With the mandatory introduction of Instant Payments (IP) and the new ‘Verification of Payee’ (VoP), the dynamic in payment transactions continues to gather pace. Banks and payment service providers are faced with the challenge of providing reliable, secure and high-performance systems in the shortest possible time – with growing regulatory pressure at the same time. Robust quality assurance is therefore becoming a critical success factor.
Real-time is the new standard
Instant Payments demand more than just fast processing: they require an architecture that is permanently available, scalable and fault-tolerant – under all load conditions. The new SEPA regulation makes IP a mandatory offering. The VoP service also brings a new level of complexity: The name and account must be verified before each transaction is executed – and in real time.
What does this mean for testing and quality assurance? Systems must not only be functionally correct, but also secure, performant and stable under high load. It is already clear today that the quantity structures will increase considerably – and with them the demands on architecture, monitoring and test strategy.
Security, compliance, integration: quality counts
The aim of VoP is to avoid incorrect transfers and prevent fraud. This requires reliable processes, real-time fraud detection and functioning interfaces to identity and sanction checks. However, many institutions use historically grown system landscapes. A seamless connection to core banking and screening systems is essential – both technically and professionally.
There is even more regulatory pressure: compliance with SEPA requirements and the adapted sanction screening require additional test scopes – especially for institutions that have already introduced IP.
API tests, load simulation & end-to-end scenarios
As VoP is being implemented as an API service, new test disciplines are coming into focus. A necessary, in-house bank toolbox must be able to emulate both server-side and client-side processes – including realistic load simulation. This is the only way to reliably test end-to-end scenarios. In addition to functionality, non-functional aspects such as response times, resilience and seasonal load peaks are crucial.
To ensure interoperability, the European Payments Council (EPC) will also provide its own reference platform in future: The API Reference Toolbox (ART) is currently being developed in collaboration with StreamMind and will enable payment service providers and RPMs to self-certify their compliance with the VoP standard – a crucial building block ahead of the official launch of the VoP scheme in October 2025.
Proven methods, new perspectives
At DPS, we have extensive experience in quality assurance in the financial sector. Back in 2018, we successfully supported a major bank in setting up an ISO 20022-compliant IP platform – with automated tests, validated interfaces and realistic stress tests. We are now bringing this expertise to VoP-related projects.
Our strengths at a glance:
- Automated test procedures and AI-supported evaluation
- Load and performance tests for stable go-lives
- Security and penetration tests to minimise risks
- Support for EPC self-certification, including connection to the ART platform
- Development of a specialised test toolbox for emulating VoP APIs and supporting compliance tests
Conclusion: Quality is key
Instant Payments and VoP bring new technical and regulatory challenges – but also the opportunity to future-proof payment transactions. Those who rely on well thought-out quality assurance have a clear advantage. We support banks in mastering these challenges in a targeted manner – with expertise, technology and a deep understanding of the processes.
Want to find out more about technical implementation? We will be taking a closer look at EPC self-certification in another article soon.
