PSD implementation likely to be pushed back

In the midst of a global credit crunch, the continued roll-out of SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) and compliance with the European Commission's Payment Services Directive (PSD) are probably the last things on banks' minds.

A Capgemini survey of more than 60 banks at this year's Sibos conference found that 80% had established specific initiatives to address the upcoming PSD which banks must comply with by November, 2009. (One has to question though what will happen to these initiatives given the nationalization of some banks and/or the reassessment of funding priorities in the wake of the credit crunch).

Not surprisingly, almost half of the banks surveyed believe that the scheduled PSD implementation target of November 2009 will be pushed back and given the lack of take-up for SEPA Credit Transfers and uncertainties surrounding SEPA Direct Debits, scheduled for implementation in 2009, almost 70% of banks said they believe a “hard” SEPA end date is required in order to make SEPA a success.

According to Capgemini's survey, more than half of the banks surveyed cited harmonized implementation of the PSD across the EU as the biggest challenge. The PSD is estimated to have a €1 billion impact on banks' business as a whole with lost profit from value dating cited as the main concern.

In an effort to eliminate "float" the PSD prohibits value dating.While banks expect the PSD to lead to new payment services such as direct debit mandate management, this is hardly the level or kinds of innovation that the PSD is really seeking.

Having earned money off the status quo for some time, banks are finding it hard to come to terms with the new world of payments that the PSD beckons in. And the credit crunch is only likely to widen the gap between customers' expectations and banks' ability to deliver new payment services and products.