From Theory to Application: The Impending Transformation of Commercial Payments
Real-time payments have yet to become a true retail mainstay in the U.S., but trillions of dollars moved across the FedNow and RTP networks last year. Both networks recently increased their transaction limits to $10 million, dramatically expanding enterprise use cases. The growing adoption of real-time payments will meaningfully reshape the B2B payments landscape. But […]
Late Payments Sink Thousands of UK Businesses Each Year
Late payments are more than just a headache for businesses—they contribute to thousands of closures each year. Data from UK fintech Funding Circle estimates that roughly 14,000 businesses in the UK fail annually due to the knock-on effects of delayed payments—the equivalent of 38 closures every day. With around 280,000 businesses shutting down in the […]
Santander and Mastercard Pilot Agentic Commerce
An AI agent recently bought a T-shirt—an unassuming purchase that nonetheless marks two milestones for agentic commerce. First, the transaction took place in Spain, making it Europe’s first fully agentic payment. Second, it was processed by Banco Santander, the first time an agentic commerce transaction has been executed within a regulated banking environment. The trial, […]
ACH and the Path Toward Future-Ready Payments
ACH is a critical part of the U.S. payment infrastructure, driving a significant portion of transaction volumes and supporting important use cases such as supplier payments, payroll, and many others. Despite competition from newer rails that serve similar purposes, ACH continues to grow at a remarkable pace. In a PaymentsJournal Podcast, Radha Suvarna, Chief Product […]
RTP Network Sets Records After Consumer Cash Flow Demand Rises
The business case for adopting real-time payments in enterprise settings is compelling. Instant settlement drives efficiency in processes long built around paper checks, while also giving organizations unprecedented control over liquidity and cash flow. The liquidity advantage is also fueling growth on the consumer side. The Clearing House recently reported that its RTP Network reported […]
Gen Z and Millennials Are Business Owners: Are Banks Ready?
From streaming platforms that learn your favorite shows to social apps that adapt to your moods, today’s users don’t just want options—they expect flexibility. If something doesn’t work, they switch, tweak, or move on. This mindset is especially true for Gen Z and millennial consumers, digital natives who have grown up navigating a world designed […]
More States Are Tightening Their Gift Card Regulations
More states are cracking down on gift card scams. In 2025 alone, 22 states have introduced legislation targeting gift card fraud—up from just eight in 2024. While most proposals focus on enhancing criminal penalties, many also place new responsibilities on merchants that sell prepaid cards. Over the past five years, six states have enacted merchant-specific […]
Apple Pay Could Have a Bigger Footprint in India Than Expected
PhonePE and Google Pay hold dominant shares of India’s digital wallet market, where most transactions run on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) real-time payments rail. While Apple Pay would enter an already crowded ecosystem, early signals suggest the tech giant’s wallet could have a larger impact than initially expected. When Apple announced plans roughly a […]
Why Banks Should Follow Fintechs’ Lead on Developer Portals
Fintechs didn’t just build better products over the past decade, they built better ways for developers to access them. Developer portals became a key growth lever, helping fintechs scale faster and attract top talent. Today, as banks modernize legacy systems and adopting next-generation payment technologies, they’re racing to catch up. And with real-time payments, programmable […]
Fast Installment Loans Growth: Card Managers Beware
All indications are that 2026 credit card growth is upward, healthy, and under control, but watch out for rapid growth in unsecured installment loans. The good news is that these loans transfer high-risk credit card receivables to installment lenders. The bad news is that the growth is a subtle indicator of stress in household budgets. […]