Financial Firms Scale Payment Tech for 2030 Goals
A new industry survey finds that most global financial leaders are prioritizing unified platforms and AI-driven fraud tools.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Financial Services
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Do you trust financial institutions to deliver better products using their new payment technology investments?
The Payments 2030 survey report from Finextra and ACI Worldwide reveals that 95% of financial firms feel confident in their long-term strategy goals. While 43% of organizations are actively accelerating their payment investments, a minority of 22% are pulling back.
Why it matters
Financial institutions are utilizing these survey results to determine if their current payment strategies generate tangible commercial value. Leaders are focused on identifying clear investment priorities to successfully navigate the rapidly evolving global payments landscape.
The survey of 152 global industry leaders shows that 77% of firms are now running or moving toward a unified payments platform. Additionally, 43% of companies have implemented AI for exceptions and investigations to streamline operations.
The players
Finextra
Finextra is a global fintech news and information service that provides analysis on the financial technology sector.
ACI Worldwide
ACI Worldwide is a global software company that provides real-time electronic payment and banking solutions.
The details
Institutions are increasingly treating fraud controls as a competitive edge, with 41% of firms prioritizing this capability. Interest in digital assets also remains notable, as 41% of surveyed entities are actively piloting stablecoin solutions while only 3% report no plans to engage with them.
Timeline
The survey of 152 global industry leaders occurred in May 2026.
The Payments 2030 report was published on October 16, 2026.
Market Landscape
This focus on unified infrastructure highlights a broader push to consolidate fragmented legacy systems into agile, real-time architectures. This transition positions firms to compete more effectively against specialized fintech challengers who have historically utilized more modern, integrated tech stacks.
Customers can expect more streamlined banking experiences as firms integrate AI-driven fraud tools and faster payment platforms. These investments aim to reduce friction in digital transactions and improve the security of consumer financial data.
The takeaway
Firms are increasingly betting on AI and stablecoins to maintain competitiveness in an crowded digital finance sector. Leaders should prioritize platforms that offer flexibility, as the gap between those accelerating investment and those pulling back continues to widen.
Further reading
For more context on how industry leaders are reshaping global infrastructure, visit the Financial Services section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Finextra Research.
Live Poll
Do you trust financial institutions to deliver better products using their new payment technology investments?
