Australian Payments Network

Australian Payments Network Limited
IndustryBanking, Regulation
Founded18 February 1992 (1992-02-18)
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
Key people
Andy White, CEO
John Brogan, Chair
Websitewww.auspaynet.com.au

Australian Payments Network Limited (AusPayNet), formerly the Australian Payments Clearing Association (APCA)[1] is the self-regulatory body set up by the payments industry to improve the safety, reliability, equity, convenience and efficiency of payment systems in Australia.

AusPayNet has over 140 members[2] which include Australia's leading financial institutions, such as banks, building societies and credit unions, as well as major retailers and other service providers.[3]

AusPayNet administers a number of payment systems in Australia. AusPayNet sets, manages and develops regulations, procedures and standards governing payments clearing and settlement within Australia. Payments systems covered by AusPayNet's rules include cheques, direct debits and credits, aspects of ATM and EFTPOS transactions, high value payments and the distribution of wholesale cash. Its role includes strategic direction and regulatory policy for the Australian payments system.

AusPayNet provides a venue for collaboration and cross-industry innovation on these issues and works closely with government, regulators, payments stakeholders and individuals to improve the payments system.

AusPayNet is also the official issuer and custodian of Bank State Branch (BSB) numbers, the bank code system used in Australia. AusPayNet assigns the bank code to a financial institution who then allocates the other digits, in line with guidelines set by AusPayNet. AusPayNet also manages the Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) cheque encoding standards in Australia.[4]

  1. ^ [1] AusPayNet media release
  2. ^ Australian Payments Network. "Response submission re: 'Improving the technology neutrality of Treasury portfolio laws'" (PDF). www.treasury.gov.au. Treasury. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  3. ^ [2]. AusPayNet. Retrieved on 2 May 2019.
  4. ^ Guidelines for Companies Intending to Issue MICR Encoded Cheques