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The Icon Payments Framework (IPF)

A proven solution for smarter payments

Accelerate payments transformation with a flexible framework that combines rich out-of-the-box functionality with full control over innovation, timelines and costs.

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Go from competing to leading

Build a lasting platform to repeatedly accelerate the development of new products and services.

Accelerate innovation

Enables banks to accelerate time-to-market of new payment services without the dependency of a product vendor.

Highest non-functionals

Built to meet the non-functional requirements of instant payments: resilience, availability, latency and scalability.

Up to 50% lower TCO

Rich functionality combined with the Software Development Kit (SDK) and cloud native deployment can reduce the TCO up to 50%.

IPF underpins payments orchestration solutions and sits at the heart of your core payments architecture

Orchestration Functionality

SDK Deployment

Flexible payments orchestration

IPF processes payments on the basis of orchestration flows that are configured via its intuitive user interface: the IPF Studio. This gives payment processors full control over the way payments are processed in their specific situation. IPF process flows can invoke functionality that is provided by IPF, the payment processor itself or any external system.

Functional richness

IPF provides a large amount out-of-the-box functionality that enables the processing of payments. It also includes an intuitive UI that is used by bank operators for activities like configuration, payment enquiries and manual interventions. IPF can process any type of payment and comes with optional modules to clear and settle payments with specific payment schemes or CSMs.

Software Development Kit

IPF includes a comprehensive SDK to accelerate implementation. It features IPF Studio – an intuitive integrated development environment for defining flows and business rules including frameworks for integration, data mapping, UI creation, and automated testing. The SDK also has extensive documentation and sample assets support in-house teams or system integrators throughout the implementation process.

Robust, cloud-native, deployment options

IPF is a cloud-native solution proven in production across AWS, Azure, IBM Cloud and private environments. It meets the highest non-functional requirements – including 24/7 availability, active-active deployment, low latency, scalability, service-level prioritisation and data encryption. As instant payments become the norm, IPF helps banks deliver high performance while controlling infrastructure costs.

NatWest recognised the advantages of building in-house and selected IPF to accelerate delivery and empower its engineering teams to focus on high value integrations and innovation. By embracing IPF's capabilities and adopting a future-focused approach, NatWest has raised the bar for excellence in financial services.

Ian Povey, CIO of Payment Services & Technology

NatWest Group

IPF enables Citi’s engineers to build, deploy and test capabilities rapidly. Coupled with independently deployable and evolvable micro-services, Citi will be able to horizontally scale for growing payments volumes and improve time to market.

Citi

IPF SERVICES

Implementation Services

With IPF, you're in control of your payments transformation. Implementation can be carried out by your own IT team, a system integrator of your choice, Icon Solutions – or any combination of these. This isn’t a fixed approach – it’s a flexible model tailored to your needs and preferences.

All artefacts created during an IPF implementation – such as process flows, connectors and mappers – are your intellectual property, even if developed by Icon Solutions. This means you can modify and extend your solution at any stage without relying on Icon.

You stay in control – while we bring the expertise, guidance and support to safely undertake your transformation journey.

Case Studies

See all case studies

Building a payments platform for the future, beginning with SIC Instant

This Swiss bank faced a fragmented payments landscape and modernisation became critical with the approaching regulatory deadline to connect ...

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Building a payments platform for the future, beginning with SIC Instant

Citi is rolling out real-time payments globally with Icon Solutions' IPF

Citi is undertaking a multi-year modernisation of its payments platform, and has chosen IPF to strengthen its technology and payments capabi...

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Services

Providing solutions to solve existing challenges and lead the future of banking.

Payments

Payments integration and architecture consulting services

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Architecture

Digital transformation from strategy to technical design

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Data & AI

Using AI to unlock the full potential of your data

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Featured RESOURCES

Thought leadership

Explore our selection of resources - insights, case studies, whitepapers and more, designed to help financial services organisations navigate the payments landscape.

See all Resources

Blog

Payment fragmentation is here to stay, and banks must adapt

Payment fragmentation is here to stay, and banks must adapt

Banks must adapt to the growing payment fragmentation by embracing strategic consolidation to support diverse and evolving payment systems e...

Blog

featured-image

Navigating change in an uncertain world

Discover how banks are leveraging collaboration and AI to navigate uncertainty and innovate in payments, as highlighted at our Annual Europe...

Blog

Refresh, Don’t Rip: A Smarter Payments Transformation

Refresh, Don’t Rip: A Smarter Payments Transformation

Transform payments with a gradual, framework-led approach, minimizing risk, reducing costs, and enhancing adaptability in an evolving financ...

Blog

Sibos 2025: The Case for Consolidation Continues to Build

Sibos 2025: The Case for Consolidation Continues to Build

Banks must consolidate payment infrastructure to support diverse digital assets and enhance cross-border payments efficiency, as highlighted...