TARGET Services
TARGET Services are those services developed and operated by the Eurosystem which ensure the free flow of cash, securities and collateral across Europe. These financial market infrastructure services include T2 (for settling payments), T2S (for settling securities), TIPS (for settling instant payments) and the ECMS (for collateral management). All of them settle in central bank money, according to the TARGET System operating schedule.
The TARGET guideline regulates the T2, T2S and TIPS cash accounts in TARGET for settlement in euro in central bank money. It defines the ownership, governance, management, participation and operation of these accounts.
The Eurosystem also engages in a number of initiatives which aim to promote efficiency and innovation and ultimately achieve greater integration in financial markets in Europe. In line with its strategy, the Eurosystem is investigating ways to enhance its financial market infrastructure so that it continues to meet the needs of the market, stays ahead of cyber security challenges and keeps up with the latest technological developments.
T2
T2 is the Eurosystem’s real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system. It settles payments related to the Eurosystem’s monetary policy operations, as well as bank-to-bank and commercial transactions.
Read more about T2TARGET2-Securities
TARGET2-Securities (T2S) is the Eurosystem’s platform for securities settlement. It provides the European post-trade industry with a single, borderless and pan-European infrastructure for central bank money settlement.
Read more about T2STARGET Instant Payment Settlement
TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) is the Eurosystem’s service to settle instant payments in central bank money. It enables payment service providers to offer fund transfers to their customers in real time and around the clock, every single day of the year.
Read more about TIPSEurosystem Collateral Management System
The Eurosystem Collateral Management System (ECMS) is the Eurosystem’s unified system for managing assets used as collateral in its credit operations.
Read more about ECMSShared features
TARGET Services share a number of features, such as a single liquidity pool, one message standard (ISO 20022), a joint pricing guide and a set of common components. Information and technical documents about these shared features are available from our dedicated hub page.
Shared featuresDocuments and links for professional use
Documentation for each of the TARGET Services is produced regularly. Documents include user handbooks, legal texts, change requests and other technical releases for the TARGET Services.
Documents and links for professional useGovernance
The Market Infrastructure Board (MIB) is mandated to maintain and further develop the Eurosystem’s market infrastructure initiatives. It is responsible for the daily operation of TARGET Services and for managing all Eurosystem market infrastructure and payments projects.
MIB membersNews, events and publications
Get the latest news and announcements on financial market infrastructure and payments in Europe directly from us. Browse the technical publications and reports we produce for professionals in the field and join our events.
Read the latest news and publications