The Retail Payments Infrastructure Board (RPIB) has opened a consultation to help shape the blueprint for the UK’s next-generation retail payments infrastructure. Launched on 25 June 2026, the process invites feedback on how a new core system can deliver greater resilience, broader user choice, and smoother everyday transactions while supporting both established payment methods and emerging forms of digital money.
This initiative marks a key milestone in the modernization of UK retail payments.
The new infrastructure is expected to provide a secure, adaptable foundation that enables innovation and competition without disrupting the reliable systems already in place.
It will be developed and delivered by a new industry-led Delivery Company, while Pay.UK continues its central role in operating existing retail interbank payment systems—such as Faster Payments, Bacs, and the Image Clearing System—in a safe and resilient manner.
The consultation focuses on the payment journeys, key design choices, and priorities that the future infrastructure should support.
Alongside maintaining current capabilities, it explores how the system could enable new options, including account-to-account payments at the point of sale as a convenient alternative to cards, and enhanced cross-border functionality.
These features are intended to give consumers and businesses faster, more seamless experiences and greater flexibility in how they pay and receive money.
The work sits within the wider National Payments Vision and the strategy set out by the Payments Vision Delivery Committee.
That strategy aims to create a trusted payments ecosystem built on next-generation technology, where users have meaningful choice between different payment methods.
The RPIB, chaired by the Bank of England and drawing on expertise from banks, building societies, payment service providers, fintechs, and merchants, is responsible for translating these high-level objectives into a practical high-level design.
Victoria Cleland, Chair of the RPIB, said:
“Working together, we have a real opportunity to transform the UK’s retail payments infrastructure. Our vision is for an infrastructure that remains resilient and trusted, while providing a platform for innovation that responds to users’ needs as the payments landscape evolves.”
Feedback received during the consultation will directly inform the high-level design and guide the next phase of work by the Delivery Company.
The deadline for responses is 11 September 2026. Stakeholders across the payments ecosystem—including banks, fintech companies, merchants, and consumer representatives—are encouraged to contribute their perspectives on the proposed payment journeys, design principles, and potential trade-offs.
By gathering broad input at this early stage, the RPIB aims to ensure the future infrastructure meets the needs of today’s users while remaining flexible enough to accommodate future innovations.
The resulting system is expected to support a multi-money environment, delivering faster settlement where appropriate, stronger fraud protections, and improved interoperability between different payment types.
This consultation represents an important opportunity for the industry and wider stakeholders to help define the technical and operational foundations of UK retail payments for the years ahead. Responses will play a central role in balancing resilience and security with the drive for greater choice and innovation in one of the economy’s most critical infrastructures.
