United States vs Vietnam · Real-time payment systems compared
| Capability | FedNow | NAPAS 247 |
|---|---|---|
| QR Code Payments | — | ✓ |
| Wallet Support | — | — |
| 24/7 Availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-Border | — | — |
| ISO 20022 | ✓ | — |
| Request to Pay | ✓ | — |
| Open API | ✓ | ◐ |
| Alias/Proxy | — | ✓ |
The Federal Reserve's instant payment service enabling US banks and credit unions to send and receive payments in seconds, 24/7/365. Launched in July 2023, FedNow is the first new Fed payment rail in 50 years and aims to democratise instant payments by giving all 10,000+ US depository institutions direct access (unlike the private-sector RTP). Supports credit transfers up to $500K with plans to add request-for-payment and other features. Note: FedNow shows extreme growth rates as it scales from a low base — value jumped 35x in Q3 2024 as larger institutions onboarded, which is typical for newly launched payment systems.
Vietnam's 24/7 instant interbank transfer system operated by the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS) under State Bank of Vietnam oversight. NAPAS 247 connects all major domestic banks for real-time transfers via account number, card number, or phone number. The system has been a cornerstone of Vietnam's rapid cashless payment adoption, with the government targeting 80% of adults with bank accounts by 2025. It also supports QR payments through VietQR, an interoperable QR standard similar to Thailand's PromptPay QR.