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Market infrastructure European payments

European payments are based on a market infrastructure in which many parties work together to process payments within the EU reliably, quickly, securely, and efficiently. These parties include the ECB, national central banks, transaction processors, banks, and other payment service providers. Each link in the payments infrastructure has its own role and responsibility in ensuring that transactions are processed smoothly, from the sending of a payment order by the payer's bank to its receipt by the payee's bank.

Recent developments in society

  • The obligatory introduction of instant payments within SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) in October 2025 will lead to further growth in the number of instant payment transactions.
  • The pressure to continuously improve availability, reliability, efficiency, and security requires ongoing commitment and attention from all parties in the chain.
  • International political attention, for example from the G20, for fast, easy, and inexpensive global payments between different currencies will have an increasing impact on SEPA payment transactions.

Role of the Dutch Payments Association

  • The Dutch Payments Association is actively involved in the activities of the European Payments Council (EPC), which develops and manages the rules and agreements for SEPA payments.
  • We monitor European and global developments in the payments industry in order to determine the impact on Dutch payment service providers in a timely manner.
  • In consultation with our members, we develop activities to jointly absorb this impact and steer it in the right direction.

Our vision for the future

Maintaining high quality, efficiency, and security in Dutch payments within the SEPA framework requires timely and coordinated cooperation with our members and stakeholders. International developments are having an increasing impact on our payment processes and infrastructure. Early preparation and cooperation will ensure that Dutch payments remain robust and affordable in the future.

Latest news

  • Super-fast and secure transfers between all euro countries from now on

    • News
    • Market infrastructure
    Published on:
    From 9 October 2025, Dutch people will be able to transfer euros super-fast to all banks in other euro countries within ten counts, all days of the year and any time of the day. Conversely, we will then also be able to receive super-fast transfers from all other euro…

A list of articles

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Frequently asked questions

  • How often do banks exchange payment orders with each other?

    For instant payments, payment orders are exchanged and settled immediately per transaction. This means that once the instant payment transfer has been completed, the beneficiary can use the amount immediately and, if necessary, spend it straight away. When entering the payment order, the bank indicates whether it will be processed as an instant payment.

    For traditional transfers, payment orders are exchanged in groups several times per working day, from Monday to Friday. As soon as the receiving bank receives the payment orders, they are processed and credited to the beneficiary’s account. The maximum processing time is one working day. It is therefore possible that a payment entered during the day on a working day will be processed within an hour. A payment order entered after closing time on Friday will usually only be processed on Monday.

  • What is a SEPA One Leg Out Instant Credit Transfer (SEPA OLO, also abbreviated as OCT)?

    This is an account-to-account cash transfer in euros to or from a payments account outside SEPA, whereby the bank within SEPA uses a standardized format. The advantage of a SEPA OLO is that all the necessary data for this international transfer is included in that standard format. This allows the payment to be exchanged in a uniform manner between banks that support SEPA OLO. Thanks to this standardization and the use of the instant payment route, the transaction is processed quickly and the beneficiary usually has access to the money almost immediately.

  • What are the costs of an account-to-account transfer to a payments account outside SEPA?

    There is no general answer to this question. Costs may be charged by both your own bank and the recipient’s bank. Your own bank can best inform you about the costs that apply in your specific situation.

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Let's shape the future of payments together

Join the network of payment service providers working together to create a secure, reliable, accessible, and efficient payment ecosystem in the Netherlands.

  • Access to up-to-date knowledge and developments in payments
  • Influence on policy and standards in the Netherlands and Europe
  • Representing the sector to stakeholders
  • Part of the Dutch payment ecosystem