It seems like every January we pause to look at what Nacha has on tap for the new year and find an impressive list for such a relatively small (but mighty) organization. I’m proud to say that 2026 is no different. 

We’re in the thick of planning for Smarter Faster Payments 2026. Not only is this Nacha’s premier event, I believe it is the payment industry’s premier event. 

You’ll be able to choose from some 130 sessions focusing on new technologies including stablecoins and artificial intelligence, plus many other payment topics including cybersecurity; combatting fraud; faster payments; rules compliance; and more. It’s the opportunity to immerse yourself in the best education to advance your career. You’ll also have the chance to meet with some 70 exhibitors in our exhibit hall, plus plenty of networking opportunities, including Tuesday Night Out on the USS Midway. I look forward to seeing everyone in San Diego, April 26-29. 

Later this year we will welcome our sophomore class of Accredited Faster Payments Professionals, to join the 161 who passed 2025’s inaugural exam. Having a Nacha accreditation carries a lot of weight in the payments community, be it the AFPP, the Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) or the Accredited Payments Risk Professional (APRP). 

Nacha’s Payments Innovation Alliance continues to be the premier member community of forward-thinking payments professionals driving innovation across the industry. The Alliance has many opportunities for members to get involved, including project teams focusing on diverse topics such as Pay by Bank, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, and quantum payments.

It’s a busy year for the ACH Network, as we implement the “ACH Road Map,” our strategic vision to strengthen the lifecycle of ACH payments. It’s a multifaceted approach that identifies opportunities to provide benefits for ACH users, beginning with awareness of ACH, through enrollment in ACH and validation of ACH information, and providing better transactional capabilities such as through improving the speed and efficiency of ACH returns. And all while keeping a steady focus on safety and soundness throughout the transaction life cycle.

On the risk management front, important Rules effective dates are right around the corner. New fraud monitoring Rules this year include a significant change: for the first time, Receiving Depository Financial Institutions (RDFIs) will have a defined role in transaction monitoring, and will be required to implement risk-based processes and procedures aimed at identifying credit Entries initiated due to fraud. Fighting fraud is the responsibility of all ACH Network participants, and RDFIs are in the best position to see indicators of fraud for incoming credits.

Another parallel change adds requirements for Originating Depository Financial Institutions (ODFIs), Originators (except for consumers), Third-Party Service Providers, and Third-Party Senders to establish and implement risk-based processes and procedures reasonably intended to identify ACH Entries initiated due to fraud.

Whatever your role in the ACH Network, I hope your organization is well on its way to implementing these important updates. 

Also, in response to industry feedback, we’re making refinements to International ACH Transactions. There were more than 120 million IATs in 2025, and with better clarity of what constitutes an IAT there should be better decision-making by financial institutions and their customers on when—and when not—to use IAT. Additional IAT Rule changes go into effect in 2027.

We’re always looking at enhancing Same Day ACH, which this year marks a decade since beginning for credits in September 2016. That year there were 13 million Same Day ACH payments; in 2025 there were more than 1.4 billion, bringing the total since inception to 5.7 billion—proof that we’re continuing to meet the need for safe, faster payments. 

It’s clear that a busy year at Nacha is off to a fast start. We hope you’ll continue to rely on us, interact with us, and help us make the payments system ever better.