Introduction
Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB) is a high-level stakeholder forum chaired by the European Central Bank (ECB) that supports the integration, innovation and competitiveness of euro retail payments. Established by the ECB in 2013, it brings together payment service providers, banks, payment institutions, e-money institutions, consumers, retailers, corporates, public authorities and other stakeholders. ERPB is a reference body for euro retail payments policy, SEPA evolution, instant payments, fraud prevention, accessibility and stakeholder coordination.
What is ERPB and what does it do
The Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB) is a European stakeholder forum that helps coordinate the development of retail payments in euro. It was created by the European Central Bank to replace the former SEPA Council and provide broader market governance for the post-SEPA retail payments environment.
ERPB brings together both the supply side and demand side of the payments market. Supply-side participants include banks, payment institutions, e-money institutions and payment service provider representatives, while demand-side participants include consumers, retailers, corporates and other users of payment services. The European Commission and national central banks also participate in the ERPB framework.
Mission and remit
ERPB’s remit is to help foster an integrated, innovative and competitive market for retail payments in euro in the European Union. It identifies strategic issues, promotes stakeholder cooperation, encourages market-led solutions and supports coordination on topics that affect euro retail payments.
The board does not regulate payment companies, issue licences, operate payment schemes or manage retail payment infrastructure. It is also not the governance authority of a payment scheme. Its influence comes through recommendations, reports, working groups, stakeholder coordination and the role of the ECB in convening market participants.
Core work domains
- Euro retail payments integration — Coordination on the development of a more integrated retail payments market in euro.
- SEPA evolution — Stakeholder discussion on issues connected to SEPA payment instruments, interoperability and market development.
- Instant payments and account-to-account payments — Work on strategic priorities affecting instant payment adoption, reachability and user experience.
- Fraud prevention and payment security — Working-group activity and recommendations on fraud trends, mitigation and cross-sector cooperation.
- Accessibility and inclusion in payments — Discussion of payment access, digitalisation, vulnerable users and accessibility requirements.
- Stakeholder coordination — Bringing together PSPs, banks, payment institutions, merchants, consumers, corporates, central banks and public-sector observers.
Geographic scope and cross-border reach
ERPB focuses on retail payments in euro, with particular relevance to the euro area and the wider European Union. Its work can affect non-euro area EU markets where payment providers, banks and infrastructures participate in euro payments or align with EU retail payments policy.
ERPB does not provide market-entry support, licensing, scheme participation or direct operational access. Its relevance is policy and coordination-based: it helps shape the direction of euro retail payments through recommendations, working groups and stakeholder alignment.
Why ERPB matters for payments operators
ERPB matters for PSPs, e-money institutions, payment institutions, acquirers, processors and payment infrastructure providers because it can influence the strategic agenda for euro retail payments. Its recommendations and working-group outputs may affect the direction of SEPA-related initiatives, instant payments, fraud prevention, accessibility, digital payment acceptance and wider European retail payments policy.
Payment operators do not usually engage with ERPB as ordinary members. They are more likely to be represented through European associations, stakeholder groups, national communities or invited working-group participation. This makes ERPB especially important for policy, legal, compliance, government affairs, risk, product and payments strategy teams.
ERPB outputs are not binding in the same way as regulation or scheme rulebooks. However, they can influence regulatory discussions, market initiatives, payment scheme development and the priorities of European payments stakeholders.
Who runs ERPB and how is it organised
ERPB is chaired by a high-level representative of the European Central Bank. ECB staff support the chair and meetings, and the board brings together representatives from both the supply side and demand side of the euro retail payments market.
The supply side includes representatives from the payment service provider community, banking organisations, payment institutions and e-money institutions. The demand side includes representatives of consumers, retailers, corporates and other users of retail payment services. National central banks and the European Commission also participate in the ERPB framework.
Membership composition
ERPB is not an open-membership trade association. Participation is based on representation of stakeholder communities rather than ordinary corporate membership.
| Category | Typical representation |
|---|---|
| ECB chair and support | High-level ECB representative and ECB staff |
| Supply side | Banks, payment service providers, payment institutions and e-money institutions |
| Demand side | Consumers, retailers, corporates and other payment service users |
| Public-sector participants | National central banks and European Commission observers or participants |
| Invited experts and working groups | Industry experts, associations and stakeholders invited for specific topics |
Working groups and decision rights
ERPB creates working groups and task forces to examine specific retail payment topics. These groups may prepare reports, recommendations and implementation proposals for discussion by the board.
