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Consumers Now See Instant Payments as Essential for Managing Household Cash Flow

May 8, 2025

Once considered a nice-to-have, instant payments are fast becoming a must-have in the disbursement economy.

According to new PYMNTS Intelligence research, nearly 38% of consumers now receive their nongovernment disbursements via instant payment. This share is up from 4.1% in 2017. The shift isn’t simply about access to faster payments. It also reflects deeper demand for financial control, peace of mind and a digital experience that meets modern expectations.

Why are more consumers gravitating toward instant disbursements? The answer lies in a trifecta of factors: choice, certainty and convenience. Of the consumers receiving funds instantly in early 2025, 27% chose instant payment over other available methods. This share has grown nearly 5% year over year. In categories like borrowing disbursements, where financial urgency is highest, 64% cited immediate need as a reason for choosing instant payouts.

Consumers are also showing a strong willingness to pay for this benefit. Nearly half of disbursement receivers said they would accept a fee to receive their money faster. These findings suggest that instant payments aren’t just about speed — they’re about dependability and the ability to manage daily expenses without delay.

Digital wallets are playing a growing role in this evolution. In January, 15% of consumers received their disbursements most often to a digital wallet, nearly double the rate from a year prior. Wallet-based delivery offers convenience and flexibility, helping users receive and spend money quickly.

No longer a niche feature, instant payments are a defining component of the new digital norm. As this trend accelerates, businesses that fail to provide instant options risk being left behind in an economy that now runs in real time.

Instant Shift: How Choice, Certainty and Convenience Are Driving Demand for Instant Payments Download PDF

Table of contents

Instant Options Become Payments of Choice

Instant payments are entering the mainstream as consumers increasingly choose them when offered multiple disbursement options.

Consumers Seek Instant ‘Peace of Mind’

The certainty of immediate availability is receivers’ top reason for choosing instant payments.

Digital Wallets Drive Instant Payment Usage

Digital wallets’ flexibility and convenience make them a natural partner for instant disbursements.

Instant Payments: The 2.0 of Digital Demand

With rising consumer expectations, instant payments are due to become the next stop on the digital journey.