The New Payment System Operator (NPSO) has taken over responsibility for the operation of two of the UK’s retail payment systems – Bacs and Faster Payments.
The successful consolidation of the three operators has been a key focus for both the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) and the Bank of England. This is an important step in bringing three payment systems together for the first time and will develop the capability and capacity of the operators, reducing the complexity and costs of having three separate retail payment system operators (PSOs).
The NPSO will also be responsible for delivering the New Payments Architecture (NPA) - an industry-led initiative that aims to increase competition and resilience as well as enhance innovation across the payments and banking industry.
Both the NPSO and NPA were key proposals of the Payments Strategy Forum (PSF), a group which was set up in 2015 by the PSR to identify, prioritise and develop strategic, collaborative initiatives to promote innovation in the interest of the people and organisations that use payment systems. The PSF’s published blueprint includes a number of key future benefits for consumers for example, Confirmation of Payee (allowing customers to verify that they are paying the person they intend) and Request to Pay (a mechanism where a payee can send a request for payment to a payer) - services that the NPSO will support as delivery is developed in a competitive marketplace. Both of these will give consumers greater control of payments from their accounts and offer increased protection from fraud.
The PSR and Bank of England are monitoring progress to ensure that the NPSO delivers a system which will benefit everyone and enhance resilience within the UK payments sector.
Full news
© Bank of England
Key
Hover over the blue highlighted
text to view the acronym meaning
Hover
over these icons for more information
Comments:
No Comments for this Article