You are currently viewing USA: The Federal Reserve just launched a real-time payment system called FedNow
A security guard walks by an image of the Federal Reserve. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

The Federal Reserve has introduced a real-time payment system called FedNow, which will enable consumers and businesses to send and receive money within seconds, 24 hours a day, eliminating the typical transfer delays of one to three days. With this service, workers can access their paychecks immediately instead of waiting for them to clear, and consumers can pay bills at the last minute without incurring late fees. Initially, 35 banks and credit unions tested the system for facilitating instant payments, and 16 service providers can also handle payments for smaller banks. The new service aims to replace the current methods such as checks, Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions, and debit card processing, which can take several days to settle. FedNow allows instant money transfers at any time of the day or night, year-round.

Currently, 35 banks and credit unions, along with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, have adopted the instant payment capabilities of the FedNow Service. Additionally, 16 service providers are ready to support payment processing for financial institutions. Instant payments are expected to offer significant advantages for consumers and businesses, allowing rapid access to funds and efficient cash flow management. In the upcoming years, customers of banks and credit unions that sign up for the service should be able to use mobile apps, websites, and other interfaces to send instant payments securely. The FedNow Service operates alongside other Federal Reserve payment services, and the Federal Reserve aims to collaborate with thousands of banks and credit unions across the country to ensure the widespread availability of this service for their customers over time.

A good tool for business and customers without any risk?

The introduction of FedNow sounds promising, offering improved liquidity and reduced friction in digital payments. However, the rapid surge in the speed and quantity of transactions also brings potential risks. With payments processed within seconds, detecting and preventing fraudulent transactions becomes challenging. Recovering funds after fraudulent payments is even more daunting. Many uncertainties arise. Will risk and compliance measures be able to keep up? What will be the overall cost? And how widespread will the adoption of this system be? Despite these questions, it appears to be a positive step forward for consumers.

 

Sources:

https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20230720a.htm

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/07/20/fednow-launch-fed-instant-pay-service/70434964007/