United Kingdom vs Vietnam · Real-time payment systems compared
| Capability | Faster Payments | NAPAS 247 |
|---|---|---|
| QR Code Payments | — | ✓ |
| Wallet Support | — | — |
| 24/7 Availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-Border | — | — |
| ISO 20022 | ✓ | — |
| Request to Pay | ✓ | — |
| Open API | ◐ | ◐ |
| Alias/Proxy | — | ✓ |
The UK's core instant payment system handling bank-to-bank transfers up to £1M, with most payments arriving in seconds. Originally launched with a £10K limit in 2008, it was one of the world's first real-time retail payment systems. Settles via the Bank of England's RTGS system with net deferred settlement. Managed by Pay.UK, the FPS rail also processes standing orders and forward-dated payments, but the data shown here covers Single Immediate Payments only — the real-time component. The New Payments Architecture (NPA) programme is modernising FPS with ISO 20022 messaging.
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.