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\r\n\r\n\r\nThe post More than 4 in 10 Digital Bank Users Prefer Wallets Over Cards appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Digital bank customers are not just experimenting with new payment methods. They are increasingly reshaping what mainstream payments behavior looks like, particularly as mobile-first consumers lean into digital wallets and become more comfortable moving money directly from bank accounts.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThe PYMNTS Intelligence report, \u201cPay by Bank Deep Dive: Digital Bank Users Are Ready to Switch,\u201d found that consumers using digital-first financial institutions already exhibit many of the behaviors associated with Pay by Bank adoption, including reliance on tokenized payments, mobile commerce and login-based authentication flows.\nThe report, conducted with Trustly and based on a survey of 2,071 U.S. consumers, showed that digital bank users are not necessarily abandoning traditional payment methods entirely. But they are significantly more likely than other consumers to embrace alternatives to physical cards when incentives and protections are in place.\nAmong the findings:\n\n44.6% of digital bank customers prefer using digital wallets, roughly double the rate seen across the broader banking population.\n52.2% of digital bank users earn less than $50,000 annually, compared to 30.8% of the broader sample.\n72% of consumers said Pay by Bank could replace debit cards if rewards and buyer protections were offered.\n\nThat behavior extends across spending categories. More than half of digital bank users said they prefer wallets for rideshare purchases, while 60.3% use them for gambling-related transactions. Wallets also lead for subscriptions and retail purchases among this group.\nThe findings suggest consumers who bank digitally are already acclimated to payment experiences that prioritize speed, embedded authentication and app-based financial management rather than physical credentials.\nYounger Consumers Push Digital Banking Into the Mainstream\nThe demographic makeup of digital banking customers also stands apart from the broader banking population.\nAccording to the report, 56% of consumers using digital banks as their primary financial institution are millennials or Gen Z, compared to 45% across all banking customers. Millennials alone account for 38% of digital bank users.\nIncome trends also diverge sharply. More than half of digital bank customers earn less than $50,000 annually, while just 6.7% report household incomes above $150,000.\nAcross all banking types, immediate cash benefits ranked as the top reason consumers would consider using Pay by Bank. Buyer protections ranked second. Among digital bank users specifically, 43.1% cited immediate cash benefits as the biggest driver.\nAt the same time, roughly one-quarter of consumers said nothing would increase their interest in Pay by Bank, underscoring the limits of incentives alone.\nPay by Bank\u2019s Opportunity Centers on Debit Replacement\nThe report frames Pay by Bank less as a direct challenger to credit cards and more as a potential substitute for debit transactions.\nThat positioning reflects how consumers already think about direct-from-account payments. According to the findings, only 12.2% of consumers currently view Pay by Bank as a substitute for debit cards today. However, another 60%-plus said they would reconsider if rewards, buyer protection or both were attached to the experience.\nConsumers overall said they would shift 25.3% of account-to-account transactions to Pay by Bank if discounts and protections were offered. Among digital bank users, that figure climbs to 35.4%. Bill payments also showed elevated switching potential, reaching 32% among digital bank customers.\nFor digital banking customers already accustomed to app-driven financial management, the behavioral leap may be smaller than many payment providers previously assumed.\n\r\n\r\nThe post More than 4 in 10 Digital Bank Users Prefer Wallets Over Cards appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-05-18T04:00:58-04:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-17T22:24:17-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SB7smartph-x.png", "tags": [ "data brief", "Digital Banking", "Digital Payments", "digital wallets", "Featured News", "Mobile Wallets", "News", "Pay By Bank", "PYMNTS Intelligence", "PYMNTS News", "The Data Point", "Trustly", "Payment Methods" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3719153", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/mobile-wallets/2026/31-percent-of-consumers-use-mobile-wallets-in-store-as-apple-faces-faster-rivals/", "title": "31% of Consumers Use Mobile Wallets In-Store as Apple Faces Faster Rivals", "content_html": "Apple Pay has spent 11 years teaching consumers to tap their phones at checkout, but the bigger story may be how many rivals are now benefiting from that lesson.
