Since its introduction in Europe in 2014, the general hype surrounding SEPA in the finance world has subsided significantly. However, the discussion about SEPA is far from over. Reason enough for each company and financial institution to still give this subject great attention.

Even though at the moment topics such as instant payments, card-based payments and others are dominating the discourse in the payments sector, the main foundation on which new features are based continues to be the Single Euro Payments Area SEPA. And this foundation keeps being expanded.

From November 2018 financial institutions can participate in the TIPS procedure (TARGET instant payment settlement) of the Euro system. Here, too, SEPA forms the basis for this new payment type, which is derived from the general SEPA Scheme (SCTinst).

Furthermore, efforts are made to standardise the different card systems in Europe. Not before the entire European payments sector has been unified from the formats to the card payments can this subject be closed. So far an end is not in sight.

Even though currently innovative topics such as instant payments, card-based payments and others determine the discourse in the sector, the main basis for new developments continues to be the Single Euro Payments Area SEPA. And this basis keeps being expanded.