Consumers put security over speed in payments, Vyntra finds

A new study unveiled by Vyntra, a global transaction intelligence firm, suggests that the payments industry may be misjudging consumer priorities. While industry narratives often highlight the race toward faster and frictionless transactions, Vyntra’s research shows that most consumers care more concerned about trust, resilience and transparency than shaving seconds off their payment experiences.

The report, The Hidden Tension in Every Payment, surveyed more than 1,000 adults across Europe and found that 66 percent of respondents prefer security over speed. Only a small minority said they opposed additional verification, with more than half welcoming extra steps if they enhance safety. According to the findings, consumers increasingly view visible security not as a nuisance, but as a reassurance that their money and data are protected.

Resilience emerged as a critical factor as well. Eight in 10 respondents said they would consider switching providers if faced with repeated outages, and more than half indicated that acceptable downtime should total less than one hour per year—or none at all. The survey underscores that tolerance for disruptions in payments has virtually disappeared.

Chaallenging industry assumptions

Transparency also ranked high among consumer expectations. Ninety percent of participants said it is important to understand how their payment providers safeguard funds and personal data. This suggests that financial institutions have significant work to do in communicating their security practices more clearly to customers.

“Payments are no longer judged only by speed,” said Joel Winteregg, CEO of Vyntra. “Consumers expect seamless services, but they also demand security, resilience, and transparency. Outages and false declines don’t just cost money—they cost trust. Our research shows fraud prevention and operational resilience can no longer be treated as separate issues. They must be unified to deliver the real-time trust that global finance depends on.”

The report challenges long-held industry assumptions that instant settlement is the ultimate driver of loyalty. While speed remains important, the data shows that security, reputation, cost and usability rank higher in consumers’ decision-making. For payment providers, the message is clear: competitive advantage lies in reliability and trustworthiness as much as in technological innovation.

The Hidden Tension in Every Payment provides banks, fintechs, and payment providers with a framework for aligning their operations with these consumer expectations. By combining consumer insights with case studies, the study highlights both the risks of neglecting resilience and the opportunities for those that prioritize it.

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