Payment institution
A legal entity, distinct from credit institutions, authorized to provide payment services: collection, transfer, issuing of payment means. It is the 'payment services' component of the IOBSP acronym: an intermediary may connect a client with this type of institution.
Key points
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a payment institution and a bank?
A bank holds a credit-institution license allowing it to take deposits and grant loans, whereas a payment institution may only process monetary flows. For a credit broker, this distinction matters: you can refer a payment institution for transfer services, but not for financing a property purchase.
Does a broker need a different ORIAS registration to work with a payment institution?
Yes. The IOBSP category covers both banking-operation and payment-service intermediation, but the two may require separate mentions depending on actual activity. You should verify that your ORIAS record accurately reflects each type of partner you work with.
Why is this type of actor relevant to a mortgage brokerage firm?
Payment institutions often offer international transfer or personal-contribution management solutions that are useful in expat or non-resident files. A broker familiar with these actors broadens their toolkit and stands out on complex borrower profiles.
In practice
A broker handles an acquisition file for a Franco-British couple whose equity funds arrive from the UK via a licensed payment institution: they ensure the transfer documentation meets the lending bank's requirements before packaging the file.
Official sources
- Article L522-1 (payment institutions) · Légifrance — CMF
- The banking-operations intermediary (IOBSP) · ABE Info Service (Banque de France / ACPR)
- Single register of intermediaries · ORIAS