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The Financial Market Infrastructures
Payment System Operator Licensing & Oversight
Application & Document Portal
Approved E-Money Issuers
Payment System Landscape Resources

Payment System Landscape

The National Payments System (NPS) consists of all the services, entities and infrastructures associated with sending, receiving and the processing of orders of payment or transfer of money.

Financial Market Infrastructures (FMIs) play a critical role in the NPS and the broader economy by facilitating clearing, settlement and recording of payments, securities, and other financial transactions.

The FMIs in Trinidad and Tobago currently comprise the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) System also referred to as safe-tt which is the systemically important payment system (SIPS), Significant Retail Payment Systems (SRPS) and Securities Settlement Systems (SSS).

The Financial Market Infrastructures

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The Real Time Gross Settlement (“RTGS”) system or Safe-tt

is the hub of the payments system and is owned and operated by the Central Bank. The RTGS is a Systemically Important Payment System that processes large value (TT$500,000 and over) and time-critical electronic payments on behalf of the Central Bank, its customers, as well as the eight commercial banks which are direct participants in the system.
The Real Time Gross Settlement (“RTGS”) system or Safe-tt

is the hub of the payments system and is owned and operated by the Central Bank. The RTGS is a Systemically Important Payment System that processes large value (TT$500,000 and over) electronic and time-critical payments on behalf of the Central Bank, its customers, as well as the eight commercial banks which are direct participants in the system.

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Two Central Securities Depositories (“CSD”)

namely the Trinidad and Tobago Central Depositories (“TTCD”) for private securities, and the Government Securities Settlement System (“GSS”) for Government securities.
Two Central Securities Depositories (“CSD”)

namely the Trinidad and Tobago Central Depositories (“TTCD”) for private securities, and the Government Securities Settlement System (“GSS”) for Government securities.

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Two Securities Settlement Systems

namely (i) the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange for trades in private securities and secondary market government securities and (ii) the Government Securities Settlement System (“GSS”), which processes primary auctions of government securities and is administered by the Central Bank.
Two Securities Settlement Systems

namely (i) the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange for trades in private securities and secondary market government securities and (ii) the Government Securities Settlement System (“GSS”), which processes primary auctions of government securities and is administered by the Central Bank.

The RTGS is used for settlement of payments via the following systems:
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The Automated Clearing House/Electronic Fund Transfer (“ACH/EFT”)

is owned by four commercial banks and operated by Infolink Services Limited (ISL). EFT/ACH clears large volumes of low-value transactions (under $500,000). The commercial banks and the Central Bank are currently the only direct participants in the ACH.
The Automated Clearing House/Electronic Fund Transfer (“ACH/EFT”)

is owned by four commercial banks and operated by Infolink Services Limited (ISL). EFT/ACH clears large volumes of low-value transactions (under $500,000). The commercial banks and the Central Bank are currently the only direct participants in the ACH.

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Automated Clearing House – Electronic Cheque Clearing System (“ACH-ECCS”)

Electronic Cheque Clearing System (“ACH-ECCS”) was launched in February 2023. The ECCS is an automated cheque clearing system operated by Infolink Services Limited (ISL). The ACH-ECCS replaced a partially automated Cheque Clearing Arrangement (“CCA”), where participants (commercial banks and the Central Bank) met daily at the ‘clearinghouse’ to agree on the net amounts to be cleared and settled based on the cheque listings received the previous day.
Automated Clearing House – Electronic Cheque Clearing System (“ACH-ECCS”)

Electronic Cheque Clearing System (“ACH-ECCS”) was launched in February 2023. The ECCS is an automated cheque clearing system operated by Infolink Services Limited (ISL). The ACH-ECCS replaced a partially automated Cheque Clearing Arrangement (“CCA”), where participants (commercial banks and the Central Bank) met daily at the ‘clearinghouse’ to agree on the net amounts to be cleared and settled based on the cheque listings received the previous day.

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The Debit Card Switch (“LINX”)

is operated by ISL, and direct participants include six (6) commercial banks. The Eastern Credit Union, ANSA Bank Limited, and First Caribbean International Bank also participate in the system as licensees.
The Debit Card Switch (“LINX”)

is operated by ISL, and direct participants include six (6) commercial banks. The Eastern Credit Union, ANSA Bank Limited, and First Caribbean International Bank also participate in the system as licensees.

Payment System Operator Licensing & Oversight

The efficient functioning of the financial system relies on the soundness and safety of the National Payments System (NPS). The NPS consists of all systems which facilitate the clearance and settlement of payments.

