The Payments Trilogue

In this episode, we engage with Tony McLaughlin, a well known expert on the subject, who previously served 20 years as Citi's payments brain. Together we explore the transformative potential of stablecoins in the financial landscape, the evolution of payment technologies, the regulatory landscape surrounding stablecoins, and the future role of banks in this new ecosystem. The discussion highlights...

This episode delves into the concept of Request-to-Pay (RTP), exploring its historical roots, current challenges, and future prospects. The discussion highlights the potential of RTP to streamline payment processes but also addresses the obstacles it faces in gaining traction among banks and consumers. Key insights include the importance of harmonizing RTP with existing payment systems, the role o...

This episode features a transition in the leadership at the European Payments Council (EPC), with Javier Santamaria reflecting on his 13 years tenure as its chairman and Gijs Boudewijn stepping into the role. In return, Javier is succeeding Gijs in this podcast representing mainly the bankers' perspectives. The conversation explores the evolution of payments in Europe over the past two decades, th...

In this episode, we host Jens Holeczek, the leader of the German giroAPI project to discuss this initiative and its differentiation from SPAA. The conversation explores the broader scope of giroAPI, its current status, and the commercial model that underpins it. We also compare the governance structures of giroAPI and SPAA, emphasizing the need for collaboration. The episode concludes with reflect...

For this episode, we invited Jeremy Light, a well-known payments expert, especially also for this topic. We discuss the evolving landscape of digital wallets for cards and account-to-account payments, and the implications for the Digital Euro. The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities presented by open banking, the future of cash, and the need for interoperability in cross-border...

In this episode we discuss the need for a new approach to industrial policy in the payments sector. We explore Europe's potential to leapfrog and lead in payment technologies, rather than playing catch-up all the time. For this to happen we see the need for the authorities to regulate less and orchestrate more by acting as a convener to foster innovation and growth in the European payments landsca...

In this episode, we engage with Chris Skinner, one of the most famous payment experts in Europe, to explore the evolving landscape of digital trust and identity in the financial sector. We discuss the challenges of onboarding and KYC processes, the potential of the upcoming EU ID wallet, and the fragmentation of digital identity solutions across Europe. The conversation delves into the complexitie...

In this episode, we welcome Claus George to discuss the topic of Commercial Bank Money Tokens (CBMT), which is quite a revolutionary concept of using bank money with distributed ledger technology (DLT). We explore the implications for banks, corporates, and the future of financial transactions, comparing tokenized deposits with stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). The discussio...

In this episode, the hosts discuss the use of Payment Initiation Services (PIS) at the Point of Sale (POS), based on the European Retail Payments Framework (ERPF), a market initiative of the European Third Party Providers Association (ETPPA). They explore the European payment strategy, the role of open banking, and the challenges faced in implementing PIS in physical retail environments. The conve...

In this episode of the Payments Trilogue, the hosts interview Martina Weimert, the CEO of the European Payments Initiative (EPI), which has just been launching WERO their new payments wallet. They are discussing the challenges and opportunities in the European payments landscape and they explore the fragmentation of payment solutions, the integration of the digital euro, the role of fintechs, and...

This episode of the Payments Trilogue hosts Chris Pirkner, CEO of Bluecode and Chairman of EMPSA, the European Mobile Payment Systems Association, to discuss the evolving landscape of payment systems in Europe. The conversation covers the complexities of instant payments, the importance and difficulties of collaboration among payment systems, and the challenges of pricing models in cross-border tr...

This episode explores the evolution and future of account-to-account (A2A) payments, highlighting the success of iDEAL in the Netherlands, the challenges faced by banks, and the potential for A2A payments to become a dominant payment method in Europe. The discussion includes insights on the advantages of A2A payments over traditional card payments, the importance of payment certainty, and the need...

In this episode, featuring special guest Dave Birch, the discussion revolves around the impact of AI on the banking and payments industry. The speakers explore how AI empowers customers, the strategic responses banks must adopt, the role of regulation, and the future of financial decision-making. They also delve into the importance of user interfaces and the potential threats posed by AI in fraud....

For this episode, the hosts invited an expert guest, Jan van Vonno, to discuss the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDIW), its implications for open banking, and the challenges of compliance and authentication. The panel shares insights on the potential benefits of a unified digital identity system across Europe specifically for the purpose of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), while also addressin...

In this episode of the Payments Trialogue, Michael Salmony, Gijs Boudewijn, and Ralf Ohlhausen discuss the evolving landscape of open finance, focusing on the FIDA proposal and its implications for data access and collaboration within the financial industry. They explore the importance of customer-centric approaches, the distinction between data access and sharing, and the relevance of existing mo...

In this Christmas episode of the Payments Trilogue, hosts Michael, Ralf, and Gijs discuss their Santa wish lists for the payments industry, focusing on regulatory improvements. They explore the implications of upcoming regulations like Instant Payments incl. VOP, PSD3/PSR, FIDA, eIDAS 2.0 and the need for better APIs, as well as the strategic importance of initiatives like SPAA and the digital eur...

In this episode of the Payments Trilogue, Michael Salmony, Gijs Boudewijn, and Ralf Ohlhausen discuss the SEPA Payment Account Access (SPAA) initiative, a collaborative effort between banks and third-party providers (TPPs) to create a new payment scheme in Europe. They explore the origins of SPAA, its development, the challenges faced in implementation, and the current status of the initiative. Th...

The conversation explores the topic of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and the digital euro. The discussion focuses on the reasons for CBDC, concerns surrounding it, and the potential impact on various stakeholders. The participants discuss the need for a digital version of cash, the challenges of implementing CBDC in the retail space, and the potential benefits of wholesale CBDC for cross-bo...

In this episode of the Payments Trilogue, Michael, Gijs, and Ralf discuss the evolving landscape of fraud in the payments industry. They explore the challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics, the importance of cross-sector collaboration in combating fraud, the role of technology and regulation, and the implications of AI in both facilitating and preventing fraud. The conversatio...

In this episode of The Payments Trilogue, the hosts discuss the evolution of payment regulations in Europe, focusing on the transition from PSD2 to PSD3 and PSR. They explore the challenges faced by Payment Initiation Service Providers (PISPs) and Account Information Service Providers (AISPs), the importance of collaboration over regulation, and the need for better governance and competition in th...

In this episode of The Payments Trilogue, Michael Salmony, Ralf Ohlhausen, and Gijs Boudewijn discuss the evolution and significance of instant payments in Europe. They explore the regulatory landscape, the impact on FinTech, and the challenges and opportunities in B2B payments. The conversation highlights the need for collaboration among stakeholders and the implications of new regulations on the...

In this episode of the Payments Trilogue, the discussion revolves around the effectiveness of EU regulations, particularly in comparison to other global approaches. The speakers explore the balance between regulation and innovation, the impact of regulatory frameworks on market dynamics, and the importance of competition in fostering a healthy economic environment. They also delve into the complex...

In this episode of The Payments Trilogue, Gijs Boudewijn, Ralf Ohlhausen and Michael Salmony discuss the options of making European payments great again (MEPGA). They explore the challenges and opportunities presented by various payment solutions, including the European Payments Initiative (EPI), Open Banking, EMPSA, and the potential impact of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC). The conversat...

In this inaugural episode of The Payments Trilogue, hosts Michael Salmony, Gijs Boudewijn, and Ralf Ohlhausen introduce their backgrounds and the purpose of the podcast. They aim to explore the evolving landscape of payments in Europe, focusing on collaboration and innovative approaches by banks and fintechs to address current challenges in the industry. This industry trilogue shall lead to more c...