Real-Time Payments Offer Strategic Gains in Cash Flow Control and Customer Experience

Real-time payments provide round-the-clock, transaction-by-transaction settlement and confirmation of receipt, eliminating the need for businesses to wait for batch processing. They are particularly important for insurance claims, payroll and supplier payments. PYMNTS Intelligence and The Clearing House say the benefits extend beyond shorter wait times to better working-capital allocation and lower liquidity risk.

Citing an April report, PYMNTS said on June 4, 2026, that 74% of consumers had received at least one instant disbursement in November 2025. Among consumers urgently needing funds for essential cash flow, 70% preferred real-time payments after using them, while 72% were willing to pay for immediate access to funds. The Clearing House’s RTP network processes more than 1.8 million transactions worth a total of $5.2 billion per day, with more than 1,000 financial institutions participating.