Payment Solutions

With payments accounting for an estimated 40 per cent of cost, revenues and operating income at many banks, the need to not only lower the cost of payment processing but also make it more efficient is key for the financial services industry.

The fact that the deadline for implementation of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) is drawing closer means that banks will have to invest in new technology and create innovative solutions to remain competitive while continuing with their rationalisation programmes. Most significantly, the Payment Services Directive set to be enforced in 2009 will introduce a statutory EU-wide contact of business rules, thus requiring banks to properly inform their customers about the payments they are making and the rights and responsibilities for providers and users to increase the certainty about the way payments will be delivered.

Future Banking examines the impact of SEPA and the Payment Services Directive on banks – as well as the consumer – and how payments processing systems can be leveraged to maximise profitability, security and efficiency, and to minimise risk.

Thought Leaders
	Issue 2007			The Clock is Ticking Mark Hale, Barclays Bank Click here to read
				24-Hour Service Dirk Hoebeeck, Dexia Group Click here to read
				The Road to SEPA Gerard Hartsink, European Payments Council Click here to read
	Issue 2006			A Secure Future John Philip Coghlan, CEO, President Visa USA Click here to read
				SEPA: From Theory to Practice Christian Westerhaus, Head of Payments, Deutsche Bank Click here to read