Balázs Judik
Barion Payment Zrt., a leading Hungarian payment service provider, has completed the acquisition of PSC CEE Ltd., the company behind the SmartKassa brand. With the transaction, Barion expands from its established stronghold in online payments into the offline domain, creating an integrated platform that unites online and in-store acceptance under one group.
Together, Barion and PSC serve more than 20,000 merchants across Central and Eastern Europe. Their combined transaction volume in 2025 will exceed EUR 1 billion, with revenues surpassing EUR 10 million. The Hungarian National Bank has approved the deal.
Strategic rationale and synergies
PSC CEE, known for its SmartKassa solutions in retail and hospitality, brings extensive offline expertise and a strong installed base of electronic cash registers and card terminals. Barion contributes a decade of innovation in online acceptance, with operations across 15 European markets. Integrating these capabilities creates a unique value proposition: a single provider with a seamless omnichannel payment infrastructure.
The transaction also strengthens Barion’s management bench. Tamás Molnár, CEO of PSC CEE, brings proven regional experience in offline payments, complementing the online expertise of Sándor Kiss, CEO of Barion. This combination positions the group for sustained competitive advantage in a rapidly consolidating payments landscape.
“This acquisition is a milestone in executing our regional growth strategy. By combining PSC CEE’s offline footprint with Barion’s online capabilities, we can deliver a unified infrastructure for merchants and scale more efficiently across the CEE region. Our goal is to establish Barion as the leading independent payment platform in Central and Eastern Europe”
— Sándor Kiss, CEO of Barion
“Joining forces with Barion accelerates our ability to scale both product and market presence. Importantly, we remain bank-agnostic, ensuring that merchants keep the independence and flexibility they value. The two brands will complement each other naturally, strengthening the group’s overall offering”
— Tamás Molnár, CEO of PSC CEE Ltd.
Market positioning
The acquisition comes as Barion celebrates its 10-year anniversary. The group’s strategy focuses on building scale in Central and Eastern Europe, combining competitive transaction pricing with data-driven services. The company is actively pursuing acquisition opportunities in Slovakia, Czechia, Poland and Romania. With regulatory approval secured, the integration of PSC CEE provides Barion with a comprehensive suite covering e-commerce, point-of-sale, and open banking services.
Media Contact:
press@barion.com| www.barion.com
Barion
Barion Payment Zrt. is a licensed Hungarian electronic money institution, regulated by the Hungarian National Bank (license no. H-EN-I-1064/2013, ID 25353192). Its business model combines low-cost payment acceptance with data-driven services, enabling merchants to increase revenue. Barion supports card payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Barion Wallet, open banking, and local payment methods.
PSC CEE / SmartKassa
Founded in 2017, PSC CEE Ltd. specializes in cashless payment solutions in Central and Eastern Europe. Under the SmartKassa brand, the company provides integrated systems combining electronic cash registers, card acceptance, webshop integration, and cloud-based services. PSC CEE is licensed by the Hungarian National Bank for Payment Initiation (PISP) and Account Information (AISP) services (license no. H-EN-I-658/2021, ID 25961940).
