For Instant Payments, around the world, there’s an unmistakable clamor for faster, more convenient payment services. The demand for real-time transactions, whether it’s sending funds, paying suppliers, or making everyday purchases, is driving the rapid ascent of instant payments. In this era where speed and convenience reign supreme, it’s no surprise that instant payments are on the brink of becoming the new norm.
The Bank for International Settlements reports that instant payments have experienced explosive growth, with a remarkable year-over-year increase exceeding 30%. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for the digital payment revolution, pushing both consumers and businesses to embrace the advantages of immediate, secure, and contactless transactions. Projections indicate a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 23.6% for real-time payments from 2020 to 2025.
In this instant-gratification world, where consumer expectations for rapid and convenient services continue to surge, instant payments seamlessly integrate. They offer a solution that aligns with the industry’s need for increased speed and resilience, all within the framework of the core business and capabilities.
Instant payments are thriving not only in peer-to-peer transfers but also in the e-commerce landscape, and in several major markets, they are already presenting formidable competition to traditional card schemes. McKinsey reveals that more than 56 countries now have active real-time payment systems, reflecting the global momentum.
According to CapGemini, instant payments are set to comprise over 25% of global non-cash transactions by 2025, a significant increase from 14.5% in 2020. In Europe, the European Commission’s proposed mandatory instant payment legislation will likely foster consumer trust and encourage merchant acceptance, further expanding the user base.
With consumers growing accustomed to the speed of real-time settlement, a natural shift towards e-commerce and online payments is inevitable. Recognizing the potential, companies are developing scalable platforms to cater to the evolving payment needs of consumers and merchants.
In developing economies, the share of instant payments is anticipated to rise significantly, possibly accounting for half of all payment transactions by 2027. This trend is especially notable in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), where instant payments currently constitute 12% of the credit transfer volume. Regulatory intervention could further boost this share.
Moreover, new regulations on the horizon could double the projected instant payments volumes for 2027. While interest rate effects may eventually moderate, the payments sector is poised to surpass $3 trillion in revenue by 2027, ensuring robust growth in the years ahead.
The payments sector’s future appears robust, with five-year growth expected to exceed historical averages. Nevertheless, as the growth landscape transforms, banks must fine-tune their strategies to capitalize on this potential. This demands a meticulous assessment of their operations and decisive, albeit challenging, investments in constructing an efficient payments core that contributes to both top-line and bottom-line growth.

Dive into the heart of instant payments evolution with the Balkans Instant Payments Round Table. As a dynamic regional forum, we're gathering the industry's brightest minds, financial experts, and technology pioneers to drive the transformation of payments in the Balkans region. Join this intimate and engaging discussion that delves into the intricacies of instant payments. This round table brings together key stakeholders from across southeastern Europe including Albania, Croatia, Greece, Serbia, Slovenia and more to explore challenges, share best practices, and foster collaboration that propels the adoption of instant payment solutions.
Unveil the untapped potential of instant payments in the Baltics. From financial institutions to cutting-edge fintech disruptors, this round table convenes a diverse array of stakeholders to uncover opportunities, streamline processes, and enhance the financial fabric of the Baltic region. Join us for an illuminating dialogue that transcends borders and explores the nuances of instant payments. The Baltics Instant Payments Members Round Table Meeting is your platform to share insights, exchange ideas, and collaborate with fellow industry experts from Northern Europe including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania in a vibrant atmosphere conducive to innovation and growth.
Step into the forefront of the instant payments revolution with the Central Europe Instant Payments Round Table. As a premier regional platform, we're assembling the sector's leading thinkers, eminent financial professionals, and innovative tech trailblazers to catalyze the metamorphosis of payments in Central Europe. Engage in a deep and insightful conversation that navigates the complexities of instant payments. This round table amalgamates pivotal stakeholders from across Central Europe, encompassing countries like Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and more, aiming to dissect challenges, disseminate best practices, and cultivate a synergy that accelerates the embrace of immediate payment methods.
Embark on a journey into the epicenter of instant payments progression with the Benelux Instant Payments Round Table. As a distinguished regional convocation, we are rallying the industry’s foremost intellects, esteemed financial leaders, and avant-garde tech innovators to spearhead the renaissance of payments within the Benelux domain. Immerse yourself in a profound and constructive discourse that ventures deep into the subtleties of instantaneous transactions. This round table melds pivotal figures from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, endeavoring to untangle challenges, promulgate top-tier methodologies, and nurture alliances that advance the adoption of real-time payment frameworks.
Delve into the nexus of instant payments transformation with the Iberia Instant Payments Round Table. As a distinguished regional assembly, we're mobilizing the sector's top strategists, revered financial authorities, and trailblazing tech visionaries to pioneer the next era of payments in the Iberian peninsula. Engage in enriching dialogues that dissect the fine details of immediate transactions. This round table assembles vital influencers from Spain and Portugal, striving to address challenges, propagate effective strategies, and foster partnerships that bolster the swift adoption of instant payment mechanisms.
Embark on a transformative odyssey with the Nordics Instant Payments Round Table. As a paramount regional confluence, we're aggregating visionary thinkers, influential financial figures, and edgy tech disruptors to recalibrate the payment landscape of the Nordic region. Plunge into captivating discussions that spotlight the intricacies of on-the-spot transactions. Converging stakeholders from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, this round table sets the stage to confront challenges, share pioneering insights, and craft collaborations that elevate the trajectory of instant payment modalities.
Venture into the vanguard of instant payments advancements with the UK & Ireland Instant Payments Round Table. As an elite regional gathering, we're bringing together the brightest luminaries, financial stalwarts, and pioneering tech minds to shape the future of payments in the British Isles. Dive into in-depth discussions that tackle the nuances of real-time payments. Drawing participants from across the United Kingdom and Ireland, this round table aims to navigate challenges, exchange unparalleled insights, and stimulate collaborations that amplify the momentum of instant payment innovations.
Explore the cutting edge of payment evolution at the DACH Instant Payments Round Table. As a premier regional symposium, we're rallying industry vanguards, esteemed financial luminaries, and groundbreaking tech architects to champion the modernization of payments across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Engage in insightful exchanges that delve deep into the world of instant payments. With representation from the heart of Central Europe, this round table endeavors to discern challenges, spread exemplary practices, and weave connections that supercharge the uptake of instantaneous payment systems.