Australia’s payments landscape is evolving rapidly. Real-time account-to-account solutions are becoming the standard, yet many businesses still rely on cheques and the Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS). The reality is clear: these legacy payment methods are approaching the end of their lifecycle, and delaying the transition exposes businesses to operational and financial risk.
The Urgency: Timelines Are Clear
The Government has introduced a simplified cheques transition timeline to help businesses and the financial services industry move smoothly:
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30 June 2028 – Cease issuance of all personal, commercial, government, and bank cheques.
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30 September 2029 – Cease acceptance of all cheques; the cheques system will close.
These dates ensure all cheques go stale before the final acceptance date. For more details, see the Government’s cheques transition plan.
Meanwhile, BECS, which supports bulk payments like payroll and supplier disbursements, has a target end-date of June 2030. This target is contingent on industry progress in several areas, including the viability of modern alternatives, end-user readiness, cost of transition, and industry-wide coordination.
Recent industry consultations and the Account-to-Account (A2A) Payments Roundtable, jointly led by AusPayNet, Australian Payments Plus, the RBA, and Treasury, are shaping a shared vision for future payments in Australia. Early alignment on use cases, resilience, and adoption of modern systems will be critical for a smooth migration away from BECS. The message was clear: real-time, data-rich, interoperable payments are the future, and the transition must accelerate.
The Risks of Waiting
Continuing to rely on cheques or BECS increases exposure to:
- Delayed payments due to batch processing schedules
- Reconciliation challenges requiring manual intervention
- Operational risks from unsupported or outdated systems
Treating BECS as a “backup” might seem safe, but as banks and software providers shift focus to real-time solutions, businesses that wait, risk falling behind competitors who have already embraced faster, smarter payment methods.
The Solution: Modernise Without Disruption
Migration from cheques and BECS doesn’t have to be complex. Modern solutions, like those provided by Azupay, allow businesses to transition seamlessly while maintaining operational continuity.
Key benefits include:
- Seamless migration: Integration tools and workflows allow familiar processes to continue while enabling real-time payment capabilities.
- Speed and reliability: Payments are instant, data-rich, and fully reconciled, minimising errors and disputes.
- Future-proofing: Moving to NPP-native solutions like PayID and PayTo positions businesses to leverage the next generation of account-to-account payments.
Real-World Impact
Businesses that have already adopted real-time payments report:
- Faster cash flow and improved liquidity
- Reduced reconciliation effort and fewer errors
- Greater visibility and control over payment operations
For enterprises handling high volumes of transactions, these improvements translate into significant operational savings and a competitive edge.
Take Action Now
The shift from cheques and BECS is not optional, it is inevitable. Early action ensures business continuity, reduces risk, and allows organisations to harness the full benefits of modern, real-time payments.
Azupay helps businesses navigate this transition confidently, designing solutions that meet current needs while preparing for future payment innovations. Don’t wait for disruption to force your hand. Start modernising your payments today.
