Definition of VRP sweeping
Variable Recurring Payments (VRPs) are a payment capability enabled by Open Banking in the UK that use the Faster Payments rail for instant settlement.
With VRPs, an end user (payer) authorises once, enabling recurring payments of varying amounts within mutually agreed limits (such as maximum amounts, frequency, and duration). Throughout this documentation, we use the term "mandate" to refer to this VRP authorisation.
What is sweeping?
Sweeping" is a specific type of VRP where payments move between two accounts owned by the same end user (often referred to as a 'me-to-me' payment). Both the source and destination accounts must belong to the same person or business.
Common sweeping use cases include automatically moving money to savings accounts, topping up accounts to avoid overdrafts, or regular debt/loan repayments.
Further clarification on the regulatory definition can be found in: