South African Multiple Option Settlement (SAMOS) system

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. 

Related documents

SAMOS Institutions as at May 2024
SAMOS Participant Charges - 2024
SAMOS standard settlement schedule - Saturday
SAMOS standard settlement schedule - Weekday
 

History of SAMOS

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.

SAMOS Customer Support Centre

SAMOS operates seven days a week. The settlement day starts at one second after midnight and closes at midnight.

Note: These are the SAMOS Customer Support Centre operational hours and not the times when the SAMOS system is available. The SAMOS system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Contact details

SAMOS maintenance schedule

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.

SAMOS renewal

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.

Related documents

Newsletter - 12 November 2018
RTGS replacement project - change readiness assessment