March 24, 2026 – The U.S. Faster Payments Council (FPC), a membership organization devoted to advancing safe, easy-to-use faster payments in the United States, today announced the release of a new white paper, Instant Recurring Payments: Unlocking Opportunities in High-Growth Vertical Markets, developed by the FPC Instant Recurring Payments Work Group.1 The paper explores how instant recurring payments can address longstanding pain points across key sectors and position financial institutions and businesses for growth.
The white paper examines the expanding landscape of instant recurring payments, combining the immediacy of real-time settlement with the predictability of recurring billing. It outlines how capabilities such as Request for Payment and standing authorizations, supported by the Federal Reserve’s FedNow® Service and The Clearing House’s RTP® network, are reshaping how businesses and consumers manage subscriptions, insurance premiums, rent, utility bills, and investment contributions.
“Many high-growth verticals rely on batch-based systems that could benefit from the functionality provided by instant recurring payments,” said Andrew Gómez, Senior Advisor at Paylume and Vice Chair of the Instant Recurring Payments Work Group. “This paper highlights how instant payment rails, paired with thoughtful implementation strategies and strong risk controls, can unlock meaningful operational and strategic value across industries.”
The report identifies five high potential vertical markets: insurance, subscription services, utilities and telecommunications, investment management, and property management. Across these sectors, the paper details how instant recurring payments can reduce payment failures, improve cash flow visibility, streamline reconciliation, and enhance the customer experience, while also addressing considerations related to fraud management, compliance, technology modernization, and customer adoption.
In addition to outlining the business case for adoption, the white paper addresses key challenges, including fraud prevention in an irrevocable payment environment, 24x7 operational readiness, system integration costs, and the need for clear dispute resolution processes. It also provides strategic considerations for financial institutions, businesses, and customers to support a phased and sustainable implementation approach.
“Recurring payments are foundational to the U.S. economy, touching everything from rent and insurance to digital subscriptions and investments,” said Reed Luhtanen, FPC Executive Director and CEO. “This white paper provides practical insights to help stakeholders evaluate where instant recurring payments can deliver the greatest impact and how to move forward in a way that balances innovation, security, and customer experience.”