When every second counts

Instant payment is the new payment method in Liechtenstein and Switzerland that allows you to transfer money from one bank account to another within seconds. Banks execute your payment order immediately at any time – whether at night, on weekends or on public holidays. Your account is debited directly and almost simultaneously with the final credit to the beneficiary’s account.

Clients of Liechtensteinische Landesbank will be able to receive instant payments from 20 August 2024.

Sending in Swiss francs will be available in spring 2025. By November 2026, this service will be offered by all banks in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, meaning every transfer can be made in a matter of seconds at any time.

Instant payments offer a number of advantages:

Balances are available in real time, transfers are possible around the clock and there is no credit risk. A successful instant payment has an immediate and definitive effect on the accounts, eliminating uncertainty and credit risks. In addition, both the payer and the beneficiary can receive an immediate execution confirmation from their bank, which is particularly useful for urgent transfers.

In cooperation with SIX and the SNB:

The introduction of instant payments has been made possible by the cooperation between SIX and the Swiss National Bank. The new instant payment infrastructure became operational in November 2023, and banks have been onboarding since then. The largest banks, which collectively cover over 95 per cent of the payment volume in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, will be able to process instant payments up to a limit of CHF 20,000 from August 2024. The remaining banks will follow by 2026.