Banker S.A. June 2012 | Page 23

Today, the association’s membership is comprised of 13 banking associations from SADC member countries and The Banking Association of SA is the secretariat for the association. SADCBA, regularly participates in SADC governors’ meetings and has been invited to inform the development of projects relevant to improving banking in the region. One such project is the Payments Integration Project. In support of regional financial integration, the CCBG’s payment subcommittee through the SADCBA is providing commercial banks in SADC. They provide with the opportunity to inform the development of financial market infrastructure to support inter- and intra-regional trade. Being in the cooperative (non-competitive) space, the focus of the SADCBA’s interventions are defining payments instruments, business rules, and messaging standards in the interbank space. Participating banks are keen that efforts to harmonise translate to improved customer service, cost reductions, and efficiencies in the cross-border payment environment. In South Africa, the participating banks are ABSA Bank, First Rand, Standard Bank and Nedbank. Continued » Edition 2 THE BANKER 21