June 17, 2025
In the evolving landscape of European finance, offering seamless SEPA payment services is no longer just a competitive advantage; it is becoming a regulatory requirement. For many institutions, indirect participation offers a practical path forward, enabling full compliance without the complexity of direct infrastructure management.
The challenge is clear: How can financial institutions deliver world-class SEPA services without shouldering the burdens of direct participation?
Investec, a leading international specialist banking group, sought to align with evolving industry standards while further improving its payment infrastructure. As a non-direct participant, the institution required a trusted partner to simplify SEPA connectivity, reduce costs, and embrace scalability. The solution had to meet two key criteria: operational efficiency and a modern, API-based architecture.
Indirect participation, through a trusted sponsor bank, allows financial institutions to offload the operational complexities of SEPA connectivity—such as liquidity, clearing, and settlement—while focusing on core innovation. For Investec, this model was essential to deliver seamless and secure SEPA payment processing to its clients.
To achieve its goals, Investec partnered with Banco Santander as its SEPA Direct Participant and Getnet Platforms, part of Santander, to implement an API-driven solution tailored to its needs.
This collaboration not only enhanced Investec’s payment infrastructure but also established a blueprint for scalability and operational agility.
Annalisa Ludwinski, Head of Correspondent Network Management at Investec: “The Getnet Platforms combined with Santander’s in-house payments expertise aligns with our payment infrastructure and business needs. Their API-driven solution reduced the operational burden and allowed us to meet our clients’ expectations for fast and secure and compliant payments across Europe.”
By combining Banco Santander’s expertise in SEPA sponsorship with Getnet Platforms’ advanced API connectivity, Investec has been able to focus on their business goals without being weighed down by infrastructure complexity.
Investec successfully implemented an indirect participation model for SEPA payments through Banco Santander’s sponsorship and Getnet Platforms’s ISO20022-compliant APIs. This approach delivered:
1. Rapid deployment: Accelerated integration timelines with minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
2. Easy connectivity: Avoided the need for complex infrastructure by leveraging a scalable API-based solution.
3. Streamlined processes: Enabled seamless communication with SEPA schemes while maintaining high operational efficiency.
By focusing on an API-driven architecture, the implementation ensured compliance with evolving SEPA standards and laid a robust foundation for future scalability.
The partnership between Investec, Banco Santander, and Getnet Platforms delivered measurable results that transformed their payment operations:
- Cost reduction: Significant savings by avoiding direct participation costs and infrastructure investments.
- Operational simplicity: Simplified workflows with reduced operational burdens.
- Regulatory compliance: Full alignment with SEPA regulations, ensuring secure and reliable payments.
- Enhanced client experience: Enabled real-time payments, boosting customer trust and satisfaction.
Ian Rumbold, Head of Treasury and Trading Operations at Investec comments: “
“Partnering with Banco Santander and Getnet Platforms allowed us to integrate SEPA payments into our new payment’s architecture. Their ISO native API-driven solution and in-house payments expertise not only met our technical requirements but helped us deliver secure, efficient, and scalable payment capabilities for our clients.
Investec’s journey demonstrates how financial institutions can navigate SEPA connectivity with confidence, leveraging Getnet Platforms’ API-driven platform to reduce operational burdens and unlock efficiency.
Whether you’re seeking to modernize your payment operations, streamline processes, or lead in payment innovation, Getnet Platforms is your trusted partner.
In the evolving landscape of European finance, offering seamless SEPA payment services is no longer just a competitive advantage; it is becoming a regulatory requirement. For many institutions, indirect participation offers a practical path forward, enabling full compliance without the complexity of direct infrastructure management.
The challenge is clear: How can financial institutions deliver world-class SEPA services without shouldering the burdens of direct participation?