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\r\n\r\n\r\nThe post 31% of Consumers Use Mobile Wallets In-Store as Apple Faces Faster Rivals appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Apple Pay has spent 11 years teaching consumers to tap their phones at checkout, but the bigger story may be how many rivals are now benefiting from that lesson.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nA PYMNTS Intelligence report,\u00a0\u201cApple Pay @11: Usage Is Up, but Competitors are Gaining Ground,\u201d\u00a0shows that Apple Pay is still the best-known and most-used mobile wallet, but the market around it is moving fast. Based on a survey of 3,339 U.S. consumers, the study finds that Apple Pay in-store usage has doubled over the past year, while mobile wallet use overall has more than doubled.\nThe result is a more mature wallet market, one that gives Apple more volume but also gives Google Pay, PayPal, Cash App, Venmo and others a better shot at the checkout relationship.\nApple\u2019s advantage is still substantial. It owns the iPhone experience, sits inside a device used by nearly 60% of consumers and is accepted by 85% of merchants, according to the report. That should give Apple a powerful path to growth.\nYet the data also shows how hard consumer behavior can be to change. Apple Pay accounts for only 10% of eligible in-person purchases and under 5% of transactions overall. Its estimated in-store sales volume rose to $450 billion from $268 billion this year, but physical cards still dominate how consumers pay.\nThe competitive opening is simple. Consumers are warming up to mobile wallets, but they are not all choosing the same one.\n\n16% of consumers said they used Apple Pay in stores in the last week, twice the share that did so in 2024. Apple Pay is clearly gaining more regular users as mobile checkout becomes more familiar.\n31% of consumers used a mobile wallet in a store in the last seven days, up from 14% in August 2024. That surge helps Apple, but it also broadens the market for rivals that can win specific use cases, rewards moments or platform loyalties.\nGoogle Pay\u2019s in-store use rose to 8.9% from 3.5% last year, while PayPal reached 12.8% from 7.3% and Cash App reached 10% from 5.9%. Apple Pay remains ahead at 15.9%, but its lead is no longer the only story.\n\nFor Apple, the optimistic read is that the wallet category is finally becoming a mainstream habit. Consumers are not just experimenting because a terminal accepts tap-to-pay.\nThey are returning because wallets feel fast, easy and secure. That gives Apple room to grow beyond early adopters, especially as millennials make mobile wallets part of everyday shopping and even baby boomers increase usage from a smaller base.\nThe challenge is that Apple helped build a market that competitors can now enter with sharper hooks. PayPal has a deep online payments brand. Cash App brings stored balances and peer-to-peer payment habits. Google Pay has Android distribution. Retailers and commerce platforms have their own incentives to keep shoppers inside their ecosystems.\nThe report also shows that wallets are changing the surface of checkout more than the underlying economics of payment. Debit and credit cards still fund many wallet transactions, and their overall shares have held roughly steady. Cash is the clearest loser, with mobile wallets nearly catching it for consumers\u2019 most recent in-store purchase.\nThat means the next phase of competition may not be about replacing cards. It may be about who controls the moment before the card is used. Apple has a head start, but the checkout screen is getting crowded.\n\r\n\r\nThe post 31% of Consumers Use Mobile Wallets In-Store as Apple Faces Faster Rivals appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-05-12T04:00:05-04:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-11T20:28:00-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ApplePay-wallet-1.jpg", "tags": [ "Apple", "Apple Pay", "data brief", "Featured News", "Mobile Wallets", "News", "PYMNTS Intelligence", "PYMNTS News", "The Data Point" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3717391", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/business/2026/nearly-three-quarters-of-payment-executives-see-business-uncertainty-easing/", "title": "Nearly Three-Quarters of Payment Executives See Business Uncertainty Easing", "content_html": "Business uncertainty is no longer arriving as a single shock that firms can model, manage and move past.
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\r\n\r\n\r\nThe post Nearly Three-Quarters of Payment Executives See Business Uncertainty Easing appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Business uncertainty is no longer arriving as a single shock that firms can model, manage and move past.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nIt is becoming a recurring operating condition, and that shift is changing how finance teams forecast demand, price goods, manage supply chains and absorb costs.\nThe PYMNTS Intelligence report,\u00a0\u201cForecasting Under Pressure: New Data Shows Uncertainty Is Still Running High,\u201d\u00a0part of\u00a0The 2026 Certainty Project, finds that 27% of heads of payments said their firms faced a high level of uncertainty in March 2026. Among goods companies, that share rose to 47%.\nEven so, the report also offers a more positive signal: 72% of payment leaders expect uncertainty to decline over the next 12 months, suggesting many firms see today\u2019s pressure as difficult but temporary.\nThe new angle in the data is less about one disruptive event and more about how companies are learning to plan through repeated disruptions. Last year, tariffs created pressure around pricing, supply chains and demand.\nThis year, geopolitical conflict and broader global stress have introduced a different kind of shock. The source changed, but the effect looked familiar. Forecasts became harder to trust, goods firms felt the impact first and companies facing the most pressure paid more to operate.\nThree data points show how uneven that pressure remains:\n\n27% of heads of payments said their firms faced a high level of uncertainty in March 2026.\u00a0That figure is close to levels seen during earlier tariff-related disruptions, showing that volatility has not fully faded from business planning.\n47% of goods firms reported high uncertainty.\u00a0That was far above the overall sample and higher than the level reported by services firms, reinforcing how quickly supply chains, inventory exposure and input costs can complicate forecasts for companies that make, move or sell physical products.\n72% of payment leaders said uncertainty will get better over the next 12 months.\u00a0That optimism suggests many executives view current volatility as something to manage through rather than a permanent break in operating conditions.