Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – The central Bank (CBCG() has become a member of the European Automated Clearing House Association (EACHA), an organisation that brings together European clearing houses and clearing service providers.

“The CBCG has become part of a community of 29 members, including central banks from the European System of Central Banks, central banks from the region, and several key institutions of the European payment infrastructure,” the Bank stated in a press release.

According to the press release, EACHA membership provides the CBCG with increased recognition within the European central banking and payment community, confirming its credibility and alignment with the highest European standards in the field of payment systems.

“At the same time, through this membership, the CBCG gains access to the latest standards, documents, and guidelines that define best practices in European payment systems, which is particularly relevant for strategic projects such as SEPA integration and the implementation of the national instant payment system (TIPS Clone),” the press release reads.

EACHA also represents the interests of its members before European institutions, including the ECB, the European Payments Council (EPC), and other key stakeholders in the payment systems domain. Through its membership, the CBCG will have the opportunity to participate actively in working groups and thematic forums dedicated to developing common technical standards and interoperability frameworks, especially in the area of instant payments, thereby further strengthening its role within the European payment infrastructure.

The EACHA membership also brings broader benefits for Montenegro as a whole, by enhancing the integration of the domestic financial system into the European framework and promoting the adoption of best standards and practices in payment systems.

“In this way, the country continues to advance the modernisation of its national payment infrastructure in line with its long-term goal of full harmonisation with the European financial market,” the press release states.