The Instant Payments Digital Divide: Why Some Small Businesses Thrive and Others Struggle

The digital disbursement landscape has evolved dramatically over the past seven years, reshaping how consumers receive payments. U.S. consumers increasingly receive disbursements from a variety of corporate and government agencies. In the same time, the demand for instant payments has surged, driven by a desire for speed, security and convenience. Consumers no longer view instant disbursements as a luxury but as a necessity, particularly in scenarios where rapid access to funds is critical. This shift is evidenced by a threefold increase in the number of consumers using instant payments since 2018. While consumer preference for instant disbursements has remained steady, actual adoption has skyrocketed. Additionally, security concerns, along with speed and convenience, have made what’s known as the push-to-debit method the preferred choice for consumers when receiving disbursements. Consumers aren’t just embracing instant payments; they’re increasingly willing to pay for them. These are some of the findings explored in “The State of Digital Disbursements: Why Consumers Prefer Instant Payments,” a PYMNTS Intelligence and Ingo Payments collaboration. This is the seventh year we have done this report, providing insight into consumers’ growing interest in instant disbursements. This edition draws on seven years (2018–2025) of consumer data and 42,683 responses to pinpoint the strongest drivers of preference for receiving disbursements instantly and to explore how receiving disbursements instantly drives satisfaction. Inside “The State of Digital Disbursements: Why Consumers Prefer Instant Payments” Discover why instant disbursement usage has tripled since 2018 — and what’s fueling the shift. Learn how disbursement methods impacts consumer satisfaction, with 94% reporting high satisfaction when given a choice. Explore why nearly 4 in 10 income recipients are willing to pay for instant access — and which payment types drive this demand. See how push to debit and digital wallets are emerging as preferred, secure channels for real-time fund delivery. The report explores consumers’ increasing use of instant payment methods for the disbursements they receive from nongovernment entities. Featuring 10 charts of insightful data, this study explores consumer satisfaction with instant pay and recipients’ willingness to pay a fee for that option. It provides insight into how disbursement preferences are evolving — and what it means for companies shaping the future of payments. Download the report to learn more.

With large U.S. enterprises facing demands from vendors, suppliers and contractors to make immediate payments, having ways to disburse funds instantly has become a strategic priority. The ability to execute nonrecurring, or ad hoc, payments immediately is rapidly evolving into a vital tool, particularly for nurturing vendor relationships. The urgency of these payment demands, whether for services rendered or goods delivered, is fueling a preference for instant methods. Twenty percent of all enterprises need to send a large share of ad hoc payments to the receiver urgently, a demand pronounced in certain industries. For example, a many companies in the gig economy report a need to disburse a large share of their ad hoc payments speedily. The motivation to deploy instant payments in such scenarios extends beyond efficiency; it is also rooted in the need to avert disruptions, guarantee timely service or delivery and, crucially, strengthen and safeguard vendor relationships. These are some of the findings explored in “Instant Payments: A Strategic Tool for Vendor Relationships and Urgent Transactions,” a PYMNTS Intelligence and Ingo Payments collaboration. This report is based on a survey of 200 enterprises generating at least $50 million in annual revenue across the United States between Jan. 13, 2025, and Feb. 4, 2025. It examines those senders’ use of instant payments to make ad hoc disbursements to small and medium-sized businesses and individuals. The report focuses on the following industry segments: hospitality, gaming, trucking/transportation, gig economy and property management. Inside “Instant Payments: A Strategic Tool for Vendor Relationships and Urgent Transactions” Learn more about how the growing demand for immediate payments makes instant fund disbursement a priority for enterprise senders, especially for nurturing vendor relationships. Discover the link between the urgency of payments and the adoption of instant payment methods. Gain insights into the industries and ad hoc payment types with the highest urgency. Explore the willingness of enterprise senders to pay for the speed and reliability of instant payments. The report shows how enterprises with high urgent payment needs are more likely to use instant payments. Featuring 11 charts of data detailing the growing need to send funds urgently, this study explores enterprise senders’ willingness to pay a fee for that option. The report provides insight into how senders use instant pay to avert disruptions, guarantee timely service or delivery and safeguard vendor relationships. Download the report to learn more.

Speed, certainty and convenience — these are the driving forces behind the explosive growth of instant payments. In fact, consumers are 10 times more likely to receive nongovernment disbursements instantly than they were in 2017. Many no longer just prefer instant payments — they need them. One in 4 say they require their disbursements within 30 minutes or less, and when urgency strikes, 20% are willing to pay a substantially higher fee to receive their funds immediately. How those payments are received matters, too. Bank deposits remain the preferred method for instant payouts, but digital wallets, particularly PayPal, are rapidly gaining ground. With instant payment satisfaction rates 18% higher than traditional methods, businesses that fail to offer seamless, real-time options risk losing customers to those that do. Whether it’s income disbursements, loan payouts or insurance claims, consumers now expect immediate access to their money, and they’re choosing providers who can deliver. These are some of the findings explored in “Digital Transformation and Instant Payments Fuel Business Disbursement Efficiency,” a PYMNTS Intelligence and Ingo Payments collaboration. This report is based on a census-balanced survey of 4,416 U.S. consumers conducted between Jan. 9 and Jan. 27. It examines consumers’ use of instant payments for the disbursements they receive from government and nongovernment entities. This edition focuses on nongovernmental disbursements. This is the eighth year we have conducted this study, providing insight into consumers’ growing interest in instant disbursements. Inside “Digital Transformation and Instant Payments Fuel Business Disbursement Efficiency” Learn more about the urgency behind instant payments and what’s fueling consumer demand Explore the shifting landscape of payment preferences, from bank transfers to digital wallets Discover why consumers are more satisfied when they receive instant payments across multiple disbursement types Gain insight into why consumers are willing to pay for speed, especially in financial emergencies The report explores consumers’ increasing use of instant payment methods for the disbursements they receive from nongovernment entities. Featuring 11 charts of insightful data detailing the growing need to receive funds urgently, this study explores consumer satisfaction with instant pay and recipients’ willingness to pay a fee for that option. It provides insight into how senders can better meet the growing consumer demand for instant disbursements. Download the report to learn more.