BECS Transition Update

March 2026

RBA Risk Assessment Update on the intention to decommission BECS 

On 10 March 2026, the RBA released an update on the progress made by the payments industry against the recommendations outlined in its March 2025 Risk Assessment into the intended decommissioning of BECS.

As indicated in AusPayNet’s media release issued on 10 March 2026, AusPayNet welcomes the RBA’s Risk Assessment Update and is continuing to work collaboratively with AP+ and the A2A Payments Roundtable to address the recommendations and risks identified in the RBA’s Risk Assessment. These include:

• the development of a shared vision for the future of A2A payments in Australia;
   
• the need to consider options for delivering the vision at an ecosystem level;
    
• the development of an industry roadmap that will define the high-level deliverables and milestones for achieving that vision, including clear prioritisation and sequencing; 
   
• an in-principle agreement as to how that desired future state should be achieved; and
    
• reviewing and optimising the governance and coordination structures and mechanisms to ensure appropriate direct Roundtable engagement with stakeholders, including industry participants and end-users.  

Update on A2A Vision

In February and March 2026, stakeholder meetings were held directly with the A2A Roundtable to seek early input on the draft A2A vision. These stakeholder meetings were attended by representatives of BECS and NPP members, service providers and end-users (including industry and consumer advocacy groups, businesses and government). Valuable feedback was provided in relation to end-user needs and the characteristics the payments system must demonstrate, and where greater clarity and prioritisation in the A2A Vision may assist in achieving a common understanding of the desired future state for A2A payments in Australia. Later this month, Visa and Mastercard will meet with the Roundtable.  

The Roundtable is addressing the vision feedback and expects to release a draft of the A2A Vision, for wider consultation in April 2026.  

Update on the BECS Counterfactual Analysis

AusPayNet has progressed its analysis into the desirability, viability and feasibility of any maintenance or upgrades of BECS that may be required to achieve the A2A Vision in consultation with BECS Members (via the Payments Review Committee (PRC) and PRC-Sponsored Member Workshop (PSMW)) and key stakeholders including RBA Payment Settlements, service providers, business and government users.

AusPayNet provided a directional view on its analysis to BECS Members on 13 March 2026, and will further discuss this with the A2A Payments Roundtable at the next meeting to be held on 23 March 2026.

AusPayNet is on track to complete its assessment with BECS stakeholders by the end of March 2026.  

Industry Options Analysis and Roadmap Development 

AusPayNet’s BECS Counterfactual Analysis will be a key input into the Industry Options Analysis that will consolidate the options into a single view for assessment against the A2A Vision objectives and desired outcomes.    

The Industry Options Analysis will inform the development of an industry roadmap that will set the direction of the design and development of A2A payments infrastructure, capabilities and standards, and encompass the roadmaps for BECS and NPP.

The Roundtable aims to deliver the A2A Industry Roadmap by the end of 2026, including securing in-principle agreement on the level of coordination required to execute the roadmap.  Roadmap implementation activities will be subject to ACCC review and potential authorisation.

AusPayNet expects more regular interaction with BECS Members and key stakeholders throughout the roadmap’s development.  

The next update on the BECS Transition Program will be issued in June 2026.