Payment Systems in Singapore

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Payment Systems in Singapore Payment systems in Singapore Singapore Table of contents List of abbreviations............................................................................................................................. 319 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 321 1. The institutional aspects............................................................................................................ 321 1.1 The general legal and regulatory framework .................................................................. 321 1.2 The role of the Monetary Authority of Singapore ............................................................ 322 1.2.1 Development and regulation of payment systems................................................ 322 1.3 The role of other private and public sector bodies .......................................................... 322 1.3.1 Singapore Clearing House Association (SCHA)................................................... 322 1.3.2 Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS)............................................................. 323 1.3.3 Electronic Payments Technical Committee (EPTC) ............................................. 323 1.3.4 Controller of Certification Authorities (CCA) ......................................................... 323 1.4 The role of financial intermediaries ................................................................................. 323 1.4.1 Banks 323 1.4.2 Banking liberalisation programme ........................................................................ 324 1.4.3 Internet-only banks (IOB)...................................................................................... 325 2. Payment media used by non-banks.......................................................................................... 325 2.1 Cash payments ............................................................................................................... 325 2.2 Non-cash payments ........................................................................................................ 325 2.2.1 GIRO 325 2.2.2 Credit transfers ..................................................................................................... 325 2.2.3 Direct debits .......................................................................................................... 326 2.2.4 Cheques................................................................................................................ 326 2.2.5 Payment cards ...................................................................................................... 326 2.2.6 Other access channels for banking and payments............................................... 327 3. Interbank exchange and settlement systems............................................................................ 328 3.1 General overview ............................................................................................................ 328 3.2 MAS Electronic Payment System (MEPS)...................................................................... 328 3.2.1 Operating rules ..................................................................................................... 329 3.2.2 Participants in the system ..................................................................................... 329 3.2.3 Types of transactions handled.............................................................................. 329 3.2.4 Operation of the transfer system and the transaction processing environment ... 329 3.2.5 Settlement procedures.......................................................................................... 330 3.2.6 Credit and liquidity risks and their management................................................... 330 3.2.7 Pricing policies ...................................................................................................... 330 3.3 Retail payment systems .................................................................................................. 330 3.3.1 Singapore Dollar Cheque Clearing System (SGDCCS) ....................................... 330 3.3.2 US Dollar Cheque Clearing System (USDCCS)................................................... 331 CPSS - Red Book - 2003 317 Singapore 3.3.3 Interbank GIRO (IBG) ........................................................................................... 332 3.3.4 ATM networks ....................................................................................................... 332 3.3.5 EFTPOS ................................................................................................................ 333 3.3.6 Main projects and policies being implemented - Cheque Truncation System ...... 333 4. Securities settlement systems ................................................................................................... 334 4.1 Singapore government securities.................................................................................... 334 4.1.1 Trading .................................................................................................................. 334 4.1.2 Pre-settlement....................................................................................................... 334 4.1.3 Settlement ............................................................................................................. 335 4.2 Corporate and statutory board bonds.............................................................................. 335 4.2.1 Trading .................................................................................................................. 335 4.2.2 Pre-settlement....................................................................................................... 335 4.2.3 Settlement ............................................................................................................. 335 4.3 Equities............................................................................................................................ 336 4.3.1 Trading .................................................................................................................. 336 4.3.2 Pre-settlement....................................................................................................... 336 4.3.3 Settlement ............................................................................................................. 336 4.3.4 Risk management ................................................................................................. 337 4.4 Derivatives....................................................................................................................... 337 4.4.1 Trading .................................................................................................................. 337 4.4.2 Pre-settlement....................................................................................................... 337 4.4.3 Settlement ............................................................................................................. 337 4.4.4 Risk management ................................................................................................. 338 4.5 The use of the securities infrastructure by MAS.............................................................. 338 318 CPSS - Red Book - 2003 Singapore List of abbreviations ABS Association of Banks in Singapore BCCS Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore BCS Banking Computer Services Pte Ltd CCA Controller of Certification Authorities CDP Central Depository (Pte) Limited CTS Cheque Truncation System DCSS Debt Securities Clearing and Settlement System ECS Electronic Clearing System EPTC Electronic Payments Technical Committee FOP Free of payment IBG Interbank GIRO IDAS Institutional Delivery Affirmation System IFT Interbank Funds Transfer IOB Internet-only bank MAS Monetary Authority of Singapore MCB Minimum Cash Balances MEPS MAS Electronic Payment System MLA Minimum Liquid Assets NETS Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) Pte Ltd QFB Qualifying full bank QOB Qualifying offshore bank SACH Singapore Automated Clearing House SCHA Singapore Clearing House Association SGDCCS Singapore Dollar Cheque Clearing System SGS Singapore Government Securities SGX Singapore Exchange USDCCS US Dollar Cheque Clearing System CPSS - Red Book - 2003 319 Singapore Introduction A payment system comprises the cultural, political, legal, economic and business practices and arrangements used within a market economy to determine, store and exchange value or ownership of goods and services. In its simplest form, a payment stems either from a trade between buyers and sellers in a market or from a financial obligation. Modern payment systems in a market economy can be modelled in three major segments: first, the instruments used to deliver payments; second, the clearing and settlement process involved in a payment transaction; and finally, the actual transfer of funds between institutions. Singapore’s payment system has evolved over the years, driven by technological progress, changing consumer needs and development of new financial activities. It has changed from one that was based essentially on paper and cash transactions to one today that has a diverse range of cashless payment instruments, as well as efficient and reliable clearing and settlement systems. In Singapore, the common methods of making retail payments besides using currency comprise cheques
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