\n\nThe report also highlights the financial cost of uncertainty. Across all firms, the total financing cost tied to uncertainty stood at 2.9% of revenue over the past year. That is lower than some prior tariff-era estimates, but the average masks a sharp divide.\nFirms facing high uncertainty reported costs equal to 6.2% of revenue, more than double the overall sample. Goods firms also remained more exposed than services firms, which points to the practical burden of planning when demand, supply and pricing can all move at once.\nFor banks, payment providers and other financial partners, the findings point to a clear opportunity. Firms do not only need capital when uncertainty rises. They need better visibility, faster information and payment tools that help them adjust before pressure becomes expensive.\nFaster settlement, improved cash forecasting and more flexible financing can help companies manage volatility without freezing investment or overcorrecting on costs.\nBusiness uncertainty remains high, but many firms are not treating it as a reason to stop planning. They are learning to plan differently. The companies that build stronger \u00a0forecasting habits, tighter working capital controls and faster payment processes may be better positioned for the next shock, whatever form it takes.\nAt PYMNTS Intelligence, we work with businesses to uncover insights that fuel intelligent, data-driven discussions on changing customer expectations, a more connected economy and the strategic shifts necessary to achieve outcomes. With rigorous research methodologies and unwavering commitment to objective quality, we offer trusted data to grow your business. As our partner, you\u2019ll have access to our diverse team of PhDs, researchers, data analysts, number crunchers, subject matter veterans and editorial experts.\n\r\n\r\nThe post Nearly Three-Quarters of Payment Executives See Business Uncertainty Easing appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-05-11T04:00:42-04:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-11T21:20:38-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/payment-business-uncertainty.png", "tags": [ "B2B", "B2B Payments", "data brief", "economy", "Featured News", "News", "PYMNTS Intelligence", "PYMNTS News", "Retail", "supply chain management", "The Data Point", "Uncertainty", "What's Hot In B2B", "Business" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3612919", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/insurance/2026/less-than-a-quarter-of-consumers-get-instant-insurance-payouts/", "title": "Less Than a Quarter of Consumers Get Instant Insurance Payouts", "content_html": "Insurance carriers are learning that the claims experience no longer ends when a claim is approved.
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\r\n\r\n\r\nThe post Less Than a Quarter of Consumers Get Instant Insurance Payouts appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Insurance carriers are learning that the claims experience no longer ends when a claim is approved.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nIn fact, the experience ends when the money arrives, and for many policyholders, faster access to funds now matters as much as the settlement itself.\nThat shift is pushing insurers to rethink an old playbook built around paper checks and limited payout options, and to move toward a model centered on speed, choice and control.\nThat is a core message of the November 2025\u00a0Money Mobility Tracker\u00ae Series\u00a0report,\u00a0\u201cThe Demand for Instant Insurance: Why Speed Is the New Trust.\u201d\u00a0Produced by PYMNTS Intelligence in collaboration with Ingo Payments, the report argues that payout speed has become a defining part of customer experience in insurance.\nBut the most notable takeaway may be what comes next: insurers are no longer just being pressed to pay faster. They are being pressed to give consumers more say in how they get paid. In that shift, claims payments start to look less like an administrative step and more like a customer relationship tool.\n\n23%\u00a0of consumers receiving insurance disbursements between\u00a0$500 and $1,000\u00a0say they are willing to pay a fee for instant access to their funds.\n85%\u00a0of claimants offered a choice of payment method report a positive experience, showing that flexibility matters almost as much as speed.\nAmong recipients of instant insurance disbursements, the most-used rails are\u00a0push-to-credit card at 60%,\u00a0digital wallet at 56%,\u00a0real-time bank deposit at 50%\u00a0and\u00a0push-to-debit card at 48%.\n\nThe report\u2019s most useful insight is that checks are still common, but they are steadily losing their grip. Consumers may still receive many insurance payouts through paper processes, yet their expectations are moving in another direction.\nWhen people can choose how they receive funds, satisfaction rises sharply. That points to a broader change in how insurers need to think about claims. This is not only about replacing one payment rail with another. It is about giving policyholders options that fit the moment, whether they want money sent to a card, a wallet or a bank account. That kind of control can make an insurer feel more responsive at a time when customers are often dealing with damage, disruption and financial stress. It matters.\nThe report also suggests there is business upside in meeting those expectations. Consumers who want instant access are signaling that speed has real value, especially for smaller and mid-sized disbursements that may cover urgent repairs, temporary lodging or immediate household needs.\nInsurers that build digital choice into the payout process can do more than improve convenience. They can turn the payment itself into proof that the company understands what customers need in a stressful moment.\nThe report offers up a practical roadmap: expand payment choice, add instant rails directly into claims workflows, automate compliance and present faster payouts as part of the insurer\u2019s value proposition. For carriers looking for a constructive way to stand out, that is a workable path forward.\n\n\r\n\r\nThe post Less Than a Quarter of Consumers Get Instant Insurance Payouts appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-05-07T04:00:07-04:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-06T22:52:33-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/auto-insurance-claims-CCC.jpg", "tags": [ "data brief", "Digital Payments", "Featured News", "Ingo Payments", "instant payments", "Insurance", "News", "PYMNTS Intelligence", "PYMNTS News", "The Data Point" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3697981", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/credit-unions/2026/22percent-bnpl-growth-gives-credit-unions-a-member-loyalty-opening/", "title": "22% BNPL Growth Gives Credit Unions a Member Loyalty Opening", "content_html": "Buy now, pay later may have started as a checkout convenience, but for credit union members it is becoming a cash flow tool that could use a better home.
