Frequently asked questions
Here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for here, feel free to contact us – we’re here to help!
Platform
What is AccessPay?
AccessPay is a cloud-based platform that seamlessly connects corporate & financial applications to banks and payment rails.
Our technology enables organisations to automate payment processing and bank statement retrievals. Helping our clients futureproof payment operations processes, minimise the risk of fraud and error, gain efficiency and enhance cash visibility.
What file types does the AccessPay system accept?
AccessPay is a file-agnostic platform, which means we can work with any file format your finance applications produce. We regularly work with CSV, Standard18, XLS, XML and PAIN files alongside other less common formats.
Which banks can AccessPay connect to?
AccessPay is a bank-agnostic platform. Which means we can connect to all 11,000 SWIFT member banks, or any bank capable of supporting a host-to-host (H2H) connection.
We currently help hundreds of clients connect to Barclays, HSBC, JPMorgan, Citi, RBS, Societe Generale, Lloyds, Standard Chartered and many more.
How many banks can Accesspay connect to in one instance?
There isn’t a limit on the number of connections we can manage for you.
If you require multiple bank connections, we will work with you to scope out a phased project plan that meets your timescales and requirements.
Is there a limit to the number and/or value of transactions I can run through the AccessPay system?
There is no limit on the number of transactions you can run through the AccessPay system.
We do not cap transaction values, however some payment schemes do define their own transaction value limits which AccessPay adheres to.
What security features does the AccessPay platform offer?
- All transaction data that passes through the AccessPay platform is masked and encrypted
- Secure login via MFA/SSO
- Segregation of duties and user access controls
- Access to a Fraud & Error Prevention Suite, which includes Payment Screening and beneficiary checking capabilities (Sanctions Screening, Confirmation of Payee)
- A full system audit trail, including a suite of exportable Audit reports
Technology
Does AccessPay have an API?
Yes. Access to AccessPay’s external API is available on request. Providing an alternative to SFTP transfer and supporting integrations with finance applications unable to produce payment files.
For more information on connecting to our API, get in touch.
Is AccessPay aligned with the New Payments Architecture (NPA)?
Yes. AccessPay is highly involved with Pay.UK, which is driving the roll out of the NPA. We are already leveraging tech which underpins the NPA such as ISO20022 standards and RESTful APIs.
Over the next decade, we will strive to make sure the AccessPay platform is fully aligned with the NPA.
Is AccessPay compatible with the new ISO20022 messaging standard?
Yes. The AccessPay platform is ISO20022-ready and we’re actively supporting numerous clients with the transition to the new financial messaging standard.
We are working closely with the banks, as well as key industry bodies such as SWIFT and Pay.UK to ensure AccessPay’s technology is aligned to the ISO20022 transition both now and in the future.
Does the AccessPay platform support Open Banking?
Yes. As a cloud-based solution built on APIs, AccessPay is ideally placed to integrate our platform with open banking and other PSD2-related tech.
We are also authorised, as registered TPPs (Third Party Providers), to act as Account Information (AISP) and Payment Initiation (PISP) Service Providers, allowing us to display your bank account data in one place.
Service
How long does it take to onboard with AccessPay?
Onboarding times vary based on the scope of your project requirements, and typically ranges from 1-12 weeks.
Domestic BACS software implementations take 1-4 weeks. With more complex multi-bank or Host-to-Host projects typically taking 12 weeks to complete the onboarding process.
How much does it cost to process payments in AccessPay?
There are no direct costs attached to processing payments with the AccessPay platform. Instead, we charge a fixed annual subscription fee to access our platform, based on:
- Estimated annual transaction volumes
- Number of users
- The number of data configurations and submission workflows you require
You won’t incur hidden fees mid-contract, even if the number of transactions you process through our system increases. Instead, pricing changes are agreed with your account manager during your annual renewal.
What’s AccessPay’s typical service availability?
Our team is here to support you 24/7. We guarantee that our service will be available 99.5% of the time, with an actual availability rate of 99.9% and no unplanned outages in the last 2 years.
We release planned maintenance and platform upgrades once a month as standard, outside our core hours to ensure minimal disruption.
What service response / service level agreement (SLAs) does AccessPay have in place?
Our customers benefit from industry-leading response times from our in-house support team. We respond to all support requests within 1 business day, or 15 minutes for critical priority issues.
Infrastructure, Security & Accreditations
Is AccessPay regulated by the FCA?
Yes, AccessPay has been registered with the FCA since 2012. We are authorised by the FCA to serve as third party Account Information (AISP) and Payment Initiation (PISP) Service Providers, allowing us to offer open banking-related services.
What Business Continuity arrangements does AccessPay have in place?
AccessPay has obtained ISO22301 for Business Continuity Management. Our BCMS arrangements include Policy, Strategy, Incident Management and Recovery plans.
We conduct regular Business Impact risk assessments and perform routine exercises to measure the effectiveness of our Business Continuity Arrangements.
What accreditations and certifications does AccessPay have?
- SWIFT Compatible Application status
- BACS approved accreditation
- ISO 27001: Information security management systems standard
- ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management Standard
- ISO 22301 Business Continuity Standard
- ISO 9001: Quality Management Standard
- ISO 20000: Service Management Systems Standard
- PCI-DSS certification
- Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification
- ICO: we are registered with Information Commissioners Office and we comply with UK legislation
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Our accreditations
