Payment systems

Eurosystem oversight of payment systems primarily distinguishes between systemically important payment systems (SIPS) and non-systemically important payment systems (non-SIPS).

This distinction is mainly based on criteria related to size, market share, cross-border activity and the provision of settlement services to other financial market infrastructures.

The classification of euro area payment systems is reviewed annually. The latest classification is based on information for the reference year 2023.

Systemically important payment systems (SIPS)

Oversight requirements

The ECB Regulation on oversight requirements for systemically important payment systems (SIPS Regulation) covers both large-value and retail payment systems of systemic importance, whether operated by Eurosystem national central banks or private entities.

It aims to ensure the efficient management of legal, credit, liquidity, operational, general business, custody, investment and other risks, as well as sound governance arrangements, objective and open access, and the efficiency and effectiveness of SIPS.

Oversight responsibilities

Under the SIPS Regulation, the Eurosystem’s oversight covers the following systemically important payment systems:

Oversight of CLS

Another systemically important payment system for the euro area is the US-based foreign exchange payment system CLS. The US Federal Reserve System has accepted primary oversight responsibility for CLS, leading a cooperative oversight framework in which the G-10 and other central banks of issue of CLS-settled currencies participate. From a Eurosystem oversight perspective, the ECB has primary responsibility for the settlement of euro-denominated payments by CLS, in close cooperation with other Eurosystem central banks.

Protocol for the Cooperative Oversight Arrangement of CLS

Non-systemically important payment systems (non-SIPS)

Non-systemically important payment systems (non-SIPS) consist of non-systemically important large-value payment systems (LVPS), prominently important retail payment systems (PIRPS) and other retail payment systems (ORPS).

Retail payment systems are generally used for the bulk of low-value payments to and from individuals and between individuals and companies and public authorities.

They contribute to both the stability and efficiency of the financial system as a whole and citizens’ confidence in the euro.

Oversight requirements

The Eurosystem applies the CPSS-IOSCO Principles for financial market infrastructures (PFMI) to the oversight of non-SIPS. Non-systemically important large-value payment systems are subject to the complete set of CPSS-IOSCO Principles while only a subset is deemed relevant for non-systemically important retail payment systems (see Oversight framework for retail payment systems).

Where relevant, retail payment systems also have to comply with some of the Oversight expectations for links between retail payment systems (OELRPS). The OELRPS focus on ensuring the safety and efficiency of the operation of links between retail payment systems.

Oversight responsibilities

The Eurosystem’s oversight of non-systemically important large-value and retail payment systems covers the following: 

Offshore payment systems

The Eurosystem strives to ensure a level playing field in its oversight requirements for payment systems processing in euro. For this reason, the following offshore payment systems are either overseen as part of a cooperative arrangement or monitored for potential changes in circumstance:

• Visa Europe Payment System (United Kingdom)
• BISERA (Bulgaria)
• Euro Elixir (Poland)
  
• SENT – Euro (Romania)
• Hong Kong Euro Chats (Hong Kong)
• CDFCPS (China)
• Buna (United Arab Emirates)