BFC Bulletins Monthly News Digest
Domestic digital payment usage surged during the pandemic, and now customers are increasingly demanding a similar revolution in cross-border payments. At the center of this is the Swift network, which is often considered relatively inflexible and lacking in transparency. With Russia recently kicked off of the network, Russia and other countries (e.g. China, India) are doubling down on their own Swift alternatives. Even if such systems do not come to replace Swift, they will inevitably have an impact on improving it. In addition to these systems, cross-border payments are being disrupted by government-backed efforts to link systems and more easily allow customers to access and use their funds in different countries. Swift has much work to do if it is to survive the onslaught of challenges it is facing.
