Quito, March 2026 The Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE) has issued the Regulation for the Messaging Standard for Electronic Transfers for Real-Time Payment, through Administrative Resolution No. BCE-GG-007-2026, published in the Official Gazette Supplement No. 245, on March 17, 2026.

Key content of the regulation The Resolution establishes the technical and messaging standards that payment networks and their members must comply with for the processing of real-time electronic money transfers. In particular:

• The ISO 20022 international standard is adopted as the mandatory financial messaging language for instant payments.
• Real-time payment orders must be structured using PACS 008 messages, while acceptance or rejection responses will be channeled through PACS 002 messages.
• For the management and inquiry of payment keys, the use of ACMT messaging is established, in accordance with the technical and operational catalogs issued by the BCE.
• The defined standards aim to guarantee interoperability, security, traceability, and operational efficiency within the National Payment System.

Obligated entities The regulation applies to:

• Public and private banks
• Savings and credit cooperatives
• Mutual societies
• Neobanks
• Specialized electronic deposit and payment companies (SEDPES)
• Payment networks and other authorized participants of the National Payment System

Implementation deadline: attention to November 30 A central aspect of this regulation is its mandatory adoption deadline. The Sole Transitory Provision establishes that:

• Until November 30, 2026, payment networks and their members must implement the messaging standard provided in the regulation for intra-network payments.
• Subsequently, once the Payment Integrator System (SIP) goes into production, the standard must also be applied to inter-network payments, in accordance with the conditions defined by the BCE.

Legal commentary This regulation represents a significant step in the modernization of the Ecuadorian payment system and aligns the country with international standards. However, it requires financial and technological entities to perform a timely adaptation of their infrastructure, processes, and messaging systems, considering that real-time payments are irrevocable and legally enforceable.

We recommend that obligated entities immediately initiate technical and operational adaptation processes, as well as the review of contracts, internal manuals, and compliance schemes, in order to mitigate regulatory and operational risks before the deadline.

The content of this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not, under any circumstances, constitute legal or professional advice. For specific cases, we recommend consulting with our specialists.