BECS Transition

The transition away from the BECS Framework

Background

In June 2023, the Australian Government released its Strategic Plan for Australia’s Payments System, which outlined the key priorities and supporting initiatives for Australia’s payments system. One of the key priorities was modernising payments infrastructure, where the Government expressed support for an industry-led transition away from the legacy BECS Framework, in favour of more modern account-to-account payments alternatives.

In November 2023, after an extensive three-year consultation with the payments industry and key stakeholders, AusPayNet announced June 2030 as the target end-date for the BECS Framework. The aim of the target end-date was to enable greater focus on and acceleration of the transition to more modern alternatives that better meet the new and emerging needs of the end-users and the Australian payments ecosystem.

In the two years since the setting of the target end-date, there has been significant industry and regulatory focus on the future of account-to-account (A2A) payments in Australia. While progress has been made that supports the move to modern alternatives like the NPP, both the RBA’s March 2025 Risk Assessment into the proposed decommissioning of BECS and AusPayNet’s ongoing consultation with BECS Members and users have highlighted key challenges that include:

1. The need for the industry and its stakeholders, including end-users, to have a shared vision for the future of A2A payments in Australia, with industry deliverables and milestones for achieving that vision;
    
2. The availability and customer adoption of alternative capabilities for direct debits and large bulk payment files; and
    
3. A more complex geopolitical and operational risk environment emerging since the target end-date was set, with corresponding implications for resilience and contingency.

On 16 December 2025, AusPayNet issued a media release communicating a revised outlook for the BECS Framework and the removal of the target end-date of June 2030 for decommissioning the BECS Framework.

Although it remains the intention of BECS Members to transition away from BECS in favour of modern alternatives, a revised target end-date to decommission the BECS Framework will not be considered again until further progress has been made, and a clear roadmap has been developed, to overcome these challenges.

The role of AusPayNet

As the custodians of the BECS Framework, AusPayNet is committed to ensuring that the transition will be managed responsibly, with no disruption to the efficient and secure flow of essential payments.

AusPayNet has established a program of work to achieve this outcome, with activities across five pillars.

Pillar 1: Collaborate with industry

AusPayNet is collaborating with industry participants and regulators on their initiatives to facilitate the transition away from the BECS Framework. In addition to that, AusPayNet is working directly with BECS Members in monitoring the industry’s progress on transitioning BECS use cases off the BECS Framework and with AP+ to address the recommendations in the RBA's March 2025 Risk Assessment.

Pillar 2: Control the future of the framework

AusPayNet will continue to assess the role of BECS in delivering A2A in Australia and will provide an update on the outlook for BECS every six months.

Pillar 3: Coordinate the program

Following the granting of ACCC authorisation on 1 August 2025, AusPayNet and AP+ are working collaboratively through the A2A Payments Roundtable with the RBA and the Commonwealth Treasury, to help shape a shared vision for the future of A2A payments in Australia and define a roadmap of high-level deliverables and milestones for achieving that vision in 2026. Members of BECS, members of the NPP, operators of other alternative payment systems to BECS, and relevant key stakeholders, including end-user groups, are being appropriately engaged through the process.

Pillar 4: Consider end-user perspectives

AusPayNet is considering end-user perspectives on the transition away from the BECS Framework. AusPayNet is doing this primarily through its BECS Members who are responsible for managing the transition with their customers, and directly through its Stakeholder Advisory Council, which has representatives from government agencies and departments as well as small business, merchant and consumer interest groups.

Additional consultation with end-users is also occurring through the development of the A2A Vision consultation and any roadmap deliverables to achieve this vision. 

Pillar 5: Communicate with members and stakeholders

AusPayNet has developed and implemented a plan for regular updates to BECS Members and stakeholders on the progress of the program. Communications follow every Board meeting and take the form of memos, virtual briefings, and bilateral meetings for BECS Members. With respect to key stakeholders, AusPayNet has regular meetings and communications with Treasury, the RBA, ASIC, APRA, and the ABA. 

Program Updates 

BECS Transition Archived Updates BECS Transition Resources

Future vision for account-to-account (A2A) payments in Australia

Consultation

Launched in July 2025, AusPayNet and Australian Payments Plus conducted a joint consultation on the future vision of A2A payments. A total of 68 submissions were received, capturing insights from across the payments ecosystem on how the A2A system should evolve to meet future needs and expectations.

Consultation details and findings

Account-to-Account (A2A) Payments Roundtable

The A2A Payments Roundtable is a series of roundtables being held between AusPayNet, AP+, the RBA and Commonwealth Treasury. These roundtables will help shape a shared vision for the future of A2A payments in Australia and define high-level deliverables and milestones for achieving that vision, including clear prioritisation and sequencing.

Members of BECS and the NPP as well as other relevant stakeholders, including key end-user groups and any operators of alternative payment systems, are being engaged through the roundtable process.

The roundtable process is being conducted under the authorisation granted (with conditions) by the ACCC on 1 August 2025. A summary of the Roundtable discussion is issued after each meeting and available on the AusPayNet website.

Roundtable Updates

A2A Payments Roundtable Archived Updates

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact the Head of BECS Transition.