Instant Payments Bridge

A standard solution for connecting payment solution providers to the SIC IP service

To further develop the Swiss payment system Swiss Interbank Clearing (SIC system), the Swiss National Bank (SNB) and SIX Interbank Clearing Ltd (SIC Ltd) have jointly established a new infrastructure – the SIC5 platform. This enables the financial institutions to process instant payments in central bank money.

Since autumn 2023, various market players have been working together to investigate how the potential of instant payments for the Swiss financial centre can be better exploited in the future. This has resulted in the SIC Instant Payments Bridge (IPB) initiative, which is intended to open up the SIC IP service (Instant Payments service of the SIC system) to the interested payment solution providers for their account-to-account (A2A) payments (the chronological course of the project can be read here).

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Rough Concept of the Possible IPB Implementation

An initial rough concept outlining the central design principles of a possible IPB was submitted for market consultation in August 2024. The feedback from approximately 20 market participants was recorded in a consultation report. It has shown that further development can be based on the defined core principles (Rough concept and consultation report of the first consultation).

The present, revised document describes the scope and content of a possible IPB implementation project. In a first phase, the aim is to offer the core functions to provide those payment solution providers interested with efficient access to payment processing via the SIC IP service. In later phases, IPB can be further developed in such a way that the procedures, the processes and the technical components are gradually improved and adapted to the needs of the market.

Market Consultation on the Rough Concept

The objective of the public consultation procedure is to inform the financial centre about the planned procedure and the possible content of the IPB implementation project and to obtain structured feedback on the content and on the scope. Market participants are invited to submit their comments on the rough concept using the designated feedback form by email to consultation-ipb@six-group.com.

8 January 2026 8 January 2026
Consultation starts on
25 February 2026 25 February 2026
Consultation ends on

The feedback received will be evaluated after the market consultation has concluded, summarized in a consultation report and published here. It may still lead to changes with respect to the implementation, the scope and the content of the project. The Board of Directors of SIC Ltd will only decide on the implementation of a possible IPB after the consultation.

Instant Payments Bridge – Aim and Principles


Payment solution providers are to be given the opportunity to process payments indirectly and efficiently via the SIC IP service. This allows them to benefit from advantages such as the immediate availability of funds and the reduction of counterparty risks. The instant payments initiated by payment solution providers are processed directly between two accounts of end customers – without intermediaries or collective accounts.

The possible IPB pursues the goal of simplifying the connection of payment solution providers, primarily through standardization in the area of payment initiation and interbank messages, and thus of promoting interoperability.

Future-proof infrastructure

Provision of an efficient, modern and future-oriented A2A payment infrastructure for Switzerland.

Non-discriminatory access

Non-discriminatory "level playing field" access to the basic infrastructure for payment solution providers to promote innovations and use cases for A2A payments.

Initiative Process

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the Instant Payments Bridge, please contact us using the form below.

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