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\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"CU](\"https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CU-PNPL-stat.png\")
The post 22% BNPL Growth Gives Credit Unions a Member Loyalty Opening appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Buy now, pay later may have started as a checkout convenience, but for credit union members it is becoming a cash flow tool that could use a better home.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThat is the central opportunity outlined in the March 2026\u00a0Credit Union Tracker Series, \u201cPay Later\u2019s Next Chapter: Why Credit Unions Are Rethinking Installment Payments,\u201d a PYMNTS Intelligence report with Velera.\nThe report finds that installment payments are moving beyond big-ticket retail purchases and into everyday spending, from travel and home services to utilities and medical bills.\n\nAs BNPL use grows, so does the complexity of managing it. Members may be spreading repayment plans across merchants, apps and providers, which can make it harder to know what is due, when it is due and how much remains. For credit unions, that creates a practical opening: help members bring those payments into one trusted financial view.\nThe report points to a shift that is less about novelty and more about coping. Consumers are not simply looking for another button at checkout.\nMany are trying to manage timing, income gaps and monthly expenses with tools that feel easier than traditional credit. That makes BNPL a service credit unions can treat as part of financial wellness, rather than only a lending product.\nKey Findings:\n\n22%:\u00a0Total value of installment payments among top BNPL providers grew by 22% in 2025, while the number of transactions increased by 12%. That growth shows how quickly installment payments are becoming part of everyday commerce.\n38%:\u00a0Share of credit union members who say they would likely use BNPL if offered by their financial institutions rose to 38%, up from 32% in 2024. The interest is especially strong among younger consumers.\n49%:\u00a0Nearly half of credit union members have used BNPL offerings from companies outside their financial institutions. PayPal, Affirm and Klarna are among the providers members use most often.\n\nThe coping challenge starts with the structure of BNPL itself. A credit card bill usually arrives on one schedule. BNPL works differently. Each purchase can carry its own repayment date, term and provider. A member using installments for a medical bill, a home repair and a retail purchase may be managing three separate repayment calendars across three different apps.\nThat fragmentation can turn a budgeting tool into another task. PYMNTS Intelligence found that one-quarter of BNPL users say they are usually or always unsure about their next payment date or how many payments remain. Roughly half struggle with those details at least occasionally. Those figures suggest that the next phase of BNPL adoption may depend less on access and more on organization.\nCredit unions can respond in several ways. The first is to keep installment activity inside their own digital channels. A CU-based BNPL program can give members one place to view repayment dates, balances and account activity. That simple change could reduce confusion and help members avoid surprises.\nThe second strategy is education. Many members may not know their credit union can offer installment options, especially when third-party providers appear directly at merchant checkout. Clear app messaging, statement inserts and staff guidance can close that awareness gap without making the experience feel like a sales pitch.\nThe third strategy is design. Credit unions can build pay-later programs around transparent terms, reminders and repayment planning. That approach plays to their traditional strength: a member relationship built on guidance and trust.\nThe upside is not limited to members. When BNPL activity moves through outside providers, credit unions lose visibility into spending and repayment behavior. Bringing those flows in-house can help institutions better understand member needs, tailor support and preserve engagement.\nAt PYMNTS Intelligence, we work with businesses to uncover insights that fuel intelligent, data-driven discussions on changing customer expectations, a more connected economy and the strategic shifts necessary to achieve outcomes. With rigorous research methodologies and unwavering commitment to objective quality, we offer trusted data to grow your business. As our partner, you\u2019ll have access to our diverse team of PhDs, researchers, data analysts, number crunchers, subject matter veterans and editorial experts.\n\r\n\r\nThe post 22% BNPL Growth Gives Credit Unions a Member Loyalty Opening appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-05-06T04:00:07-04:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-05T22:28:56-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SB7-credit-union-BNPL-1.jpg", "tags": [ "BNPL", "buy now pay later", "Credit Unions", "data brief", "Featured News", "News", "PYMNTS Intelligence", "PYMNTS News", "The Data Point", "Velera" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3703393", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/real-time-payments/2026/48percent-of-banks-see-better-customer-experience-in-real-time-payments/", "title": "48% of Banks See Better Customer Experience in Real-Time Payments", "content_html": "Real-time payments entered the market on a promise of speed. What businesses and financial institutions are discovering, according to new data from PYMNTS Intelligence and The Clearing House, is that their strategic value runs deeper.
