This year, the value of instant payments is projected to reach $18 trillion, up from just $3 trillion in 2020 — a staggering increase driven by consumer demand and business urgency. Instant payouts are no longer a “nice to have.” They’ve become an essential feature of modern financial services: 78 percent of consumers now consider instant payments a priority, and 52 percent of payment executives are actively focused on consumer-facing use cases.
It’s no longer a question of whether to offer instant payments — but how to implement them efficiently and at scale.
The rise of instant
Call it the “internet speed effect.” Consumers expect everything faster — including their money. Waiting 10 to 15 business days for a payout now feels absurd. And in competitive markets like marketplaces, gig platforms, and creator economies, speed is a differentiator. If you don’t offer instant payouts, someone else will — and your users will follow.
A natural evolution from earned wage access, instant payments give people access to their money when they need it most. Workers, sellers, and service providers increasingly expect their earnings to be available immediately after the job is done.
Checks are dead
Checks don’t just feel outdated — they are. Businesses cite high costs, security risks, and delayed availability as major pain points with traditional payments. According to the Federal Reserve, 56 percent of businesses view lower costs as one of the biggest benefits of adopting instant payment options. Other top reasons include 24/7 availability, faster fund access, and reduced operational drag.
Even the U.S. Government is phasing out paper checks, replacing them with real-time electronic payments. The reason? Lower costs, better efficiency, and dramatically reduced fraud risk.
Push-to-debit: a smarter, simpler path
Among the many options for modern payments — ACH transfers, digital wallets, and bank deposits — push-to-debit stands out for its simplicity, familiarity, and speed. It allows funds to be sent directly to a recipient’s debit card, with immediate availability and no added friction.
Virtual debit cards can be created in minutes, funded in seconds, and used instantly. Physical cards can follow, but they’re no longer a barrier to real-time access. This flexibility makes push-to-debit ideal for on-demand pay, gig work, refunds, rebates, and more.
Why businesses and recipients both win
For businesses, push-to-debit reduces processing costs, shortens reconciliation time, and lowers the risk of fraud and payment errors. It also helps align your brand with user expectations, reinforcing reliability and trust.
For recipients, it’s simple: Faster access = greater satisfaction. Offering multiple payout options — including instant debit — empowers users to choose what works best for them. That kind of control fosters loyalty and repeat engagement.
Instant is the expectation
The shift to instant payments isn’t just technological — it’s cultural. The people you pay, partner with, and serve are making choices based on speed and ease. Push-to-debit meets that moment with an approach that’s intuitive, secure, and cost-effective for everyone involved.
Instant payments aren’t a future trend — they’re a now requirement. And push-to-debit is one of the simplest, smartest ways to deliver them.
