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 examine how the potential of instant payments can be better leveraged in the future for the benefit of the Swiss financial center. 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 interested Payment Solution Providers for their account-to-account ("A2A") payments (the chronology can be found here). The IPB also enables the development of potential solutions for retail payment schemes ("RPS") (see Access criteria for the Retail Payment Scheme (RPS) rough concept).

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Rough concepts and consultation reports of the two market consultations on the IPB

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 (see Rough concept Design Principles of a "SIC Instant Payments Bridge" for the SIC IP Service and the consultation report of the first consultation).

The second rough concept describes the scope and content of a possible IPB implementation project. In the first phase, the core functionalities are to be made available to give interested Payment Solution Providers efficient access to payment processing via the SIC IP service. In later phases, the possible IPB could be further developed in such a way that the procedures, the processes and the technical components are gradually improved and further aligned with the needs of the market. The second rough concept was submitted for market consultation in January 2026. The feedback from 27 market participants was again documented in a consultation report (see Rough Concept for the Possible Implementation of an Instant Payments Bridge and Consultation Report on the "Rough Concept for the Possible Implementation of an Instant Payments Bridge").

IPB implementation project: Phase 1

In March 2026, taking into account the consultation results of the second IPB market consultation, which show a tangible need for the IPB as well as a willingness among market participants to contribute actively to its development, the Board of Directors of SIC Ltd decided to proceed with the implementation of the first phase of the IPB.

The content of the implementation project, Phase 1, can be found in the document Consultation Report on the "Rough Concept for the Possible Implementation of an Instant Payments Bridge".

Application for the Working Group on Payment Initiation within the framework of the IPB project

The second market consultation has clearly demonstrated that market participants are seeking standardization in the field of payment initiation between the Payment Solution Providers and the financial institutions ("FIs"). Standardization helps the market participants reduce the integration efforts between the Payment Solution Providers and the FIs as well as the associated complexities and cost inefficiencies. The Working Group on Payment Initiation is to examine in greater depth the possible requirements for payment initiation between the Payment Solution Providers and the FIs (see in particular chapter 8 of the Rough Concept for the Possible Implementation of an Instant Payments Bridge and chapter 4.6 of the Consultation Report on the "Rough Concept for the Possible Implementation of an Instant Payments Bridge").

The working group is to identify, select and jointly prioritize relevant topics. It is to develop and evaluate solution options as well as prepare decision-making bases for the IPB project management and issue a non-binding recommendation. The topics already mentioned in the Rough Concept for the Possible Implementation of an Instant Payments Bridge and in the Consultation Report on the "Rough Concept for the Possible Implementation of an Instant Payments Bridge" are to serve as a starting point for discussion and not as an exhaustive list of topics.

Participation in the Working Group on Payment Initiation is open to all market participants who meet the corresponding requirements for participation. In order to ensure the working and functional capacity of the body and to guarantee that tasks are carried out in a targeted manner, the number of participants is limited; there is no entitlement to participation. Participants are selected by SIC Ltd on the basis of the applications submitted. In doing so, SIC Ltd takes into account the fulfilment of the participation requirements, the stated reasons for motivation and a balanced representation of the various participant categories within the working group. For the working group to be established, at least one Payment Solution Provider and one FI must be represented.

Market participants who are interested in collaborating in the Working Group on Payment Initiation are requested to submit their application by 2 November 2026 to the email address consultation-ipb@six-group.com.

To apply for participation, please use the form Application for the IPB Payment Initiation Working Group.

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

September to December 2023: Orientation and preparation phase

An initiative to open up the SIC IP service for payment solution providers was launched in October 2023 under the name "Scheme-on-Scheme". On behalf of the Board of Directors of SIC Ltd, the project team first examined various solution approaches, resulting in three central design principles. These were approved by the Board of Directors. They formed the basis for the initial conceptual work. Afterwards, the project team invited the interested market participants to register by the end of January 2024 in order to discuss various solutions and identify any requirements in an "interaction phase".

January to April 2024: Interaction phase with interested market participants

Eleven market participants accepted the invitation and took part in the interaction phase. In workshops, the project team reviewed the established design principles and collected ideas and requirements from the market participants. The aim was to identify the "smallest common denominator" in order to be able to process payments from payment schemes or other third-party providers via the SIC IP service in the future.

April to August 2024: Consolidation and validation of the findings

Following the workshops, the project team evaluated the requirements collected in terms of materiality and feasibility and created an initial consolidation. This was then presented again to the participating market participants and discussed with various financial institutions. In several iterations, the project team further refined the consolidated picture and developed an initial rough concept with the design principles for an Instant Payments Bridge.

August to December 2024: Market consultation on the design principles

The consultation on the initial IPB rough concept took place from 15 August to 30 September 2024. The aim was to obtain structured feedback from interested market participants on the initial ideas documented in the rough concept "Design Principles of a 'SIC Instant Payments Bridge' for the SIC IP Service" and to inform the financial centre about the IPB. After the market consultation concluded, SIC Ltd prepared a consultation report and published it in December. The feedback has shown that further development can be based on the defined core principles.

- Dec 19, 2024
Consultation Report on the Rough Concept "Design Principles of a 'SIC Instant Payments Bridge' for the SIC IP Service"
Open document
- Aug 15, 2024
Rough Concept: Design Principles of a "SIC Instant Payments Bridge" for the SIC IP Service
Open document

January to December 2025: Conceptualisation of the possible IPB implementation January to June 2026: Market consultation on the possible IPB implementation project

The market consultation on the approach and planned content of the possible IPB implementation project took place from 8 January to 25 February 2026. The objective of the public consultation procedure was to inform the financial center about the planned project and to obtain structured feedback on the content and scope described.  

27 market participants submitted their comments on the rough concept. The responses were taken into account by the Board of Directors of SIC Ltd in its decision on the further course of action. The consolidated feedback from the market participants as well as the next steps within the framework of the IPB implementation project can be found in the following consultation report.

- Jun 12, 2026
Consultation Report on the "Rough Concept for the Possible Implementation of an Instant Payments Bridge"
Open document
- Jan 8, 2026
Rough Concept for the Possible Implementation of an Instant Payments Bridge
Open document

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