Industry input on payment infrastructure
The Eurosystem opened applications on 16 October for a market contact group focused on TIPS cross-border services. Payment service providers and automated clearing houses involved in cross-border retail payments are invited to apply. The group will advise the Market Infrastructure Board on commercial value, design, testing and operations.
Selection and timing
Applications close on 15 November 2026. Selection will consider relevant experience, participation in cross-border initiatives and current or planned involvement in the services. Membership will be limited, and the first meeting is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. This announcement establishes an industry-feedback channel; it does not announce a new merchant payment method becoming immediately available.
What it means for merchants
Merchants should ask their payment partners which corridors they can actually support, including currency conversion, refunds and reconciliation. For PSPs considering participation, practical merchant problems such as payment tracking and failed-transfer handling are useful topics to bring into the design discussion.
Read the original announcement
European Central Bank · 16 Oct 2026This brief summarizes the linked primary source. Claims and reported figures have not been independently audited by Payment Guide.