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Exchange Settlement Account System

The Exchange Settlement Account System (ESAS) is New Zealand’s principal high-value payment system used by banks and other financial organisations to settle transactions in real time.

Published:

18 June 2025

About ESAS

ESAS overview

Information about what ESAS is, how it works, how payments are made and how ESAS is governed.

ESAS and the financial system

Information about how ESAS fits in the payments system, the benefits of ESAS and Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), improving financial system stability and moving to lSO 20022.

Information for applicants

Who can use ESAS

Information about the ESAS access criteria, user fees and rules.

How to apply for ESAS access

Find out about the ESAS application requirements, processes and costs.

Information for current ESAS members

ESAS members

Information for ESAS account holders including how to contact us for support, ESAS scheduled outages, annual report and survey responses.

Register of ESAS account holders

View a list of our ESAS account holders and their Swift business identifier code (BIC).

Applications are open

All entities that meet the ESAS access criteria can apply for access now.

Read our media release

The access criteria were revised in March 2025 after a comprehensive ESAS access review that included 2 public consultations. Information about the review is on CitizenSpace.

Go to CitizenSpace