The Global Race for Real-Time Payments: Faster, Smarter and Borderless

Real-Time Payments World Map

From Europe’s new instant payments mandates to the Middle East’s cross-border payment networks, real-time payments are transforming finance worldwide. This edition of the “Real-Time Payments World Map,” a collaboration with The Clearing House, explores the latest innovations, regulatory shifts and strategic moves shaping the future of instant transactions.

Inside the February World Map
  • The European Union set 2025 deadlines for all payment service providers (PSP) to implement instant payments as part of the Instant Payments Regulation (IPR): January 9 for receiving and October 9 for sending.
  • Kuwait’s Weyay Bank has launched a regional payment system called AFAQ, connecting the payment systems of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations and enabling instant and cost-effective financial transfers in local currencies.
  • The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has introduced a new service for instant international money transfers to Egypt, available 24/7. This initiative allows seamless cross-border transactions and is part of the CBE’s broader strategy to modernize Egypt’s financial infrastructure.

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