Central Bank of Iceland's Journey in Instant Payments and Cannibalization of RTGS Payments

Iceland's journey in the realm of instant payments is historic, dating back to 2002 with the initiation of the Central Bank of Iceland's large value payment system, SG, followed by the introduction of the instant payment system, JK, in 2003. These systems,…

Decoding ISO 20022: Lessons for Cross-Border Payments

As ISO 20022 adoption gains momentum, we believe that policymakers and the broader financial services community can leverage insights from the last 15 years of ISO 20022 implementations, while also drawing from card networks’ more than 40 years of experience…

Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo: In Conversation with Dardan Fusha, Director of the Department for Payment Systems

The Central Bank Payments News team recently caught up with Dardan Fusha, Director of the Department for Payment Systems at CBK, who filled us in on the implementation of CBK’s National Retail Payments Strategy, plans to enhance legislation and regulation…

Visa: Making Cross-border B2B Payments More Efficient, Fast, and Transparent

In this article, we will discuss developments with larger value cross-border commercial payments. The Visa Economic Empowerment Institute (VEEI) research found that small businesses which were digitally enabled and connected to global and regional marketplaces…

BENEFIT Company: In Conversation with Shafaq Alkooheji, Head of Payments Services

ProgressSoft speaks with Shafaq Alkooheji, Head of Payments Services at the BENEFIT Company, about the development, launch, and adoption of e-cheques in Bahrain, part of the Central Bank of Bahrain’s broader digital transformation strategy.

Afghanistan Digital Payments and the Rise of AfPay

The Afghanistan Payments System (APS) was spearheading the modernization of retail banking in the country—and was poised to ride that momentum well into the future—when the Afghan government collapsed in August 2021. Ahmad Shakir Wali, Managing Director…

RTGS.global: Building a Financial Market Infrastructure for the Digital Age

While the industry’s focus remains largely on modernising retail transactions, wholesale payment systems, which ultimately underpin and enable rapid retail transfers to take place, have not yet benefitted from meaningful transformation. This is especially…

Central Bank of Eswatini National Payment Systems Vision and Strategy 2025

The Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) has been proactive in creating an enabling environment for innovation in digital financial services in response to consumer demands and changing market needs. This is evident with the release of the Practice Note for…

Special Feature: Industry Perspectives on Charting the Course for Transformative Payments

How the industry is charting the course for transformative payments in 2022 and beyond with Discover® Global Network, EMTECH, FIS, ProgressSoft, RTGS.global, StoneX, Tietoevry, and Visa.

Central Bank of Montenegro: How to Boost Banking and Payment Innovation in a Small Developing Economy

Fostering innovation brings with it different challenges depending on the level of development, market size or even the geographic position of a country. When compared to the frontrunners, small markets face barriers that are much more challenging than…