First Data, Accenture, VocaLink Team Up on Real-time Payments in Australia

First Data has announced the signing of an exclusive teaming agreement with Accenture and VocaLink to introduce a technical solution for Immediate Payments in Australia. Immediate Payments would enable Australian consumers and businesses to transfer funds between bank accounts in real or near real-time, instead of waiting between one-to-three days.

“We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Accenture and VocaLink and look forward to engaging with the industry on potential governance models for our proposed technical solution,” said John Tait, managing director of First Data in Australia and New Zealand. “Our ultimate goal is to provide innovation to Australian consumers, and we recognise that this can only be achieved through a cooperative approach and defined by a broad group of stakeholders, driven at the industry level.”