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Addressing the Needs of the Public Sector Challenges and Opportunities in the U.S. Government’s Payment System: Domestically and Internationally . Presentation Before The World Bank Payments Reform Seminar November 4, 2003 Richard Gregg, Commissioner Financial Management Service
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Addressing the Needs of the Public SectorChallenges and Opportunities in the U.S. Government’s Payment System: Domestically and Internationally Presentation Before The World Bank Payments Reform Seminar November 4, 2003 Richard Gregg, Commissioner Financial Management Service U.S. Department of the Treasury Moderated By: Theresa Trimble, Manager, Fiscal Services Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Emerging Technology Driving Change in the U.S. Government—Key Themes • Internet technology a driving force in change for individuals, corporations, and governments conducting financial transactions • Electronic payments and supporting data are key • Simplifying interfaces and accounting a priority
Four Major Business Lines within FMS • Payments • Collections • Governmentwide Accounting • Debt Management
The Landscape • Payments We Make: --FMS makes 85% of U.S. Payments --Annual Dollar Value: $1.6 Trillion --Annual Transactions: 918 Million (77% Electronic) • Payments We Receive: --Annual Dollar Value: $ 2 Trillion --Number of Transactions: 337 Million (30% Electronic)
Where we are—Forms of Payments • Payments We Make --ACH (Credit) --Fedwire --Check • Payments We Receive --ACH (Debit) --Fedwire --Credit Cards --Check
Objectives—Key Factors Laying Foundation for Future Payments and Collections • Lower Costs --Increase Electronic Transactions --Reduce Interchange Fees --Streamline Processes • Maximize Cash Management --Improve Funds Collected --Enhance Cash Forecasting • Ensure Proper Security --Web Based Systems --Lockboxes
Objectives—Laying Foundation for Future Payments and Collections (Continued) • Simplify Processes --Single stream of data for agencies --Fewer Systems • Take advantage of technology in U.S. financial infrastructure --Federal Reserve—check truncation legislation --Commercial Financial Institutions—pilot new approaches; better service --Use email to inform customers • Think and act globally in our approaches to financial transactions
Payments We Receive: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead • Conversion to Electronic Payments --High Dollars/Low Transaction Volume --Market Research --Incentives vs. Mandates
Payments We Receive: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead • EFTPS (Taxes) --Web Based --Scalable and Secure --Payment Confirmation and History --Linking to Tax Filing Software --PIN and Password through mail --Some resistance
Payments We Receive: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead (Continued) • Pay.gov (Non-tax) --Web Based --Scalable and Secure --Forms plus payment --Verification Engine --Backlog of Agencies --Comfort with current Processes
Payments We Receive: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead (Continued) • Check Conversion --Check clearing/ACH rules --Float Reduction and minimize paper --Notice to individuals --Corporate checks
Payments We Receive: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead (Continued) • Check Truncation (Check 21) --Federal Reserve Leadership --Effective in one year --Voluntary --Quality of Images --Image Replacement Document (IRD): Quantity and Costs --Option for Lockboxes
Payments We Receive: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead (Continued) • Integrated Agency Processes --Payment and Accompanying Information Link to Agency System --Fewer “Stove Pipe” reporting sources/more commercial products --Easier interface with FMS
Payments We Receive: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead (Continued) • Security and Privacy --Web introduces new challenges --Checks present challenges too --Convenient yet secure --Secure Yet Protect Privacy --Contingency planning and testing --Innovation and vigilance
Payments We Make: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead • Conversion to Electronic Payments --High Percentage of Transactions But High Volume Remaining --Incentives vs. Mandates --Paying the “unbanked” --Market Research
Payments We Make: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead (Continued) • Payments Plus --Sufficient information for all parties --Accounting data that “fits” --Streamlining FMS Processes --Debt Collection
Payments We Make: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead (Continued) • Innovative Products --Internet Payment Platform (IPP) --Stored Value Cards --Debit Cards --Opportunities Driven by Business Case
Payments We Make: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead (Continued) • Security and Privacy --Electronic Payments Provide Many Pluses --Fraud can occur despite payment mechanism --Enseal Technology for Treasury Checks --Anthrax Threat --Approaches to “close the loop”, I.E., easy confirmation
Agenda for the Future • Focus on emerging technology • Address current infrastructure—tendency to hold onto current and outdated systems and infrastructure • Reduce the number of systems • Eliminate redundancy in data and information • Streamline databases, platforms, and tools • Drive toward less paper Sustain Excellence in Financial Transactions
Further Information and Communication www.fms.treas.gov