently no alternative. Perhaps instant payment, which Finstar was the first to implement and make available at an early stage.
Highly efficient, stable banking platform
What can you tell us about the technical implementation of TWINT?
Swisscom provided Finstar with a white label application with all TWINT functionalities. We had to develop and integrate various interfaces to the Finstar core banking system. In the front-end area, individual elements were configured for Hypi, which can be defined specifically for each bank. We also had a choice when it came to authentication: Hypi opted for two-factor authentication, which increases security and allows higher limits to be set for customers. All in all, TWINT was easy to adapt and implement.
You mentioned authentication. Any other security aspects?
Our TWINT complies with regulatory aspects, for example in connection with all aspects of Know Your Customer. At the same time, there are bank-specific controls such as authorizations and limits, to name just two.
Are there any other technical challenges?
The speed of the banking platform: a payment with TWINT must be processed by Finstar within just 5 seconds. In this short time, the limits must be checked and KYC controls carried out – a total of around a dozen checks. This requires a highly efficient, highly available, and stable system.
TWINT meets a customer need
How long did the project take?
The project started in February 2025 and was launched at Hypi in August. The bank defined the specifications, for example regarding account types and charges, and clarified the regulatory requirements: powers of attorney, joint accounts, etc. These aspects are specified individually for each bank, and Finstar implemented Hypi's specifications accordingly.
So far, only Hypi customers can benefit from TWINT...
We are ready to implement TWINT at other Finstar banks. We have resolved the technical issues – in other areas, we are also looking for solid solutions that will enable our banks to use TWINT, as it meets a customer need.
What does the future hold for TWINT by Finstar?
On the technical side, we are planning to expand an interface and are clarifying what this means for Finstar. In addition, we are considering introducing a further fraud check to further strengthen our already high security standards. This will ensure that TWINT remains simple, fast, digital, and secure for users of all ages.
(Translation with deepl.com; the German version is authoritative).