Payments New Zealand, a banking industry owned payments body, is currently completing its plans for the introduction of a new inter-bank retail payment system in the first quarter of 2012.
At present, retail inter-bank payments are settled as bilateral net payments at the end of each day. Under the new system, Settlement Before Interchange (SBI), retail payments will be made in a number of ‘payment windows' during the day. This change from end of day net settlement to payments during the day, may impact the way liquidity moves around the payment system and between banks.
To help banks adapt to the new liquidity dynamics and assist with the introduction of SBI, the Reserve Bank has decided to reduce the cost of overnight borrowing in its standing facility for three months from 30 January 2012 until 30 April 2012. During this period, the cost of overnight borrowing will reduce from 50 basis points to 25 basis points over the Official Cash Rate.
There are no monetary policy implications that follow from this short-term adjustment.
The Reserve Bank will, as always, closely monitor the payment system and short-term money market. If necessary, the Bank will act to ensure that the payment system continues to run in a stable and efficient manner.
For further operational details contact:
Te Okeroa
Manager, Market Operations
[email protected]