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Nick was not just a close business partner to me over the past 16 years, but a very dear friend. He was a lovely person, a true professional and I am privileged to have had the chance to know him. He will be missed very much.

The working group activities of the Euro Banking Association are to advance the understanding of new market trends. Their objective is to deliver thought leadership for the benefit of the wider public. The working groups of the Association do not address business or commercial aspects. Their deliverables are informative on trends in the area covered. 

From Vision to Focus

Major progress was made in 2014 on the common understanding of the strategic importance of alternative payments for the European banking sector, against the background of transforming private and public sectors. The EBA produced three key deliverables in this field. One on the user requirements for e-APs, in which the change drivers and the various product segments were described in more detail, including a comprehensive summary
of challenges for banks. The second deliverable was on Digital Identity and its
strategic relevance to the banking industry. Digital Identity leverages trust
and the existing security infrastructure towards consumers, merchants,
corporates and other e-AP providers. The third deliverable is on the
infrastructure requirements for e-APs. The EBA Working Group on Electronic Alternative Payments (e-APWG) analysed the infrastructure landscape of e-APs and calls now for collaborative action to create the so-called ‘Digital
Services Infrastructure’. This ‘layer’ on top of the existing infrastructure
should offer EU-wide trusted reach to e-APs to reduce fragmentation, as well as provide real-time payment capabilities through bank and non-bank payment providers. The results are also very relevant for all regulatory developments banks are facing for 2015 and beyond, including Secure Pay, PSD2 (Access to the Account), eIDAS, Data Protection and AML4. Over the last year the transformational capability of e-APs have become more apparent and actionable for 2015. Change will go beyond the payment silo within banks. In order to accelerate the required change within institutions the overall understanding of banking challenges in this domain need to be communicated and understood by a large audience of decision makers and influencer. As speed is of the essence, EBAday in Amsterdam will gather senior leaders of the various banking silos to become aware and involved in these highly strategic change projects. Could one think of a better way to mark EBAday's 10th anniversary?

With regard to ongoing SEPA progress, last month it was reported that 66 major banks from 16 European countries have registered with EBA CLEARING for the future Core SDD Service. Amongst them, 44 banks have as well signed up for the new B2B SDD Service. Both services are scheduled to start their operations on the official launch date of the SDD Schemes (2 November 2009).

By setting a definitive launch date for the SDD Schemes and starting the adherence process in May, the EPC has provided the necessary certainty for the banks to finalise their preparations in view of the November live date. The major payment banks across Europe are now committed to joining one or both of the STEP2 SDD Services and are ready to start testing. 

With regard to ongoing SEPA progress, last month it was reported that 66 major banks from 16 European countries have registered with EBA CLEARING for the future Core SDD Service. Amongst them, 44 banks have as well signed up for the new B2B SDD Service. Both services are scheduled to start their operations on the official launch date of the SDD Schemes (2 November 2009).

By setting a definitive launch date for the SDD Schemes and starting the adherence process in May, the EPC has provided the necessary certainty for the banks to finalise their preparations in view of the November live date. The major payment banks across Europe are now committed to joining one or both of the STEP2 SDD Services and are ready to start testing. 

The next challenge will be to convince bank clients, in particular public authorities and SME's, to make best use of it.  

Disclaimer: 

I like to clarify that all comments on the musical future of the "Sex Panthers", as may or may not be expressed in this blog, do neither represent nor bind our rock group or its management, but constitute merely personal views expressed by individual group members.

The Manager