Banking Exchange interviews Alacriti management to discuss payments in 2026
They have partnered with Early Warning Services to embed Zelle into its Orbipay Payments Hub
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- Written by Banking Exchange staff
Coming off a major announcement that Alacriti partnered with Early Warning Services to embed Zelle into its Orbipay Payments Hub, enabling faster, smoother integrations for credit unions and community banks, Banking Exchange interviewed payments leader Alacriti’s management team to find out what FIs should be focused on in the near future.
- Why is faster money movement such a critical issue right now?
Faster payments have become a competitive necessity. Consumers and businesses now expect funds to move instantly, whether they’re splitting a bill, paying rent, or receiving a refund. This isn’t about convenience alone but about maintaining engagement and trust. Institutions that lag risk losing relevance to fintechs that already deliver real-time speed and simplicity.
- What’s driving the acceleration in real-time payment adoption?
A mix of technology, consumer behavior, and business demand. Millennials and Gen Z have grown up using digital wallets and P2P apps. At the same time, 87% of U.S. corporates expect to be live with real-time payments by the end of 2025, according to Datos Insights. The expectation for immediacy is now embedded in how both individuals and organizations move money.
- How much has shifted to fintechs, and what does that mean for banks and credit unions?
Over the past five years, more than $3 trillion in deposits have flowed to fintechs offering faster, digital-first experiences. Each dollar that moves outside the banking ecosystem reduces not only deposits but also cross-sell opportunities. Payments have become a primary tool for customer loyalty.
- What are the biggest risks of falling behind on faster payments?
Delaying is costly. Institutions that don’t modernize risk deposit erosion, lower engagement, and lost visibility into money movement. One in three Zelle® users would switch banks if their FI stopped offering it, and 76% of consumers say they’d move to a bank with better digital capabilities. The risk isn’t just losing transactions but losing customers.
- Beyond speed, what are other things FIs need to take into consideration regarding faster payments?
Speed alone creates fragmentation when rails and channels run in silos. Orchestration unifies your rails — ACH, wires, RTP®, FedNow® — and channels like Zelle®, with shared operations, fraud controls, and visibility. The result is sustainable efficiency and a unified experience for customers and the back office.
- What should financial institutions focus on next?
The next two years will be pivotal. Institutions should look beyond individual payment rails and focus on delivering a seamless and secure money-movement experience. That means investing in interoperability and modern fraud defenses—while ensuring faster payments drive loyalty and growth, not complexity.