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Domestic Settlement Services
The SAMOS system is a real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system owned and operated by the SARB. It was introduced on 9 March 1998 and is linked to various participating banks, clearing systems and operators.
The SAMOS system facilitates the settlement of domestic individual high-value payment transactions, retail transaction batches, and bond and equity market settlement obligations. It is an automated system that settles obligations in real- time or in a delayed settlement arrangement.
Each settlement participant has an account with the SARB from which interbank settlement obligations are settled. Participants must provide enough funds to ensure that the settlement system functions smoothly. Settlement in SAMOS is considered final and irrevocable and is based on a pre-funded (credit push) principle. When the necessary funds are available, settlement takes place immediately. If a bank has insufficient funds available in its settlement account, the SAMOS system will automatically grant a loan to the bank against acceptable collateral and settlement will then take place. However, when there are neither sufficient funds nor sufficient collateral for a loan, settlement will not take place.
SAMOS Institutions as at March 2025
SAMOS Participant Charges - 2025
SAMOS standard settlement schedule - Saturday
SAMOS standard settlement schedule - Weekday
In the late 1980s, central banks and standard-setting bodies became increasingly concerned about the risks associated with payment systems. With global efforts to address these risks and South Africa’s reintegration in the world economy in the early 1990s, the industry recognised that the national payment system required better organisation and regulation.
The Bank for International Settlements’ Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures published reports and guiding principles on how to address the risks and regulatory oversight responsibility of payment systems.
As early as 1993, the SARB initiated discussions with the banking industry to modernise the domestic payment system. In April 1994, the SARB launched a project to reform the system by formulating a strategy that would enable South African banks and other intermediaries in the payment system to align the needs of the domestic economy with developments in the international community. The process culminated in the SARB’s publication in 1995 of the South African National Payment Systems Framework and Strategy, commonly known as the “Blue Book”.
The SAMOS system was launched on 9 March 1998. The settlement arrangement facilitated by the SAMOS system placed South African settlement practices on par with international best practice.
Settlement system participants |
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|---|---|---|
| ABSA Bank Limited | CLS Bank International | SADC Integrated Regional Bank |
| Access Bank (South Africa) Limited | Discovery Bank Limited | Standard Chartered Bank - Johannesburg Branch |
| African Bank Limited | Finbond Mutual Bank | State Bank of India |
| Albaraka Bank Limited | FirstRand Bank Limited | The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited |
| Bank of China Limited Johannesburg Branch | HBZ Bank Limited | The South African Reserve Bank |
| Bank Zero Mutual Bank | HSBC Bank plc - Johannesburg Branch | Tyme Bank Limited |
| Bidvest Bank Limited | Investec Bank Limited | VBS Mutual Bank |
| Capitec Bank Limited | J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Johannesburg Branch) | YWNB Mutual Bank |
| China Construction Bank Corporation Johannesburg Branch | Nedbank Limited | |
| Citibank N.A | Sasfin Bank Limited | |
SAMOS System operates seven days a week. The settlement day starts at one second after midnight and closes at midnight.
| Operational hours | ||
|---|---|---|
| Weekday | November to March | April to October |
| Monday – Friday | 07:30 – 17:00 | 06:30 – 17:00 |
| Saturday | Closed | Closed |
| Sunday & public holidays | Closed | Closed |
| Contact numbers: | 0861 SAMOS2 (0861 726672) or 012 313 4961 |
| Emergency number: | 082 805 6822 |
| Email address: | SAMOSOperations@resbank.co.za |
The below contact details can be used to reach out to the SAMOS Project Team for project related queries
Email address: NPS-SAMOSProject@resbank.co.za
Maintenance is done on the SAMOS system every Sunday between 06:00 and 17:00. During this time, SAMOS might not be available to participants for settlement.
The SARB is working with the payment industry to replace the existing real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system with a new-generation RTGS solution. The new system will cater to requirements stemming from payment innovations, regulatory changes and the evolving business landscape.
The objective of the project is to improve integration with external systems and make processes more visible so that the system is easier to use. The new RTGS system will enable modular design, quicker development turnaround time, and reduced time to market for changes made in the payment environment. It will also cater for multi-currency functionality and will offer rich message content.
Newsletter - 12 November 2018
RTGS replacement project - change readiness assessment
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is the operator of the South African Multiple Option Settlement (SAMOS) system, the real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system that facilitates settlement of domestic transactions in South Africa. Self-assessments are conducted against the PFMI issued in April 2012 by the Bank for International Settlements' Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) and the Technical Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). A self-assessment outlines the observance of the principles based on the status of operations of the SAMOS system.
Related documents
SAMOS PFMI Self-assessment report 2016
SAMOS PFMI Public Disclosure 2020
2024 |
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| December | |||||||||||
| 01 - 31 | : | SAMOS Change Freeze | |||||||||
2025 |
| | |||||||||
| January | | | |||||||||
| 01 — 10 | : | SAMOS Change Freeze | |||||||||
| 18 - 31 | : | Annual extended failover of SAMOS production to the Alternate site: | |||||||||
| February | | | |||||||||
| 12 | : | VISA'S BCP Testing | |||||||||
| 1 - 8 | : | Annual extended failover of SAMOS production to the Alternate site: | |||||||||
| March | |||||||||||
| 13 | : | BANKSERV'S BCP Testing | |||||||||
| 20 | : | STRATE’S BCP Testing | |||||||||
| April | |||||||||||
| 19 | : | 3rd Level contingency testing for SAMOS (MIRS): | |||||||||
| May | |||||||||||
| 08 | : | Mastercard’s BCP Testing | |||||||||
| | |||||||||||
| June | | | |||||||||
| 21 | : | DR/ Alternate site testing: | |||||||||
| 21 - 30 | : | Annual extended failover of SAMOS production to the Alternate site | |||||||||
| July | |||||||||||
| 1 - 31 | : | Annual extended failover of SAMOS production to the Alternate site | |||||||||
| 12 | : | 3rd Level contingency testing for SAMOS (MIRS): | |||||||||
| August | | ||||||||||
| 1 - 16 | : | Annual extended failover of SAMOS production to the Alternate site | |||||||||
September |
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| 11 | : | Mastercard's BCP Testing | |||||||||
| 18 | : | VISA'S BCP Testing | |||||||||
| October | |||||||||||
| 09 | : | STRATE’S BCP Testing | |||||||||
| 16 | : | BANKSERV’S BCP Testing | |||||||||
| 18 | : | DR/ Alternate site testing: | |||||||||
| November | |||||||||||
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| December | | | |||||||||
| 01 — 31 | : | SAMOS Change Freeze | |||||||||
2026 |
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January |
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01 - 10 |
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SAMOS Change Freeze |
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CPMI
BankservAfrica
SADC Bankers
SADC: Payment System Subcommittee
FSCA
IMF
PASA
Banking Association of South Africa
The World Bank
SA Financial Sector Forum
If you have further questions about settlement services, please do not hesitate to contact us.
