1. Real-time payments: The global baseline has shifted
The Real-time payments (RTP) have evolved from innovation to essential infrastructure in every region, transforming the PayTech landscape.
In the EU, regulatory mandates are accelerating adoption: since January, banks and payment service providers (PSPs) must be able to receive SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst) payments, and by October, these providers will be required to send them as well.
In the US, FedNow is reshaping corporate treasury through applications such as real-time payroll, cash concentration and escrow disbursement. More than 1,300 financial institutions are now live on the system, with transactions averaging $540 million a day.1
Meanwhile, initiatives like Canada’s Real-Time Rail (RTR) and ASEAN’s contact-number-based cross-border transfers highlight a global shift: speed, reach and transparency are no longer luxuries, but expectations.
Critically, instant payments are not just about consumer convenience. For corporates, they unlock working capital, enhance liquidity visibility and streamline financial operations. This is especially vital for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for 90% of the global economy. RTP are redefining the role of treasury, and banks must adapt by building infrastructure and services that enable faster settlement, smarter reconciliation and real-time liquidity forecasting.
To remain competitive, real-time capabilities should be embedded across all layers of bank and PSP infrastructure. Regulatory compliance is only the starting point. Institutions that go further, delivering B2B-centric use cases, will create lasting value and deeper client relationships.
1 Fed Now Instant Payments