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\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"real-time](\"https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/real-time-payments-CX-banks.png\")
The post 48% of Banks See Better Customer Experience in Real-Time Payments appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Real-time payments entered the market on a promise of speed. What businesses and financial institutions are discovering, according to new data from PYMNTS Intelligence and The Clearing House, is that their strategic value runs deeper.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\n\u201cBeyond Speed: The Strategic Value of Real-Time Payments,\u201d a March 2026 study, finds that companies are increasingly deploying instant payments not simply to move money faster, but to gain tighter control over cash flow, sharpen the customer experience and eliminate the ambiguity that once shadowed high-stakes transactions.\n\nTiming, visibility and confirmation, the report argues, are becoming as commercially viable as the speed itself.\n\n53%\u00a0of bankers say increased payment certainty is a key benefit of real-time payments for corporate clients, making it the most frequently cited advantage in the report.\n\nThat finding points to a broader change in how businesses value modern payment rails. Immediate confirmation and predictable settlement can remove much of the friction around whether a payment has landed and whether it can be used right away.\n\n48%\u00a0of financial institutions cite improved customer experience for corporate clients as a leading benefit. The report points to insurance as a vivid example. In moments of stress, such as disaster recovery, receiving funds in seconds instead of waiting days can shape how customers judge the service they received. That makes real-time payments not just a back-office upgrade but a front-line experience tool.\n47%\u00a0of bankers identify working capital optimization as a top benefit for corporate customers. For businesses in sectors such as trucking, shipping and construction, faster settlement can mean quicker access to operating cash, better forecasting and less dependence on short-term borrowing. That creates room for firms to plan with more confidence and keep operations moving.\n\nThe report also shows why this shift may have staying power. More than 1,000 banks and credit unions now participate in The Clearing House RTP network, which recently handled more than 1.8 million transactions totaling $5.2 billion in a single day.\nAt the same time, 78% of financial institutions surveyed by Volant\u00e9 say real-time confirmation and notification capabilities are now nonnegotiable.\nOverall, the data suggest the market is moving toward a future in which speed is only the starting point. The stronger long-term value may come from giving businesses clearer visibility, steadier cash control and more confidence in every payment they send or receive. That is a practical upside, and for many firms it could prove to be the real advance.\nAt PYMNTS Intelligence, we work with businesses to uncover insights that fuel intelligent, data-driven discussions on changing customer expectations, a more connected economy and the strategic shifts necessary to achieve outcomes. With rigorous research methodologies and unwavering commitment to objective quality, we offer trusted data to grow your business. As our partner, you\u2019ll have access to our diverse team of PhDs, researchers, data analysts, number crunchers, subject matter veterans and editorial experts.\n\r\n\r\nThe post 48% of Banks See Better Customer Experience in Real-Time Payments appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-05-05T04:00:25-04:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-04T22:54:37-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SB7-checkered-flag-1.jpg", "tags": [ "banking", "Banks", "data brief", "Featured News", "News", "PYMNTS Intelligence", "PYMNTS News", "Real-Time Payments", "The Clearing House", "The Data Point" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3697413", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/smbs/2026/46-percent-of-smbs-would-pay-for-more-payment-control/", "title": "46% of SMBs Would Pay for More Payment Control", "content_html": "Small businesses may be more ready for payment change than their habits suggest.
