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ChapterTitle
IndustryUpdate

Tearsheet names Instant Financial Velera finds consumers want
best payments app choice, convenience, confidence
Instant Financial was named Best Payments App (B2B or Payments credit union service organization Velera
B2C) in the 2025 Tearsheet Power of Payments Awards. released its 2025 Eye on Payments study, revealing how
Founded in 2015, Instant modernizes payroll and earned consumer payment habits are evolving amid economic
wage access, giving hourly workers immediate access to uncertainty and rapid digital innovation. The report
earned wages and tips through banks, mobile wallets or shows debit and credit remain equally preferred (38
virtual paycards, Instant stated. percent each), while digital wallets, P2P and BNPL use
continue to rise among respondents.
Its innovations—Instant Direct, Financial Wellness Hub
and virtual paycards—have facilitated over $8 billion in Despite this, cash holds its place as the third-most-used
payments and $5 billion in digital tips. Instant Financial payment method, and ATMs remain vital for conve-
CEO Tal Clark said the honor reflects the company's mis- nience. Seventy-four percent of credit union members in
sion to "reshape how America gets paid." The platform the study said economic conditions influence their pay-
integrates seamlessly with payroll systems, helping ment choices. Velera's Tom Pierce said consumers seek
employers boost recruitment, retention and workforce both familiarity and innovation. He recommended the
morale, the company added. integration of trust, speed and security across traditional
and digital channels.
RESEARCH Cash-strapped SMBs plan to sit out Black Friday

Cross-border payment market to double by 2034 A new Xero survey of more than 500 U.S. small busi-
ness owners revealed that while most view discounts
Allied Market Research projects the global cross-border as an effective holiday sales tactic, financial constraints
payments market will grow from $206.5 billion in 2024 often keep them from participating. Seventy-two percent
to $414.6 billion by 2034, at a 7.1 percent CAGR. Growth said discounts drive results, but 34 percent have never
is driven by expanding ecommerce, remittances and
digital payment adoption, with B2B transactions leading
the market. Fintech innovations, particularly blockchain,
real-time payments, and APIs, are improving speed, Payments is our Business
transparency and cost efficiency.
However, challenges include regulatory complexity, • Expert Witness Consulting Testimony
currency volatility and fraud risks. North America and • Experience in Criminal & Civil cases
Europe currently dominate due to advanced financial • Payment Facilitation
infrastructure, while Asia-Pacific and Latin America, • RFP services
Middle East and Africa are rapidly expanding. Key play-
ers include Payoneer, Visa, FIS, PayPal, Stripe, Adyen • Integrated Payments
and Western Union, which are all investing in innova- • Least Cost Routing
tion and partnerships. • Card Network Rules
NCR Atleos releases white paper • Payment Gateways
on utility ATM networks • Processor Selection
• 'Hard to Place Merchants'
NCR Atleos Corp. released a white paper titled Cash
in the Digital Age: How Utility ATM Networks Sustain Let us demonstrate how our our Experience
Financial Access Worldwide, highlighting the essential role and Knowledge can work for you!
of utility ATM networks in global financial inclusion.
The paper traces the ATM's evolution since 1967 and
shows how shared ATM infrastructure supports access Napa Payments and Consulting
as digital banking expands and branches decline.

It emphasizes that utility networks lower costs for finan- (707)601-7656
cial institutions, extend reach for neobanks and ensure
consumers retain convenient access to cash. NCR Atleos kenm@napapaymentsandconsulting.com
COO Stuart Mackinnon noted these networks are vital
to maintaining financial ecosystems and inclusion across napapaymentsandconsulting.com
both emerging and developed markets.

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