Zepto is now one of 15 members shaping the future of Australian payments on the AP+ Management Committee.
Zepto is thrilled to be appointed to the Australian Payments Plus (AP+) Management Committee with Chris Jewell — Zepto President — nominated as the company’s representative. This appointment underscores Zepto's commitment to driving innovation and shaping the future of Australia's payments ecosystem.
The AP+ Management Committee plays a vital role in shaping the strategy, performance, and direction of AP+ schemes. It monitors market trends, approves amendments to scheme documentation, and makes recommendations on key areas, including the AP+ Product Roadmap, market and policy trends, industry insights, and fraud prevention.
Zepto has a strong history of innovation in the payments landscape. The company was the first non-bank fintech to connect directly to the New Payments Platform (NPP) as a 'Connected Institution,' and the first non-bank payments provider accredited as a Data Recipient under the ACCC’s Consumer Data Right.
“At Zepto, we've always been passionate about driving innovation in the payments landscape,” says Chris.
“These milestones and our work launching first-to-market PayTo use cases have given us a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities in real-time payments. We've seen firsthand the transformative potential of the NPP, and we're committed to helping it reach its full potential."
Chris Jewell
The upcoming decommissioning of BECS by 2030 — as highlighted by AP+ — represents a critical juncture for the Australian payments industry. The transition to the NPP is essential to the modernisation of the nation's payments infrastructure. The limitations of BECS, particularly its lack of 24/7 availability and rich remittance data, are no longer sustainable. The NPP, with its ISO 20022 messaging format, offers a significant upgrade, enabling faster, more efficient, and data-rich transactions, ultimately reducing complexity and costs while unlocking substantial benefits for the entire economy.
Chris has been actively involved in the AP+ ecosystem, including his role on the NPP Operating Committee, where he has contributed to the development and strategic direction of Australia’s real-time payments infrastructure.
"My involvement in the AP+ ecosystem has been ongoing, including my role on the NPP Operating Committee, where I've been actively involved in shaping the development and strategic direction of Australia’s real-time payments infrastructure."
Chris Jewell
"I also value our participation in various AP+ committees, including the PayTo User Forum, Product Advisory Committee, and Fraud Advisory Committee. These experiences have reinforced my belief in the importance of collaboration and open communication in building a robust and innovative payments future. As AP+ works to establish a robust framework for the BECS to NPP transition, I'm eager to contribute my experience and insights," he adds.
Zepto is particularly excited about the potential of PayTo and the NPP. The company has seen significant momentum with institutional PayTo use cases across numerous industries, processing a significant portion of all PayTo transactions in the Australian market. Zepto's work with partners like Red Energy, OZEDI, Wpay, Stake, Spaceship and others showcases the diverse applications of PayTo, from real-time bill payments to instant superannuation processing and point-of-sale solutions.
"We're seeing incredible momentum with institutional PayTo use cases across a wide range of industries," Chris notes.
"At Zepto, we've processed a significant portion of all PayTo transactions in the Australian market, and we're continuing to see strong growth. From real-time bill payments to instant superannuation processing and point-of-sale solutions, we're helping to drive adoption and innovation. However, as we've learned from our work with Wpay, consumer education is crucial for PayTo adoption, and I believe AP+ has a key role to play in this area."
Chris Jewell
Zepto believes Chris's appointment to the AP+ Management Committee provides an excellent platform to advocate for the needs of the Australian payments community. As a co-founder of an Australian-founded Payment Service Provider (PSP), Chris understands the unique challenges and opportunities within the industry. He is committed to working with his fellow committee members to ensure Australia's payments infrastructure remains world-class, fostering innovation, competition, and accessibility for all.
The AP+ Management Committee comprises representatives from leading organisations in the Australian payments landscape, including Australian and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, JP Morgan, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, National Australia Bank Limited, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, RBA Banking, Coles Group Limited, Tyro Payments Limited, Cuscal Limited, Westpac Banking Corporation, Eftex Pty Ltd, Worldpay Pty Ltd, Indue Limited, Zepto, and ING Bank (Australia) Limited.