IPLA/SIL have allowed financial institutions to connect their internal systems to the global Swift network for decades. Providing the essential integration layer that handles the messaging, security and routing necessary for cross-border financial communication. Their retirement marks a crucial shift towards modern, agile, cloud-native banking infrastructure.
IPLA (Alliance Access Integration Platform) is the middleware that connects your internal systems to the Swift network, facilitating the secure exchange of financial messages globally. Ensuring your payments, reporting and other critical communications flow smoothly and compliantly through the vast Swift ecosystem.
Its primary function is to act as the glue that connects a bank's internal applications (like core banking systems, treasury platforms, or compliance tools) to the Swift messaging infrastructure.
The core job of IPLA is to simplify complex connectivity:
SIL stands for the Swift Integration Layer. It refers to the middleware component that standardizes, centralizes, and manages the flow of financial messaging data between a bank's internal IT systems and the wider Swift network.
The purpose of a Swift Integration Layer is to create a single point of entry and exit for all Swift traffic, minimizing the complexity and cost of connecting multiple internal systems directly. Historically, IPLA was one of the most prominent implementations of this SIL function.
The difference:
|
Component |
Function |
|
IPLA |
Alliance Access Integration Platform for connecting core applications (like financial messaging) to Swift. |
|
SIL |
Swift Integration Layer. A standalone middleware for integrating internal systems with more flexible integration options. |
Swift is retiring IPLA and SIL (with a final deadline on June 30th, 2026) because these legacy platforms were built for an era of rigid, batch-style processing. They are no longer compatible with the demands of the modern financial ecosystem:
The industry is shifting towards more agile, cloud-native and API-first integration models. Legacy middleware like IPLA, while reliable in its time, simply isn't built to handle the demands of modern real-time payments, the explosion of data or the need for seamless integration with a diverse array of new fintech solutions.
As Robin Farshadfar, General Manager Eastnets Americas, puts it: "This change isn’t just about middleware retiring - it reflects a broader industry shift toward cloud-native, API-first integration models."
Banks are moving toward modern banking compliance software that uses APIs and microservices to integrate and handle connectivity to Swift, ensuring systems are:
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Case Study: Modernizing beyond the legacy layer Facing the challenge of automating CBPR+ ISO 20022 message translation and mitigating the manual risks typical of older Swift integration layers, Arab Bank Australia Limited (ABAL) partnered with Eastnets. Utilizing PaymentSafe as their intelligent, automated central messaging gateway and ISO 20022 translation engine they achieved:
“Implementing Eastnets PaymentSafe has made a noticeable difference for ABAL. The automated translation of CBPR+ ISO20022 messages and real-time processing have significantly streamlined our cross-border payment processes, allowing us to monitor and address potential risks with greater efficiency. With all functionalities consolidated on a single interface, we now have better control and visibility. This solution has strengthened our ability to meet regulatory requirements while improving efficiency across the board.” - Darren Mills, Executive Manager Operations at ABAL |
While change brings complexity, it forces us to build better, safer and more resilient systems. At Eastnets, we are your trusted guide and strategic partner in this evolution.
Eastnets Swift Hosting offers a secure, cloud-based service that reduces costs, simplifies operations, and ensures compliance, so you can focus on your core business.
PaymentSafe is a centralised financial messaging hub, consolidating all of your payment processing options into one single, easy to use platform. It offers end-to-end processing of transactions across Swift, Ripple, RTGS, ACH and instant payments, eliminating manual intervention and reducing operational complexity.
PaymentSafe is built on cloud-native principles, ensuring: