Welcome to the Top 3 Innovating Payments News Headlines for the week of September 15, 2025.
First, the Federal Reserve Financial Services (FRFS) announced that, due to growing commercial demand, the network transaction limit will increase from $1 million to $10 million, effective November 2025. This expansion is expected to support larger real-time payments and broaden the service's appeal to high-volume users.
Additionally, Zelle operator Early Warning Services (EWS) and The Clearing House are reportedly exploring separate stablecoin initiatives. While details remain limited, these early-stage projects indicate a growing interest in blockchain-based solutions among traditional financial institutions.
Finally, Nacha is modernizing its approach to compliance oversight. For over a decade, the organization has manually reached out to financial institutions to request proof of ACH Rules compliance audits, including audits of Third-Party Senders when applicable, as outlined in Article One, Subsection 1.2.2. This manual process has constrained outreach efforts. Beginning in October 2025, Nacha will automate these requests through its Risk Management Portal, enabling broader and more efficient engagement across the industry.
Read on to learn more:
1. FedNow® Service Will Raise Transaction Limit to $10 Million to Meet Increased Demand, Unlocking Higher-Value Use (Business Wire)
Federal Reserve Financial Services (FRFS) will increase the FedNow Service network transaction limit from $1 million to $10 million in response to growing commercial demand, effective November 2025. The increased limit will enable financial institutions and businesses to support higher-value use cases and reflects an increasing need for speed and certainty in the modern payments ecosystem. "Our second transaction limit increase this year reflects the growing demand for instant payments - as the benefits of immediate funds availability for all types of payments become more apparent…" said Mark Gould, chief payments executive for Federal Reserve Financial Services. (Read more.)
2. Early Warning Services and The Clearing House Consider Stablecoin Initiatives (PYMNTS)
Zelle operator Early Warning Services (EWS) and payments company and banking association The Clearing House are reportedly both considering their own, separate stablecoin projects. EWS plans to explore issuing its own stablecoin aimed at retail bank customers, Yahoo! Finance reported Thursday (Sept. 11), citing unnamed sources. This project would focus on giving bank customers a way to use stablecoins for everyday payments, according to the report. EWS did not respond in the Yahoo! Finance report. Reached by PYMNTS, the company declined to comment. Separately, The Clearing House is reportedly considering stablecoin initiatives, the report said, citing unnamed sources. (Read more.)
3. ACH Operations #3-2025-Automating the Request for Proof of Audit (Nacha)
For over a decade, Nacha has been contacting financial institutions to request proof of an ACH Rules compliance audit of the financial institution and, if applicable, its Third-Party Senders, in accordance with Article One, Subsection 1.2.2 (Audits of Rules Compliance). Until now, this has been a manual process, which has limited the number of participants contacted. Beginning in October 2025, automation of this process through Nacha's Risk Management Portal will enable Nacha to contact more financial institutions. (Read more.)
What new use cases will the higher FedNow transaction limit enable? In the next one to three years, do you see offering bank customers the option to use stablecoins?
Check back soon for our next issue, which will again highlight the industry's most pressing and need-to-know developments. Until then, visit us online at Innovating Payments.
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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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