Finextra Research has released its latest global survey report, "Payments 2030: What’s shaping the future?", which examines how organizations are aligning their payments strategies with market and regulatory demands, the challenges they face, and the technological and operational shifts influencing investment decisions.
As 2030 approaches, the payments landscape is evolving significantly, with financial institutions worldwide undergoing digital transformation and heavily investing in new technologies. However, many still struggle with legacy infrastructure, where speed, reliability, and resilience are imperative.
Commissioned by ACI Worldwide, this survey engaged senior industry executives globally in the summer of 2025, with expert insights from The Clearing House, Deutsche Bank, and the US Faster Payments Council enriching the findings.
The research identifies a changing payments ecosystem. Hybrid cloud strategies are expected to play a crucial role in the next five years; currently, only 7% of institutions are fully cloud-based, but one in four anticipates full adoption soon. Instant payments are on the rise, particularly in Europe, while the US sees increasing demand for 24/7 services, with over 40% of transactions occurring outside traditional banking hours. Nonetheless, roughly 46% of respondents recognize that additional efforts are needed to improve digital payment readiness, emphasizing the necessity for continued investment in a real-time, user-driven payments ecosystem.
Account-to-account (A2A) payments are recognized as leading disruptors, fueled by consumer demand for faster transactions. About 63% predict annual growth exceeding 10%, and over 80% are actively enhancing or planning to augment their capabilities. While viewing compliance as vital for long-term innovation is essential, nearly 47% still perceive regulatory pressures as mere box-ticking exercises, which may hinder progress in building the necessary infrastructure for digital transformation.
Gary Wright, Managing Director of Finextra Research, remarked: “Payments transformation represents both a challenge and an opportunity for our members. This research highlights that although many organizations are modernizing, they must accelerate progress to keep pace with the rapid growth of alternative payment methods anticipated in the coming years. The crucial question is how swiftly financial institutions can enhance their capabilities to accommodate rising payment volumes and changing consumer expectations. We are pleased to share these insights and priorities through this survey report, alongside our sponsor, ACI Worldwide.”
For further details, the full "Payments 2030: What’s shaping the future?" survey report, including expert commentary, regional analysis, and strategic insights, is available here.