What is CENTROlink?
CENTROlink is a retail payment system operated by the Bank of Lithuania, designed for payment service providers (PSPs) in the European Economic Area (EEA). It supports modern payment innovations, including instant and mobile payments.
The platform provides technical access to SEPA and TARGET2 for all EEA-licensed PSPs, enabling businesses to connect to the European payment infrastructure without building direct integrations with multiple systems.
What are SEPA payments?
SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) simplifies euro-denominated payments across Europe. It covers not only the 27 EU member states but also Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK.
SEPA ensures that both domestic and cross-border euro payments follow the same standards, making transactions more efficient, transparent, and competitive.
CENTROlink plays a key role in enabling SEPA functionality. It allows PSPs to process SEPA credit transfers and direct debits efficiently and securely. It also supports SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst), enabling real-time payments between accounts.
How to access CENTROlink
Financial institutions can integrate with CENTROlink independently or with the support of an IT partner. The connection process typically involves the following steps:
- Meeting. Discuss business model and requirements with CENTROlink representatives.
- Questionnaire. Submit KYC documentation to the Bank of Lithuania.
- Risk assessment. Evaluation of the PSP's profile and eligibility.
- NDA. Sign a non-disclosure agreement to access technical documentation.
- Certificates. Obtain system access credentials after certification.
- Testing. Register, test payment flows, and report results.
- Agreement. Complete final KYC updates and sign the participation agreement.
- Go-live. Register in payment schemes and begin processing transactions.
If you're evaluating CENTROlink integration, it's important to assess your technical readiness, compliance requirements, and internal resources early in the process.
Considering CENTROlink integration possibilities for your financial institution? Contact Baltic Amadeus team, who is here to help with IT ecosystem analysis, prepare integration documents, provide implementation guidance, conduct integration testing, and support with needed communication processes.
Key benefits of CENTROlink integration
Without a doubt, connecting to the CENTROlink system can bring a lot of value to your financial institution. Let’s explore the various benefits and advantages below.
Speed
Enables real-time payments, improving cash flow for businesses and enhancing the customer experience.
Security
Operated by a central bank, ensuring high security standards, including encryption and digital authentication.
Reliability
Available 24/7/365, providing consistent and stable payment processing.
Efficiency
Offers cost-effective access to SEPA schemes with pricing that scales with transaction volume.
Innovation
Supports modern payment use cases, including instant and mobile-first solutions.
In addition to the benefits listed above, the CENTROlink payment system also offers several other advantages to PSPs and their customers.
- Convenience. A single platform for handling credit transfers, direct debits, and instant payments.
- Flexibility. Adaptable features that support both standard and customised payment solutions.
- Scalability. An infrastructure capable of handling increasing transaction volumes as your business grows.
When is CENTROlink the right choice?
While CENTROlink offers clear advantages, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Understanding when it is the right fit is key to making an informed decision.
CENTROlink is particularly well suited for:
- Fintechs and PSPs entering the European market.
- Institutions looking to launch SEPA payments quickly.
- Organisations seeking to reduce infrastructure and compliance overhead.
- Businesses aiming to scale operations across multiple EEA countries.
However, direct SEPA participation may be more appropriate for institutions that:
- Require full control over payment scheme participation.
- Operate at very high transaction volumes.
- Already have mature, in-house payment infrastructure.
Evaluating these factors early can help ensure that your chosen approach aligns with both your technical capabilities and long-term business goals.
Final thoughts on SEPA integration via CENTROlink
SEPA integration via CENTROlink offers financial institutions a practical way to access European payment systems without the complexity of multiple direct connections. It combines regulatory support, modern payment capabilities, and scalable infrastructure in a single platform.
If you're considering integration, a structured approach, covering compliance, technical architecture, and long-term payment strategy, will help ensure a smooth and efficient implementation.
Baltic Amadeus is a top company for SEPA integration services. Our team can support you throughout this process, from ecosystem assessment and documentation to implementation, testing, and stakeholder coordination. Contact us to discuss your needs.
