Treasury Today Group

Standard Chartered: Real-Time Treasury: Why EU Legislation Will Unlock SEPA Instant for Corporates

The podcast spotlights the EU’s updated SEPA Instant regulation, which now obliges euro‑area banks to settle cross‑border credit transfers in under ten seconds, 24/7, and introduces a mandatory Verification of Payee service that matches beneficiary names to IBANs. Standard Chartered’s Richard Stansbury and Felix O explain that the rule aims to accelerate adoption, harmonise pricing, and give account‑to‑account payments a “card‑like” experience for corporates. Data from the European Payments Council shows instant‑payment coverage at roughly 92 % across SEPA countries, effectively approaching universal adoption. Standard Chartered had already launched SEPA Instant receipt capabilities in September 2023 and met the October 2025 deadline for outbound payments and payee verification, positioning the bank to meet regulatory timelines while expanding its real‑time treasury suite. The speakers cite concrete use cases: insurance claim payouts, flight‑disruption reimbursements, and point‑of‑sale collections that could be settled instantly. They also stress that the true value lies in near‑real‑time data exchange via APIs, enabling treasurers to update cash positions, forecast flows, and optimise liquidity well after traditional RTGS cut‑offs. Looking ahead, the panel flags the “one‑leg‑out” scheme and upcoming PSD3 as catalysts for extending instant payments beyond the euro zone, aligning with G20 goals for frictionless global payments. Corporates must prepare by cleaning vendor master data and integrating structured beneficiary formats to minimise friction as the ecosystem evolves.