Frequently asked questions

What is IPS?

Instant Payments Serbia (IPS) is an innovative payment service implemented by the National Bank of Serbia in cooperation with banks in order to enable fast and simple performance of all payments in the market, at any time of the day, each day of the year. The National Bank of Serbia has created the NBS IPS system – a state-of-the-art technical infrastructure for instant payments. In cooperation with banks and other entities, the National Bank of Serbia has prepared all that is necessary, including rules and standards for instant payments in Serbia. The NBS IPS system, as the key infrastructure for instant payments, enables money transfer within seconds, non-stop (24/7/365).

What is an IPS payment?

An IPS payment is an instant payment, i.e. the transfer of money at any time of the day, every day of the year, with money at the recipient’s disposal within seconds. Instant payments can be made at points of sale using the IPS SCAN and IPS SHOW options, and outside of points of sale by transferring money via e-banking and m-banking – by filling in a payment order or using the NBS IPS QR code or mobile phone number. Instant payments can also be made by issuing a paper payment order as well.

How can I use IPS services?

In order to use the services offered by the IPS system, you need to activate the m-banking app of the bank in which you have an open account on your mobile device (phone). In this app, it will be easy for you to find the IPS payment options, i.e. IPS SCAN and IPS SHOW.


If you do not have an m-banking app on your phone, contact the bank in which you have an open account in order to get instructions on how to install this app. IPS services of money transfer within seconds can be used via m-banking and e-banking, but also by issuing a paper payment order.


In order to use the Transfer service, you also need to install in your mobile device m-banking application, or to update it, once the bank informs you that the Transfer service is enabled.


In order to use this service as a recipient, уou will find in the m-banking application the option register for the Transfer service, which implies matching the mobile phone number with the account, according to your data in the bank’s records. After that, the bank will inform you about the successful registration and you may initiate the money receipt by saying to a person “transfer the money to my mobile phone number”.


If you are an m-banking user in several banks with the same mobile phone number – you may register via each of those banks, except that your active account (the implied account) for the money inflow will be with the bank with which you last registered.


However, what is unique regarding this service in our market is the fact that you can simply return the money inflow into some of the banks with which you had previously registered. For example, the m-banking settings will show that your account with that bank is not active (implied) for the inflow, after which you may re-activate it and re-direct the money inflow to that account. This means that you are able to direct the money to a desired account and the person who transfers the money to you only needs to use your mobile phone number.


Also, if you use different mobile phone numbers in different banks, you can connect via one bank the account you have there and the mobile phone number you use in that bank and in another bank – the account you have in that bank and another mobile phone number. In that case, depending on a mobile phone number to which the funds are transferred – the money will be credited to your account in the appropriate bank.


If you only wish to transfer money via Transfer service, you do not need to register. After a person tells you that you may transfer money to his/her mobile phone number – you choose a clearly visible option Transfer in the m-banking application, enter your mobile phone number or upload that number from your contact list and then enter the amount to be transferred. After that, as an additional security, the data you entered will be shown on the screen, as well as the name and surname of the payee in order to confirm the transaction, in a similar manner as you do now, via your m-banking application (e.g. PIN entry). Within several seconds the money will be in the recipient’s account, and immediately at his/her disposal.


During transfer initiation, you may receive the notification in the m-banking application e.g. that there are no data for the entered mobile phone number, which means that you first need to check with the recipient if he/she is registered for the Transfer service.

How much is the fee for payments using the IPS SHOW and IPS SCAN methods?

No fee is charged for payments using the IPS SHOW method as this method is used for instant payments at merchant points of sale.


Payers are not charged a fee for making payments using the IPS SCAN method at points of sale (shops, salons, boutiques, petrol stations, online stores, etc.) using the IPS QR code.

How much is the fee for the payment of bills by scanning the NBS IPS QR code?

If you use the IPS SCAN option in the m-banking app to scan the NBS IPS QR code (e.g. on the electricity bill, etc.), the fee for such transaction depends on your bank’s price policy. You can get information on fees for this type of instant payment on the following link: Fees of payment service providers relating to payment accounts

What is the difference between the NBS IPS QR code and other IPS QR codes?

The NBS IPS QR code is mostly used for the payment of bills/invoices and it is already included in these bills. You should look for the NBS IPS QR code on the bill and scan it. After that, the m-banking app will display a filled-in transfer order. You can change some of the data in this order (e.g. amount, payment purpose). The fee for making this type of payment depends on your bank.


IPS QR codes are used for instant payments at merchant points of sale, including online points of sale. This code can be generated in the m-banking app for the IPS SHOW method or you can scan the IPS QR code generated by the merchant. By contrast to the scanning of the NBS IPS QR code, when you scan the IPS QR code using the IPS SCAN option, your app recognises that you are paying by IPS at a point of sale and displays the payment amount (possibly also the merchant’s business name) and all you need to do is confirm the execution of the transaction. You cannot change the displayed data from the IPS QR code after scanning, as this is a payment at a point of sale.

I have scanned the NBS IPS QR code and made the payment, but it was not instant…

The payment initiated by scanning the NBS IPS QR code can be made as an instant payment, but this need not always be the case. If you have selected the “Urgent” option in the transfer order, then such payment will be instant – the recipient will receive the funds within seconds. Otherwise, when the “Urgent” option has not been selected, the payment will not be instant. If there is no “Urgent” option in the transfer order to select, it will be assumed that the payment you are initiating is an instant payment.

Is IPS payment at points of sale safe?

Instant payment at points of sale using the IPS SHOW and IPS SCAN methods is a safe payment method. The payer goes through all steps of the instant payment in his bank’s m-banking app, i.e. in a safe environment, and banks have safeguard mechanisms guaranteeing the safety of payment. Instant payments at online points of sale are safer compared to other payment methods, as the user does not leave any data on the payment instrument on the web page. All a buyer needs to do is scan the IPS QR code and initiate payment.

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