The past five years have reminded us that change rarely follows a straight line. Some payments trends unfolded as expected — validating early strategic bets — while others forced rapid pivots and new ways of thinking. For credit unions and the organizations that serve them, this period has been as much about adaptability as long-term execution.
The Over: Early Signals That Paid Off
By the late 2010s, consumers were moving money through apps as FinTechs began leveraging application programming interfaces (APIs) to weave payments into everyday digital experiences. At Velera, we anticipated this shift toward embedded finance and banking-as-a-service (BaaS) and worked to make it real for credit unions. By rolling out digital wallets, instant card issuance and peer-to-peer (P2P) payment solutions, we helped credit unions meet member expectations for integrated, intuitive payments while keeping the personal touch that defines cooperative finance.
Real-time payments were another expected shift. To meet the growing demand for immediacy, we acquired Juniper Payments in 2022 and recently introduced real-time account validation for Velera credit unions, reducing friction between account setup and the first transaction.
The Under: Surprises that Changed the Game
Artificial intelligence (AI) proved to be the ultimate game-changer, reshaping decision-making, risk mitigation and member experiences in a matter of months. What surprised us wasn’t AI’s potential, but the speed at which it moved from experimentation to operational necessity. Velera adapted by integrating AI-driven monitoring into our Risk Mitigation Ecosystem and other core solutions, accelerating fraud detection and onboarding in ways that once would have taken years.
Cross-border payments also surged more dramatically than expected. The rise of remote work and the gig economy tested long-held assumptions around settlement timelines, foreign exchange and compliance. In response, we began exploring digital asset solutions and stablecoins to help credit unions move money quickly and confidently across borders.
Even identity verification proved more complex, as increasingly sophisticated fraud and evolving privacy rules delayed onboarding and frustrated members. We addressed these challenges by launching IDCheck, a real-time authentication tool that combines AI, biometrics and smart-device logic to verify identities, simplifying access while strengthening trust.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond
Across both the over and under, one lesson stood out: flexibility matters more than prediction. Acting on early indicators — from API adoption curves to fraud patterns and regulatory signals — proved more valuable than reacting to market headlines alone.
As we enter the second half of the 2020s, some trends are likely to persist, while others could take unexpected turns. Tokenization will remain foundational to secure digital transactions, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are expected to expand through global pilots. At the same time, technologies such as quantum security and decentralized finance (DeFi) could introduce new risks and transaction models. Regulatory and legal developments — including the Visa/Mastercard settlement — may also reshape card economics in 2026, with implications for interchange and member costs.
For credit unions, the opportunity lies in navigating these shifts while keeping members at the center. At Velera, we focus on delivering faster, safer and more seamless financial experiences by combining foresight, emerging technology and strategic partnerships — helping credit unions not just respond to change, but shape it.
