Retail payment systems continue to become faster and more convenient. Yet, despite increased use of electronic payments around the world, there is scant evidence of a shift away from cash. As the appetite for cash remains unabated, few societies are close to “cashless” or even...

This feature looks at technology in payment systems. It compares the diffusion of real-time gross settlement (RTGS) systems for wholesale payments with that of faster systems for retail payments (fast payments). RTGS systems emerged in the 1980s and were adopted globally within a span of 30...

Cross-border and multicurrency payment systems have the potential to make cross-border payments faster, cheaper and more transparent. A simple taxonomy reviews the different designs and functionality of existing systems. Such systems remain rare, and most handle small volumes and values....

Technological innovation is transforming payments. Domestic payments are increasingly convenient, instantaneous and available 24/7. However, shortcomings in access to payments and cross-border payments remain. Lack of access to payments is a problem in some emerging market and developing...