Decisions are generally based on stakeholder discussion and consensus-building rather than formal regulatory voting. ERPB outputs are recommendations and coordination tools, not binding laws or scheme rules.
What does ERPB publish and how do outputs get used
ERPB publishes meeting documents, statements, reports, recommendations, working-group outputs and consultation-related materials. These outputs are used by policymakers, payment associations, PSPs, banks, infrastructures, merchants, consumer bodies and regulators to understand stakeholder priorities in euro retail payments.
| Output type | Scope | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| ERPB statements | Board-level conclusions and priorities from ERPB meetings | Policymakers, associations, PSPs, banks, merchants |
| Working-group reports | Analysis and recommendations on topics such as fraud, instant payments or accessibility | PSPs, regulators, payment associations, infrastructures |
| Recommendations | Suggested actions for market participants, authorities or industry groups | Payment operators, EU institutions, central banks, industry bodies |
| Meeting documents | Agendas, background papers and progress updates | Policy teams, regulatory affairs teams, researchers |
| Stakeholder coordination outputs | Shared positions or follow-up actions across supply and demand-side groups | Associations, market participants, public authorities |
Adoption and downstream influence
ERPB outputs are not directly binding. They may influence downstream regulation, scheme work, industry standards, market initiatives or supervisory priorities when European institutions, central banks, schemes, associations or market participants choose to act on them.
For example, ERPB working-group outputs on fraud prevention can inform broader discussions on PSD3, the Payment Services Regulation, consumer protection and cross-sector anti-fraud cooperation. Payment operators should treat ERPB materials as important policy signals rather than direct compliance rules.
Events and convenings
ERPB does not operate a public flagship conference. Its convening role is based on board meetings, working groups, stakeholder discussions, ECB-supported coordination and publication of meeting materials.
Participation is generally through stakeholder representation, industry associations, invited expert groups or consultation processes rather than open event attendance.
How to engage with ERPB
Companies cannot join ERPB as ordinary members. Payment operators typically engage indirectly through European trade associations, national payment communities, central bank channels, public consultations or working groups where industry experts are invited.
For PSPs, the most practical route is to monitor ERPB meeting materials and participate through relevant representative bodies. Examples may include payment institution associations, banking associations, merchant groups, consumer groups, card-payment bodies, open banking associations or national payment councils, depending on the topic.
FAQ
Is ERPB a regulator?
No. ERPB is not a regulator and does not license, supervise or enforce rules for payment companies. It is a high-level stakeholder forum chaired by the European Central Bank that coordinates discussion on euro retail payments and publishes recommendations, reports and meeting outputs.
Can my company join ERPB?
No. Companies cannot join ERPB as ordinary corporate members. Participation is based on stakeholder representation, invited expert involvement and working-group activity. PSPs usually engage indirectly through trade associations, national payment communities, central bank channels, public consultations or topic-specific working groups.
Who participates in ERPB?
ERPB brings together representatives from both the supply and demand sides of euro retail payments. Participants include banks, payment service providers, payment institutions, e-money institutions, consumers, retailers, corporates, national central banks, the European Commission and other stakeholders involved in retail payments.
Why does ERPB matter for PSPs?
ERPB matters for PSPs because its work can influence the strategic direction of euro retail payments. Its recommendations and working-group reports may shape discussions on SEPA, instant payments, fraud prevention, payment accessibility, digitalisation and future European retail payment initiatives.
Does ERPB publish binding standards?
No. ERPB does not publish binding standards or scheme rulebooks. It publishes recommendations, reports, statements and working-group outputs that can influence regulators, payment schemes, central banks, industry associations and market participants. Payment operators should treat ERPB outputs as policy signals rather than direct legal requirements.
Is ERPB the same as the European Payments Council?
No. ERPB and the European Payments Council are separate bodies. ERPB is an ECB-chaired stakeholder forum for euro retail payments, while the European Payments Council is an industry body that manages SEPA payment scheme rulebooks such as SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Instant Credit Transfer and SEPA Direct Debit.
Does ERPB operate outside the euro area?
ERPB focuses on retail payments in euro and is most relevant to the euro area and European Union. Its work can also matter to non-euro area providers, international PSPs and payment infrastructures that process euro payments or are affected by EU retail payments policy.
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