The Federal Reserve Seeks Collaboration with Payment System Stakeholders for Future Enhancements


The Federal Reserve has issued "Strategies for Improving the U.S. Payment System," which presents a multi-faceted plan for collaborating with payment system stakeholders including large and small businesses, emerging payments firms, card networks, payment processors, consumers and financial institutions to enhance the speed, safety and efficiency of the U.S. payment system.

"A safer, more efficient and faster payment system contributes to public confidence and economic growth," said Federal Reserve Board Governor Jerome H. Powell, who will co-chair the initiative's oversight committee, in an official press release. "We look forward to working with payment stakeholders to realize this vision."

"Strategies for Improving the U.S. Payment System" communicates desired outcomes for the payment system and outlines the strategies and tactics the Federal Reserve will pursue, in collaboration with stakeholders, to help the country achieve these outcomes. The paper outlines the Federal Reserve's intent to establish a task force to identify effective approaches for implementing safe, ubiquitous and faster payment capabilities.

The paper also calls for a task force to advise the Federal Reserve on reducing payment fraud and advancing the safety, security and resiliency of the payment system. Additionally, the Federal Reserve will pursue efforts to enhance payment system efficiency through work on standards, directories and business-to-business payment improvements, alongside efforts to enhance Fed-provided services for same-day automated clearing house (ACH), risk management and settlement.

"This plan reflects the contributions and commitment of thousands of payment system participants who shared their expertise and perspectives during the past 18 months," stated Esther George, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and a member of the Federal Reserve's Financial Services Policy Committee, in an official press release. "Consequently, we believe the strategies and tactics in the plan have broad support and strong prospects for success."

The Federal Reserve's strategic direction for financial services focuses on improving the end-to-end speed, safety and efficiency of the payment system. The Federal Reserve undertook an extensive 18-month research program aimed at identifying key gaps and opportunities, gaining industry and end-user perspectives on needs and priorities and defining ways to achieve payment improvements. "Strategies for Improving the U.S. Payment System" details the conclusions of those efforts.




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