Section 36(cc) of the Central Bank Act Chap: 79:02, the Financial Institutions Act Chap. 79:09 and Payment System Guidelines No. 1, 2 and 4 provide the foundation for the oversight and supervision of payment systems by the Central Bank.

The Bank is mandated by law to maintain financial stability and with respect to the oversight function this has translated to ensuring that payment systems are functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Particular attention is paid to the risk management mechanisms applied to the clearance and settlement arrangements. The oversight of entities is guided by the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures, issued by the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS) and International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). These PFMI standards were adopted by the Central Bank in 2014.

Application & Document Submission Portal

An entity wishing to operate a payment system or to be licensed as a Payment System Operator is required to submit an application via the GoAnywhere Portal to the Central Bank as guided by the:

  1. Financial Institutions Act, Chap 79:09;
  2. Payments System Guideline No.1 – Licensing and Operation of Interbank Payment Systems; or
  3. Payments System Guideline No.2 – Registration and Operation of Non – Interbank Payment Systems.

Once the application has been confirmed as being complete, the Central Bank will commence the initial review.

GoAnywhere Portal

List of Approved E-Money Issuers (“EMIs”), Payment Service Providers (“PSPs”), and Payment System Operators (“PSOs”) as at March 3, 2025

Persons other than licensees* may be registered to issue e-money pursuant to the E-Money Issuer Order, 2020 (as amended December 2023.

Any entity licensed under the Financial Institutions Act Chap 79:09 may issue e-money subject to the approval of the Central Bank.

E-Money Issuers
Registered/Licensed EntityMobile Wallet ApplicationWebsiteStatus
PayWise LimitedPayWiseView websiteFull Registration – effective September 01, 2023.
PESH Money LimitedPESHView websiteFull Registration – effective September 01, 2023.
Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT)TSTT – PAYPRView websiteFull Registration – effective September 01, 2023.
Massy Remittance Services (Trinidad) LtdWIDiTView websiteFull Registration – effective March 03, 2025.
WamNow Technologies LimitedWAMView websiteProvisionally registered effective from December 01, 2024, for an initial 6-month period.

*Licensees or licensed institution means a licensed domestic institution or a licensed foreign institution and includes a financial institution which is deemed to be licensed under the Financial Institutions Act Chap 79:09.

Any entity licensed under the Financial Institutions Act Chap 79:09 may issue e-money subject to the approval of the Central Bank.”

E-Money Issuance Service provided by a Financial Institution
Licensed EntityMobile wallet ApplicationWebsiteStatus
Republic Bank LimitedEndcashView websiteApproved by the Central Bank under the New Product Guidelines for commercial banks. The End Cash App was launched in March 2021.

Payment Service Providers are registered pursuant to section 36(cc) of the Central Bank Act Chap. 79:02 and Payment System Guideline Number 3 – Operation of Payment Service Providers

List of Approved Payment Service Providers (PSP)
Registered/Licensed EntityPayment Service NameWebsiteStatus
Grace Kennedy (Trinidad and Tobago) LimitedBill ExpressView websiteRegistered – September 30, 2014.
*Grace Kennedy Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. operators of Bill Express, has been a registered Bill Payment Service Provider since September 30, 2014 .
PayWise LimitedPayWiseView websiteRegistered – March 13, 2019.
PBS Technologies Limited (formerly Massy Technologies InfoCom (Trinidad) Ltd.)SurePayView websiteRegistered – December 23, 2021.
*SurePay was initially registered on October 2019 and its registration was continued to PBS Technologies on December 23, 2021.
IGT Global Services LimitedVIAView websiteRegistered – December 13, 2019.
WiPay Payment Solutions LimitedWiPayView websiteRegistered – January 22, 2020.

1 A Bill Payment Service Provider is treated as a sub-category of Payment Service Provider.

Interbank Payment System Operators are registered pursuant to section 93(1) of the Financial Institutions Act Chap 79:09 and Payments System Guideline Number 1 – Licensing and Operation of Interbank Payment Systems.

Interbank Payment System Operator
EntitySystems OperatorWebsiteStatus
Infolink Services Limited
  1. LINX – Debit Card
  2. Automated Clearing House/Electronic Funds Transfer – ACH/EFT *previously operated by Trinidad and Tobago Interbank Payment System (TTIPS)
  3. Automated Clearing House/Electronic Cheque Clearings – ACH/ECC
View websiteLicensed on:

  1. February 1, 2010
  2. March 28, 2022
  3. February 15, 2023

** There are currently no Non-Interbank Payment System Operators (NIPSO) registered with the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.

Payment System Resources

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Circular Letters and Notices

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Forms

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Guidelines

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Legislation

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