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LEI Code: security and efficiency in cross-border payments

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Discover how the LEI Code improves the transparency and traceability of international transactions, optimising global payments.

In the rapidly evolving global financial landscape, the security and efficiency of cross-border transactions have become crucial priorities. In this context, the LEI Code (Legal Entity Identifier) emerges as a key means of improving the traceability and validity of international financial operations. By integrating the LEI Code in payment messages, a precise and automated identification of the parties involved in the transactions is possible. This represents a significant step towards greater security and efficiency in the global payments sector.

The LEI Code and International Payment Transparency

The LEI Code is an unique global identifier assigned to legal entities taking part in financial transactions. This identifier plays a fundamental role when it is integrated into the payment messages, allowing immediate and precise identification of the entities involved. With the increase in instant payments and the evolution of the market infrastructures, it is essential to guarantee that the originator and the beneficiary of a transaction can be verified in real time, to ensure proper transfer of the funds across international borders.

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has acknowledged the importance of the LEI Code to improve cross-border payments. In its G20-endorsed roadmap, the FSB has underlined the crucial role of the LEI in optimising the security and efficiency of international transactions. The collaboration with the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) and other standard-setting bodies aims to guarantee the standardisation and harmonisation of data in payment messages, including identifiers such as the LEI Code.

The integration of the LEI Code with International Standards

To face up to the challenges of cross-border payments, the FSB and the GLEIF are working to promote the adoption of ISO 20022, an international standard for payment messaging. This standard includes standardised data fields, such as the LEI Code, that help overcome inefficiencies and improve interoperability between the various payment systems. Integrating the LEI within ISO 20022 helps to guarantee that the data is transmitted in a secure, uniform manner along the entire payment chain.

The Value of the LEI Code in Payment Modernisation

The growing use of the LEI Code in the international payments sector reflects a trend towards greater transparency and security. In an age of increasingly fast, global payments, the ability to precisely identify and verify the entities involved in the transactions is essential. The LEI Code not only facilitates immediate, automatic verification, but it also helps reduce the risks associated with cross-border payments, improving the trust and efficiency in international money transfers.

In short, the adoption and the integration of the LEI Code are essential to modernise and strengthen the global payments system. With the support of the FSB and the co-operation of the GLEIF, the LEI Code is playing a crucial role in ensuring that international transactions are managed with the greatest security and precision. This progress represents an important step towards a safer, more efficient global financial system, capable of meeting the growing needs of the international commerce and finance.


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