Welcome to the Top 3 Innovating Payments Headlines for the Week of March 16, 2026.
In this issue, Brian Clark, a payments analyst and deputy director of the regional and community outreach department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, urges financial institutions to develop instant payment services to help consumers avoid service fees.
Meanwhile, Global Payments has released its 2026 Commerce and Payments Trends Report. From the rise of agentic commerce, where AI-powered systems anticipate and act on customer intent, to the evolution of point-of-sale (POS) technologies, and more, the report provides insight into how investing in payments is creating new opportunities.
Finally, Zelle® and Bank of America now allow Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) grants to be distributed to nonprofits instantly through Zelle, replacing the previous lengthy paper process with fast, reliable digital payments.
Read on to learn more.
1. Boston Fed Touts FedNow® (Payments Dive)
In a Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's podcast, Brian Clarke, payments analyst and deputy director for the regional and community outreach department at the bank, encouraged financial institutions to develop instant payment services to help consumers avoid service fees. Clarke cited an upcoming Fed survey, which found that nine in ten respondents would use a bank account more often if their bank offered instant payments. The Fed research also found that 55% of respondents had been charged an overdraft fee over the past year, he said. The survey data referenced in the podcast is part of a research project soon to be published, a spokesperson for the Boston Fed said. (Read more.)
2. Cascading Innovation: Investing in Payments is Creating New Opportunities and Experiences (Global Payments)
The Global Payments 2026 Commerce and Payment Trends Report is here-your guide to the next era of connected commerce. As consumers embrace new technologies and demand experiences that move seamlessly across channels, this report helps business leaders meet them there. This report focuses on six key trends reshaping the future of commerce. From the rise of agentic commerce, where AI-powered systems anticipate and act on customer intent, to the evolution of point-of-sale (POS) technologies that extend beyond the countertop, and the expansion of embedded payments that make every interaction frictionless. (Read more.)
3. Zelle® and Bank of America Partner to Accelerate Delivery of Charitable Donations to Nonprofits (Glenbrook Partners)
Today, Zelle and Bank of America announce a first-of-its-kind application of Zelle to enable charitable disbursements from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). The new capability allows nonprofits to receive charitable grant funding in near real time, replacing the traditional multi-week, paper-based process with fast and reliable digital payments using the Zelle network. This new capability is part of Zelle® Forward, the network's innovation agenda. Zelle is working with financial institutions to explore ways to expand into new, practical use cases. Americans now send more than $1.2 trillion annually using Zelle and increasingly rely on it for everyday needs like rent and childcare. (Read more.)
How is your financial institution using payments innovation to create new opportunities and experiences for your customers and members? Do you have specific plans to invest in agentic AI, POS solutions, or embedded payments? If not, what innovations is your FI focusing on?
Check back soon for our next issue, which will highlight the industry's most pressing and essential developments. In the meantime, visit us online at Innovating Payments.
NEACH - New England Automated Clearing House Association is a neutral, member-focused advocate. Our role is to give you the intelligence, context, and connections you need to make informed strategic decisions. We bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators so you can evaluate innovation through the lens of your institution’s mission and market strategy. For more information, visit neach.org.
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AUTHOR: Joe Casali, AAP, NCP
Executive Vice President
As the EVP of Payments Innovation for NEACH, Joe focuses on exploring innovative solutions and technologies that will help position members for success, both now and in the future. Connect with Joe to read more of his blogs, articles, and posts.
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