Faster payments

The move from standard to real-time transactions adds another layer of complexity and creates further opportunities for fraudsters. Quicker transaction times increase the chances of fraudulent transactions going undetected, writes David Worthington, vice president of payments at Rambus.

Beem It, a startup owned by three of Australia’s largest banks, has launched a free real-time social payments app designed to run on older debit networks instead of the country's new faster payments platform.

Mastercard is working with Starling Bank as its strategic partner to settle funds sent within the U.K. through its Mastercard Send service.

Intuit has added new features to QuickBooks Payroll so employers can make payroll at the last minute, delivering same-day paychecks to workers with the option to make direct deposits to contract employees.

The companies have built a product that attempts to beat the current standard of next or same day settlement.

The expansion of Visa Direct is designed to speed disbursements for health care patients who can receive an instant payment versus waiting several days to a week for payout.

Payment system change in the United States has always benefited from a consensus-driven approach that incorporates the views and behaviors of many, financial institutions, payment processors, technology providers, merchants, regulators, consumer advocates and others, writes Michael Bilski, CEO of North American Banking Company.

Australia is the latest country to enable Faster Payments with the February 2018 launch of the New Payments Platform. It's 10 years behind the U.K.'s version, but benefits from a decade of experience and observation.

Financial institutions providing funds via the Fed's same-day ACH transfers need to their systems protect their customers, are commercially reasonable and, most important, follow strictly the protocols the financial institution has agreed to with its customer, writes Alexander Buchanan, counsel at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP.

Contractor invoices are sent up a long string of approvals and payment is sent back down that long string before they are ultimately paid, writes Will Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of Contract Simply.