Update as of 09/18/25: Disaster Relief Payments Now on FedNow®
The FedNow® Service has taken another important step forward: government agencies have begun sending instant disaster relief disbursements to individuals and businesses in need. This marks the first time emergency funds have been delivered instantly through the U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service as part of its Digital Pay initiative.
Why Does It Matter?
- Immediate support in critical moments: Families and businesses impacted by disasters can now access relief funds instantly, instead of waiting days for ACH or mailed checks.
- New opportunities for financial institutions: Banks and credit unions that participate in FedNow can deliver this value directly to their account holders, strengthening trust and loyalty.
- Proof of real-world impact: The first institution to receive an instant disaster relief payment was CB&S Bank, serving communities across the Southeast. Their customers experienced firsthand how transformative faster access to funds can be.
What’s Next?
At Alacriti, we believe these milestones illustrate why it’s critical for financial institutions to be connected to the FedNow Service. By leveraging Alacriti’s Orbipay Payments Hub for Instant Payments, banks and credit unions can:
- Seamlessly integrate the FedNow Service into their existing payment ecosystems
- Enable accountholders to receive critical government disbursements in real time
- Stay ahead as the use cases for instant payments continue to expand
Instant disaster relief disbursements are only the beginning. As the U.S. Treasury and other agencies adopt instant payment capabilities, financial institutions that are prepared will be positioned to deliver significant value to their communities.
Have questions about the FedNow Service? Find out more in the FedNow® Service: A Guide for Banks and Credit Unions.
Alacriti’s centralized payment platform, Orbipay Payments Hub, provides innovation opportunities and the ability to make smart routing decisions at the financial institution to meet their individual needs. Financial institutions can take full ownership of their payments and control their evolution with TCH’s RTP® network, the FedNow® Service, Zelle®, Fedwire, ACH, and Visa Direct, all on one cloud-based platform. To speak with an Alacriti payments expert, please contact us at (908) 791-2916 or info@alacriti.com.