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\r\n\r\n\r\nThe post 46% of SMBs Would Pay for More Payment Control appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Small businesses may be more ready for payment change than their habits suggest.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThat is the hopeful read from\u00a0\u201cReady for Change: Why Nearly Half of SMBs Want to Ditch Cash and Checks,\u201d\u00a0a PYMNTS Intelligence report produced in collaboration with Mastercard.\nThe report finds that many small and medium-sized businesses still rely heavily on cash and checks, but not because they reject digital payments.\nIn many cases, cash and checks remain embedded in daily operations because they feel immediate, familiar and easy to reconcile.\nThe opportunity now is to make business credit cards and digital tools work more like the payment methods SMBs already trust, while adding better control, protection and visibility.\nThe report is based on a survey of 412 owners, founders, vice presidents and executive directors of U.S. SMBs. It examines how businesses pay vendors and suppliers, how much they rely on legacy payment methods and what would make business credit cards more useful.\nThree findings point to a market that is ready to move, but still needs practical reasons to change:\n\n45%\u00a0of SMBs say they are very or extremely interested in reducing their reliance on cash. That includes firms that already feel the operational burden of cash handling, tracking and deposits.\n68%\u00a0of Gen Z business owners and operators want to reduce their dependence on cash, even though Gen Z-run firms make\u00a052%\u00a0of their business payments in cash.\n46%\u00a0of SMBs would be willing to pay for a business credit card feature that lets them adjust payment windows based on when money is available.\n\nThe encouraging part is that SMBs appear to know what they need. They are not asking for complexity. They are asking for tools that help them stretch cash flow, make supplier payments easier and create a clearer record of where money went.\nThat makes flexibility the center of the story. Across different types of SMBs, payment timing stands out. Businesses want the ability to adjust payment windows, make purchases in installments and get longer payment terms.\nCards also have a practical advantage when something goes wrong. The report finds that 63% of SMBs say business credit cards are the most suitable method for disputing a payment and getting money back. That is a simple message for issuers: Protection is not an abstract selling point. It is a daily business need.\nStill, adoption will not come from digital-only models. SMBs want technology, but many also want a person nearby when the process gets complicated. The top preferred channel for applying for and managing a business card is a self-serve digital application, cited by\u00a023%\u00a0of SMBs.\nLive chat and human phone support follow closely, both at about\u00a018%. Cash-heavy firms are even more likely to prefer phone or branch support.\nThat blend may be the real path forward. SMBs do not need to abandon the way they operate overnight. They need digital products that respect how their businesses work today.\nThere is real demand among SMBs for better payment tools. The task is to lower the friction, explain the value clearly and build products that feel less like a replacement for cash and more like an upgrade to the business itself.\nAt PYMNTS Intelligence, we work with businesses to uncover insights that fuel intelligent, data-driven discussions on changing customer expectations, a more connected economy and the strategic shifts necessary to achieve outcomes. With rigorous research methodologies and unwavering commitment to objective quality, we offer trusted data to grow your business. As our partner, you\u2019ll have access to our diverse team of PhDs, researchers, data analysts, number crunchers, subject matter veterans and editorial experts.\n\r\n\r\nThe post 46% of SMBs Would Pay for More Payment Control appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-05-04T04:00:44-04:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-12T22:38:19-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Credit-Card-Pile-SB7-x.png", "tags": [ "B2B", "B2B Payments", "Benchmark", "corporate cards", "credit cards", "data point", "featured insights", "Featured News", "Mastercard", "News", "Payments Intelligence", "PYMNTS Intelligence", "PYMNTS News", "small business", "The Data Point", "SMBs" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3693408", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/working-capital/2026/61-percent-of-north-america-middle-market-companies-use-cards-to-speed-cash-flow/", "title": "61% of North America Middle Market Companies Use Cards to Speed Cash Flow", "content_html": "For many growth-company CFOs, working capital is no longer a back-office cushion, but a strategic lever.
