Welcome to Innovating Payments Top 3 News Headlines for the Week of May 25, 2026.
The White House issued a new Executive Order, "Integrating Financial Technology Innovation into Regulatory Frameworks," which "expressly directs federal banking regulators, including the Federal Reserve, to reconsider longstanding barriers that have limited fintech and crypto firms' access to the nation's payment infrastructure," according to an article published by JD Supra.
In addition, the Federal Reserve Board requested public comment on a proposal to establish a "payment account," which legally eligible financial institutions could use for the specific purpose of clearing and settling their payments.
Finally, Nacha released a series of requests for comment to solicit industry feedback on several possible rule changes.
Read on for more.
1. White House Executive Order Signals Major Shift in Federal Policy for Fintechs and Payment Systems (JD Supra)
President Donald Trump issued another significant Executive Order affecting the financial services industry, this time directed at integrating financial technology innovation more directly into the U.S. regulatory framework. The Executive Order, entitled "Integrating Financial Technology Innovation into Regulatory Frameworks," was signed on May 19, 2026 and appears designed to accelerate the integration of fintech firms, digital asset providers, and other non-bank innovators into the traditional banking and payments system. (Read more.)
2. Federal Reserve Board requests public comment on a proposal to establish a "payment account," which legally eligible financial institutions could use for the specific purpose of clearing and settling their payments (federalreserve.gov)
Following earlier public input, the Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday requested public comment on a proposal to establish a "payment account," which legally eligible financial institutions could use for the specific purpose of clearing and settling their payments. The proposed payment account is substantially similar to the prototype outlined in the Board's request for information (RFI) issued in December 2025. (Read more.)
3. Nacha Seeks Comments on Nacha Rules Proposals (nacha.org)
Nacha is seeking comment on several rules proposals. First is a Request for Comment (RFC) on a Rules change that would let the U.S. Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS) participate in the ACH Contact Registry. Second is a Request for Information (RFI) on the definition of the term "Banking Day." Next, Nacha is seeking the industry's input on whether the time frames for Dishonored Returns and Contested or Corrected Dishonored Returns can be shortened to improve the efficiency of the ACH return process. Finally, there's an RFC on a proposal to shorten the timeframe for returns that are typically returned without human decisioning or handling by a Receiving Depository Financial Institutions (RDFI). The comment period for the ACH Contact Registry RFC closes June 12; the deadline for all other comments is June 26. (Read more.)
How might these shifts increase competition? How might they drive opportunities? Watch for my "Wrestling Payments" podcast episode addressing these and other industry 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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