2026 Payment Trends Predictions: What Merchants & Partners Need to Know

As 2025 comes to a close, the payments industry is moving into one of its most dynamic periods yet. Technology, regulation, and consumer expectations are all shifting at the same time, and that means the way merchants process payments is also evolving. For agents and referral partners, staying ahead of these changes is the key to maintaining trust and delivering value to merchants.

Here are the trends we believe will shape payments in 2026.

Real-Time Payments Become the New Standard
Merchants and consumers alike are demanding speed. Real-time payments, once a “future state,” are becoming an expectation. Whether it’s payroll deposits, refunds, or business-to-business transactions, the ability to move money instantly is no longer a nice-to-have. For merchants, it means better cash flow. For referral partners, it’s an opportunity to align with providers who are ready to deliver faster settlement solutions.

AI-Driven Fraud Prevention Expands
Artificial intelligence is no longer experimental in fraud prevention—it’s essential. In 2026, fraud tools will continue to get smarter, analyzing massive amounts of data to flag risks before they become losses. Merchants benefit from fewer chargebacks and greater security. Agents and partners can position AI-driven protection as a differentiator when guiding merchants to a
provider they can trust.

Subscription and Recurring Payments Grow
Consumers are increasingly comfortable with subscription models, from streaming services to meal delivery to professional memberships. Merchants that adopt recurring payment options can build more predictable revenue and stronger customer relationships. In 2026, expect subscription commerce to expand into new industries, creating opportunities for merchants to capture loyalty and for partners to bring them flexible processing solutions.

Regulation and Compliance Step Into the Spotlight
With rapid changes in technology come new rules. Data privacy, interchange transparency, and compliance standards are expected to tighten in 2026. Merchants will need providers who don’t just process transactions but also help them stay compliant. Referral partners who align with transparent, compliance-minded processors will be protecting their merchants and strengthening their portfolios.

Customer Experience Remains the Ultimate Differentiator
Even with all the new tools and technology, service remains the deciding factor. Merchants will choose partners who not only provide modern payment solutions but who also stand behind them with reliable support. As the industry becomes more automated and outsourced, the ability to reach an experienced team that understands payments will matter more than ever.

Bottom line: 2026 is set to be a year of faster payments, smarter fraud prevention, new revenue opportunities through subscriptions, and tighter compliance requirements. But even with all this change, one thing doesn’t change: the need for a processor that merchants and agents can trust. At OnCore, we continue to invest in the future of payments while staying true to our promise of transparency, stability, and exceptional service.

If you want to prepare your business or your merchants for the year ahead, connect with us at info@payoncore.com or visit PayOnCore.com.