FedNow Launches Network Intelligence API to Strengthen Instant-Payment Risk Controls

Federal Reserve Financial Services launched FedNow on July 20, 2023, enabling banks and credit unions to transfer funds within seconds, around the clock. Because instant payments are difficult to stop or recover, identifying risks associated with a recipient’s account before a transaction is critical for financial institutions seeking to prevent fraud and maintain reliable service.

Federal Reserve Financial Services announced the Network Intelligence API on April 23, 2026, and made it available to early adopters on April 28. The tool analyzes historical FedNow data to provide network-wide insights at the recipient-account level, helping institutions assess risk before sending funds. Officials did not disclose pricing or the value of transactions involved and plan to refine the service based on user feedback.