Implementing an instant payment service in Hungary
In order to improve the efficiency of domestic payments as well as to increase the competitiveness of the payments market and the Hungarian economy, the MNB has made a proposal to implement an instant payment solution in Hungary. By implementing a new payment system, the purpose was to make payments available between Hungarian payment accounts within seconds, on a 24/7/365 basis. Another objective was to ensure that the rules of the system make it possible for market participants to provide a range of additional services, building on the basic infrastructure. The instant payment system was successfully launched on 2 March 2020. The new service allows users to take full advantage of the up-to-date communication and IT technologies that have become available at low cost over recent years. Furthermore, in case of adequate developments by banks and other payment service providers based on the basic infrastructure, instant payment service is capable of making electronic payment available in a variety of payment situations and allow to choose between different payment methods in addition to the use of cash. Relying on the new basic infrastructure, established in connection with the instant payment service, creating innovative payment services is much faster and simpler. This in turn will improve the competitiveness of current participants of the payments market, and it will be easier for new participants to enter the payments market, where they will have the same infrastructure to provide their services, as do current participants.