Why do some banks still not support SEPA instant?

Even though SEPA Instant is now mandatory, some banks still fail to process instant payments reliably because:

• Legacy systems — many smaller banks haven’t fully upgraded their core banking infrastructure.

• Operational gaps — some banks still lack 24/7 fraud checks, liquidity management, or real-time AML screening.

• Downtime and throttling — banks may be “officially compliant” but still cap volumes, pause instant rails, or have frequent maintenance windows.

• Clearing limitations — not all banks maintain stable connections to RT1/TIPS, leading to rejections or timeouts.

So “mandatory” does not mean “working consistently”.

Why Ivy has no control here

• Ivy initiates SEPA Instant correctly and instantly, but the receiving bank decides to accept, reject, downgrade, or delay the payment.

• Ivy cannot influence a bank’s internal systems, risk rules, maintenance windows, or clearing-system connectivity.

• Regulation is enforced by the ECB and national authorities, not by payment providers.