---
title: "SARB Plans Direct Payments Access For Non-Bank Providers"
description: "South Africa’s Reserve Bank is developing reforms that could let authorised fintechs and other non-banks access clearing and settlement directly."
canonical_url: "https://liners.com/news/sarb-direct-access-clearing-settlement-non-bank-payments"
markdown_url: "https://liners.com/news/sarb-direct-access-clearing-settlement-non-bank-payments.md"
type: "article"
language: "en"
published_at: "2026-10-26T12:00:55.842Z"
updated_at: "2026-10-26T12:00:55.843Z"
---

# SARB Plans Direct Payments Access For Non-Bank Providers

South Africa’s Reserve Bank is developing reforms that could let authorised fintechs and other non-banks access clearing and settlement directly.

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- [SARB Plans Direct Payments Access For Non-Bank Providers](/news/sarb-direct-access-clearing-settlement-non-bank-payments)

## Content

## In Short
South Africa’s Reserve Bank, SARB, is pursuing reforms that would let authorised non-bank payment providers, including fintechs, access payment clearing and settlement systems directly.

Clearing and settlement is the behind the scenes plumbing that moves money between financial institutions and confirms the final transfer.

## What Happened
SARB’s Payments Ecosystem Modernisation programme proposes an activity-based authorisation framework. This would allow eligible non-banks to apply to provide specific services, such as e-money and remittances.

Under the proposal, authorised non-banks could connect directly to payment infrastructure instead of relying on a sponsoring bank. Sponsoring means a bank sits between the fintech and the national payment systems, and the fintech depends on that bank to process transactions.

SARB published a draft authorisation framework in November 2025. Its 2026/27 programme also includes work on new payment products. The authorisation framework and related legal changes are still part of a broader reform process.

## Why It Matters
Direct access could reduce fintechs’ dependence on banks and widen competition in payment services. SARB says broader participation is intended to support innovation and lower costs, with safeguards that match the activity and its risk.

Lower fees for merchants and consumers are not guaranteed. Any savings will depend on how much competition develops and whether non-banks can cover the costs of connecting to the payment system, running the operations, and meeting compliance requirements.

## Sources and products

- [Techcabal](https://techcabal.com/2026/10/26/south-africa-fintech-payment-network)

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- [Policy & Regulation](/news)

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