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Instant Payment Service

Data-rich, flexible, fast. Like, really fast.

Enable payments at the speed of life with our data-rich, flexible and scalable instant payments solutions and services.

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50+

years operating critical national infrastructure and global payment network

54,000

A2A transactions processed per minute by Mastercard (2023)

INSTANT PAYMENT SERVICES

A trusted instant payment solution used worldwide

Our real-time payment solutions are powering some of the world’s largest economies 24/7/365.

Instant payments clearing and settlement

Immediate availability of funds to be recipient every time. *

Multi-functional

A single deployment enables multiple currencies, payment flows and use cases.

Flexible deployment options

Built to support multiple data centers and cloud zones with seamless scalability.

Future-proof

Leverage global messaging standards enabling interoperability and development of new propositions.

Mitigate liquidity risk

Real-time liquidity monitoring tools and instant liquidity management capabilities.

Customer stories

Protect and enhance your instant payments

With unrivalled payments expertise and experience and global scale, no one is better placed to serve your needs.

Account-to-account risk solutions

Our award-winning risk solutions help prevent fraud and money laundering in real time.

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Batch payments

Tap into new opportunities with our advanced, comprehensive batch and bulk payment services.

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Insights and news

Frequently asked questions

What is Mastercard Instant Payments Service and how does it work?

Mastercard Instant Payments Service (IPS) is our latest, national-grade infrastructure that enables secure, irrevocable account-to-account payments in real time, 24/7/365. It processes ISO 20022 data-rich messages for instant clearing and settlement, supporting multiple use cases such as P2P, B2B, and government disbursements.  Mastercard’s instant payments technology has been powering economies since 2008 with the launch of Faster Payments in the UK. Today, our technology powers real-time payments in 11 markets across the globe, including the UK, USA, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and Peru among others.

How does Mastercard ensure resilience and security in its real-time payments infrastructure?

IPS is designed with multi-layered security, dual-site architecture, and continuous monitoring to meet critical national infrastructure standards. It integrates fraud prevention overlays, advanced AI-driven risk scoring, and compliance tools to safeguard transactions while maintaining 99.99% availability.

What role does ISO 20022 play in enabling instant payments?

ISO 20022 provides a global messaging standard that enables richer, structured data exchange across participants. It can improve straight-through processing, create cost efficiencies, enhance fraud detection, and support interoperability for domestic and cross-border payments, making IPS future-ready for evolving use case

What overlay services and value-added features are available with Mastercard Instant Payments Service?

IPS is complemented by services like Proxy Directory Service for alias-based payments, Bulk Payment Service for high-volume transactions, and fraud prevention tools such as Scam Protect. Additional overlays include liquidity optimization, account verification, and request-to-pay functionality.

How does Mastercard Instant Payments Service support economic growth and interoperability for central banks and scheme operators?

By enabling faster, secure, and interoperable payments, IPS can support initiatives to increase financial inclusion, reduce reliance on cash and improve liquidity efficiency. Its modular architecture supports cross-border interlinking and open banking integration, fostering innovation and boosting GDP growth through increased transaction velocity.