The Path To Faster Payments Ubiquity Starts With You

FPC Awards Program

Inaugural Annual Awards Program

Honoring the People and Organizations Shaping Faster Payments

The U.S. Faster Payments Council (FPC) is pleased to announce the formal launch of its inaugural Annual Awards Program. This program has been established to recognize, celebrate, and honor outstanding contributions within our membership that directly reflect the FPC’s vision: a world-class payment system where Americans can safely and securely pay anyone, anywhere, at any time with near-immediate funds availability.

Through these accolades, the FPC seeks to shine a spotlight on the exemplary efforts, collaborative spirit, and unwavering commitment required to drive ubiquity, education, security, and innovation across the faster payments industry.  Awards will be presented annually at the FPC Fall Member Meeting, and sponsorship opportunities are available to FPC members.

Our pinnacle award is The Michael Bilski Faster Payments Leadership Award. Originally presented as a unique honor at the 2025 FPC Spring Member Meeting in San Diego, this award has been permanently established to celebrate the lasting legacy of Michael Bilski (CEO of North American Banking Company). As a founding member and our Board Chair for five pivotal years, Mike’s unmatched dedication laid the very foundation of the FPC.

In addition, we are proud to announce the creation of two new awards: The FPC Distinguished Service Award and The FPC Faster Payments Innovator Award.

The Awards

Three Honors, One Shared Vision

Each award recognizes a distinct form of excellence — visionary leadership, dedicated service, and pioneering innovation — that moves the faster payments ecosystem forward.

Pinnacle Individual Honor

The Michael Bilski Faster Payments Leadership Award

Focus: Visionary leadership, industry commitment, and foundational ecosystem building.

Permanently established in honor of its first recipient, Michael Bilski. As a founding member and Board Chair for five foundational years (2019–2024), Mike represented the council on stage and staffed exhibit halls when the FPC had no staff and no budget — guiding it into a premier industry body with five full-time employees, 200+ members, and 100+ critical deliverables.

Going forward, this annual honor recognizes an individual who echoes that foundational grit: a leader who steps up when there is no roadmap and selflessly drives the industry toward a ubiquitous faster payments future.

Criteria: Awarded to an FPC individual member who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to guiding the faster payments industry forward through their dedication to the mission of the FPC.
Work Group & Volunteer Excellence

The FPC Distinguished Service Award

Focus: Cross-industry problem-solving, volunteer hours, and technical/operational contributions.

Because trade associations thrive on the dedication of their volunteers, this award honors the backbone of the FPC ecosystem — an active Work Group member or leader who has driven consensus across competitive boundaries to solve complex, pressing industry issues.

It celebrates the extraordinary gift of time, expertise, and collaborative spirit required to build the frameworks the industry depends on.

Criteria: Awarded to an FPC individual member who has gone above and beyond in contributing to critical FPC deliverables.
Organizational Excellence

The FPC Faster Payments Innovator Award

Focus: Product development, embedded solutions, and removing adoption barriers.

Recognizes pioneering organizations that don’t just adopt faster payments but actively reimagine how they are delivered — developing new products, deploying cutting-edge solutions, and making it seamless to embed instant payments into everyday business ecosystems.

Criteria: Awarded to an FPC member organization with measurable success breaking down barriers to real-time payment integration — innovative APIs, creative end-user interfaces, or unique B2B/B2C solutions.
$100Nomination & processing fee per submission. Every eligible nominating member organization is recognized on stage as an Official Finalist.

Submissions close Friday, September 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility & Process

How Nominations Work

A fair, high-standard evaluation process ensures every honor reflects genuine, measurable impact on the industry.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Membership StatusThe nominating or nominated organization must be an FPC Member in good standing at the time of submission. Any nominated individual must be employed by or affiliated with an active member organization.
  • Impact WindowContributed efforts, rollouts, or leadership achievements must have taken place or achieved measurable market impact between January 2025 and November 2026.
  • ExclusionsCurrent sitting members of the FPC Executive Committee are ineligible for individual awards during their period of service.

How to Submit

Window OpensNow Open
DeadlineSep 25, 2026 · 11:59 PM ET

All nominations are submitted electronically through the FPC nomination form and should include:

  • Nominee Contact Info — full name, organization, and FPC segment.
  • Executive Summary — max 250 words on why the nominee deserves the award.
  • Case for Excellence — max 1,000 words covering background, criteria alignment, and measurable results.
  • Supporting Documentation — optional; up to two pages of metrics, white papers, or letters of recommendation.

Annual Presentation

Celebrated at the FPC Fall Member Meeting

The inaugural awards will be formally presented during a sponsored general session and combined awards ceremony at the conclusion of the meeting’s first day.

Thursday, November 5, 2026 Overland Park, KS

On-Stage Recognition

A physical, custom-engraved FPC accolade presented live on stage by the FPC Executive Director and Board Chair.

Featured Spotlight

A spotlight profile in the monthly FPC Member Newsletter, a LinkedIn feature, and dedicated press release distribution.

Digital Badges

Commemorative digital badges for corporate and individual marketing use, year-round.

Questions?

We’re Here to Help

For questions regarding eligibility, category fit, sponsorship of awards program, or the submission platform, please reach out.

Stephanie Tisch
SVP, Industry Relations & Events
events@fasterpaymentscouncil.org