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\r\n\r\n\r\nThe post 61% of North America Middle Market Companies Use Cards to Speed Cash Flow appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "For many growth-company CFOs, working capital is no longer a back-office cushion, but a strategic lever.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThat is a central finding from\u00a0\u201cThe 2025-2026 Growth Corporates Working Capital Index,\u201d a Visa and PYMNTS Intelligence report based on a survey of 1,457 CFOs and treasurers across 23 countries, five regions and 10 industry groups. The report shows that growth corporates, often described as middle market companies, are using external working capital tools to manage volatility, support expansion and build resilience heading into 2026. These companies generate enough scale to power local, regional and global economies, but many remain underserved by traditional financial providers.\nThe CFO angle is clear. Finance leaders are not only trying to cover shortfalls. They are trying to make cash flow more predictable. That means using working capital to fund capital investments, buy inventory, expand into new markets, upgrade systems and pay strategic suppliers faster.\nThe findings point to a more active model of treasury management, where liquidity is used with more precision.\n\n65% of European growth corporates use new forms of AI for working capital efficiency.\u00a0The report defines those uses as including financial planning, forecasting, scenario modeling, invoice processing, reporting and customer or supplier onboarding. LAC follows at 62%, APAC at 61%, CEMEA at 59% and North America at 42%.\n61% of North American growth corporates use card acceptance as a strategy to reduce days sales outstanding. Europe follows at 54%, LAC at 53%, APAC at 50% and CEMEA at 45%. For CFOs, that points to a practical way to convert receivables into usable cash sooner.\nGrowth corporates in LAC lose an average 5.0% of revenue chasing late payments from business customers.\u00a0The comparable figures are 4.0% in Europe, 3.6% in CEMEA, 3.5% in APAC and 3.0% in North America. That shows why payment speed and visibility remain high on the CFO agenda.\n\nThe positive read is that finance teams have more tools than they did a few years ago. AI can help forecast cash needs. Card acceptance can help shorten collections. External working capital can help CFOs act before cash pressure turns into a constraint.\nThe report also finds measurable benefits from using external working capital solutions. Average bottom-line benefits range from 3.1% of revenue in North America to 5.0% in LAC. In dollar terms, those benefits range from $13.4 million in North America to $24.1 million in Europe, based on the underlying revenue estimates in the report.\nThat does not mean every sector or region faces the same trade-offs. Agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, construction, retail, travel and technology each show different working capital patterns. Some sectors face heavier late-payment costs. Others show stronger AI adoption. Still, the broader story is consistent.\nCFOs are being asked to do more than preserve liquidity. They are being asked to turn liquidity into an operating advantage. The data suggests many are already moving in that direction.\n\r\n\r\nThe post 61% of North America Middle Market Companies Use Cards to Speed Cash Flow appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-05-01T04:00:53-04:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-05T22:42:35-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/fast-cash-flow-1.jpg", "tags": [ "B2B", "B2B Payments", "Benchmark", "cash flow", "CFOs", "corporate cards", "data point", "featured insights", "Featured News", "News", "Payments Intelligence", "PYMNTS Intelligence", "PYMNTS News", "The Data Point", "Visa", "Working Capital" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3688409", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/consumer-insights/2026/only-25-percent-of-consumers-say-their-cost-cutting-plans-still-work/", "title": "Only 25% of Consumers Say Their Cost-Cutting Plans Still Work", "content_html": "The clearest sign of consumer strain may not be what households are cutting, but how many different ways they are trying to keep up.
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\r\n\r\n\r\nThe post Only 25% of Consumers Say Their Cost-Cutting Plans Still Work appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "The clearest sign of consumer strain may not be what households are cutting, but how many different ways they are trying to keep up.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThat is the central takeaway from\u00a0\u201cGenerations Under Pressure: How Younger Consumers Are Coping With Higher Living Costs,\u201d\u00a0the latest PYMNTS Intelligence\u00a0Generational Pulse Report. Based on a survey of 2,747 U.S. adult consumers, the report finds higher living costs are a growing burden: 51% of consumers say daily expenses are difficult to manage.\nBut the more telling split is generational. Younger consumers are using more tools to manage cash flow, while older consumers tend to rely on fewer levers. The result: households adapting in real time, even as confidence in those strategies weakens.\nThe coping story starts with a shared baseline. Between 60% and 75% of consumers in every age group have cut daily spending. That\u2019s expected, given that grocery stress is nearly universal and housing, healthcare and savings pressures remain elevated.\nThe divergence is determined by age. Older consumers lean on restraint, cutting expenses, delaying big purchases and absorbing the pressure where they can. Baby boomers and seniors are also the most likely to report taking no action at all: 25% say they have no coping strategy.\nYounger consumers are building something broader. Bridge millennials, millennials and Gen Z consumers are more likely to combine spending cuts with gig work, borrowing from family or friends, bill negotiation, buy now, pay later options and shifts in savings behavior \u2014 a layered financial patchwork that signals resourcefulness, but also a thinner margin for error.\nKey Findings:\n\n50%\u00a0of consumers use two or three coping strategies to manage rising living costs, while\u00a016%\u00a0use four or more.\n23%\u00a0of bridge millennials,\u00a022%\u00a0of millennials and\u00a021%\u00a0of Gen Z consumers use four or more strategies, compared with\u00a08%\u00a0of baby boomers and seniors.\nThe share of consumers who say their coping strategies are extremely or very effective fell to\u00a025%\u00a0in January from\u00a034%\u00a0in October.\n\nThat last point is the warning sign. Consumers are not standing still. Many are taking action, and younger adults in particular are showing flexibility.\nThey are cutting spending, seeking extra income and using payment tools to match expenses with available cash. But effort is no longer translating into control at the same rate.\nFor banks, payment providers and FinTechs, the opportunity is practical. Consumers may not need another reminder to budget harder.\nThey may need clearer visibility into bills, better timing around recurring expenses, safer short-term liquidity options and payment plans that are easy to understand. Healthcare, groceries and housing are not occasional expenses. They are monthly cash-flow tests.\nThe positive reading is that households are engaged. They are watching expenses, changing behavior and looking for ways to adapt.\nThe challenge for financial services firms is to meet that effort with tools that reduce complexity, not add to it. As higher costs linger, the next stage of consumer finance may be less about encouraging people to do more and more about helping them make the moves they are already making work better.\n\r\n\r\nThe post Only 25% of Consumers Say Their Cost-Cutting Plans Still Work appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-04-30T04:00:34-04:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-29T22:28:18-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/consumer-finance.jpg", "tags": [ "consumer finance", "Consumer Spending", "data brief", "economy", "Featured News", "grocery", "News", "PYMNTS Intelligence", "PYMNTS News", "The Data Point", "Consumer Insights" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3687332", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/bnpl/2026/49percent-of-gen-z-say-bnpl-shapes-where-they-book-travel/", "title": "49% of Gen Z Say BNPL Shapes Where They Book Travel", "content_html": "For younger shoppers, buy now, pay later is not just a way to split a purchase. It is often a factor in where they choose to spend in the first place.
