Citi rolls out PayTo solution for institutional clients in Australia

By Gloria Methri

Citi has launched its PayTo initiator service, providing institutional clients with a fast, secure and cost-effective alternative to traditional credit card, debit card, or direct debit payments.

With PayTo, Citi’s institutional clients can now initiate real-time account-to-account pull payments, allowing their end-customers to authorise payments directly from their bank accounts. This capability facilitates instant transactions and improves transparency.

The solution is expected to support a broad range of use cases—from in-app and eCommerce payments to outsourced payroll, utility bills, flight bookings, subscriptions, and digital wallet top-ups.

PayTo also improves operational efficiencies by enabling more seamless reconciliation and reducing payment-related fees. It minimises reliance on card-based systems and lowers the risk of chargebacks.

“Our clients want smarter payment solutions, and PayTo is a cost-effective, transparent and secure solution. Through PayTo, we’re truly giving our clients access to the future of payments,” said Kirstin Renner, Citi Australia and New Zealand Head of Treasury and Trade Solutions Services. “We anticipate strong take-up of this offer as clients welcome the benefits for themselves and their end customer. As we progress toward an increasingly 24/7, digital-led economy, we are focused on delivering innovations for our clients that will keep them at the forefront of technological change in payments.”

PayTo joins Citi’s suite of digital payments innovations, including Spring by Citi—a platform facilitating global eCommerce and B2B transactions—and Real-Time Funding, which supports cross-border transfers for corporates.

Citi’s Services division supports 19,000 clients globally, including 85% of Fortune 500 companies. The business processes nearly $5 trillion in transactions each day and accounts for over half of Citi’s total deposits.