Eurosystem considers offering “Verification of Payee Service” for instant payments

2 August 2024

The Eurosystem is considering introducing a value-added service for payment service providers that would enable their customers, as payers, to verify the payee before initiating an instant payment.

Under the EU Instant Payments Regulation (Regulation 2024/886), payment service providers will be required to offer a Verification of Payee (VoP) Service for euro credit transfers.

The new Regulation requires payers to be informed of any discrepancies between the payment account number and the intended payee’s name. The payer can then decide whether or not to initiate the payment, depending on the result: “match”, “close match”, “no match” or “other”.

The Eurosystem aims to support payment service providers in offering this service to their customers with a view to enhancing payment security and limiting instant payment-related fraud.

The European Payments Council has drawn up an initial version of a rulebook for the VoP scheme.

The obligation for payment service providers in the euro area to provide a VoP service to their customers will enter into force in October 2025.