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\r\n\r\n\r\nThe post 49% of Gen Z Say BNPL Shapes Where They Book Travel appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "For younger shoppers, buy now, pay later is not just a way to split a purchase. It is often a factor in where they choose to spend in the first place.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThat\u2019s among the sharpest findings in\u00a0\u201cFinancing the Decision: How BNPL and Installments Reshape Merchant Choice,\u201d the latest PYMNTS Intelligence\u00a0Pay Later Ecosystem Report. Drawing on a survey of 2,763 U.S. consumers, the report finds BNPL carries the most weight when shoppers are comparing similar merchants and have room to deliberate. The effect is most pronounced among millennials and Gen Z, who are significantly more likely than older consumers to say financing availability shapes their decision on where to buy.\n\n62%\u00a0of millennials say BNPL influences their choice of merchant for travel, compared with\u00a037%\u00a0of consumers overall and\u00a05%\u00a0of baby boomers. Gen Z is not far behind at\u00a049%.\nIn food delivery,\u00a043%\u00a0of Gen Z and\u00a044%\u00a0of millennials say BNPL influences where they shop, versus\u00a010%\u00a0of baby boomers and seniors.\nIn healthcare,\u00a055%\u00a0of Gen Z say merchant-offered installment plans influence where they seek medical or dental care. According to the report, no other generation comes close.\n\nThe deeper point is that younger consumers are treating financing as part of the shopping experience, not as an afterthought.\nThe responses show that BNPL has the most sway in categories where people can compare providers, such as travel, events, home services and food delivery. In those situations, financing can help one merchant stand out from another offering a similar product or service.\nThat gives retailers and service providers a practical opening. Clear payment options at checkout can help them win business from younger buyers who are already inclined to use these tools.\nThe report also suggests that younger consumers are broadening where they use financing. For Gen Z, the influence of installment plans extends beyond discretionary spending and into medical and dental care, where 55% say financing availability affects provider choice.\nThe findings depict this as a distinct generational pattern, with younger adults approaching healthcare costs much as they do other major purchases by looking at both the service and the payment options attached to it. That points to a larger shift in consumer expectations. For a growing share of younger adults, flexible payment tools are becoming part of the standard package.\nOther data points reinforce that BNPL\u2019s influence is concentrated in groups already using pay-later products. Fourteen percent of consumers used BNPL in the last three months, and among those users the effect on merchant choice is far stronger than it is for non-users.\nThe report says non-users are largely unmoved, while existing users often let financing shape choices in the same categories where they already rely on it. That dynamic may be good news for merchants targeting younger consumers. It suggests that once shoppers become comfortable using these products, financing can help build repeat business and stronger loyalty over time.\nAt PYMNTS Intelligence, we work with businesses to uncover insights that fuel intelligent, data-driven discussions on changing customer expectations, a more connected economy and the strategic shifts necessary to achieve outcomes. With rigorous research methodologies and unwavering commitment to objective quality, we offer trusted data to grow your business. As our partner, you\u2019ll have access to our diverse team of PhDs, researchers, data analysts, number crunchers, subject matter veterans and editorial experts.\n\r\n\r\nThe post 49% of Gen Z Say BNPL Shapes Where They Book Travel appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-04-29T04:00:42-04:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-28T09:01:09-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/bnpl-travel-now-pay-later.jpg", "tags": [ "BNPL", "buy now pay later", "Consumer Spending", "data brief", "Featured News", "Gen Z", "News", "PYMNTS Intelligence", "PYMNTS News", "Retail", "The Data Point", "travel" ] } ] }