What if members could receive a bill, validate the details, and approve the payment instantly—without uncertainty?
In a recent webinar hosted by Callahan & Associates, Stuart Bain, SVP of Product Management, and Mark Majeske, SVP of Faster Payments at Alacriti, examined the emerging role of Request for Pay (RfP) across real-time payment networks and outlined why this capability is increasingly relevant to credit unions.
What is RfP?
RfP is a digital notification sent from a payee to a payer through their bank, requesting a real-time payment for a bill. It operates on a clear and powerful approval model: the credit union pushes a detailed request to the member, and the member approves it within their authenticated digital banking environment. The result is real-time settlement with good funds, immediate confirmation, and clear communication on both sides.
Solving problems
For credit unions, this solves several long-standing challenges. The way RfP is structured removes ambiguity around funds and eliminates operational exposure that comes with waiting days for confirmation. Its built-in efficiency introduces mechanisms that prevent common roadblocks and reduce uncertainty for both the institution and the member. In fact, as Majeske pointed out, 70% of Alacriti customers are seeing transactions come in outside of traditional bank business hours, proving that members want to move money on their own schedule, not wait for banking hours.
RfP is not simply another bill-pay feature but a flexible digital building block. “RfP is really a tool, not a product, so we encourage you to use RfP to create innovative member experiences,” Majeske explained. RfP can be layered into multiple payment journeys rather than limited to a single use case.
Use cases
Members are already accustomed to similar flows through P2P apps (e.g., PayPal, Cash App, and Venmo). “The concept of a request for payment is not something that’s new … If you’ve used PayPal going back decades, people can send requests for payment to each other. The same with Venmo,” Bain explained. RfP takes this familiar behavior and extends it into a credit union’s digital environment with real-time speed and guaranteed settlement.
RfP also has significant implications for credit unions’ business members. By digitizing invoices, automating recurring requests, and enabling faster settlement, RfP reduces operational friction for small businesses that rely on credit unions for local financial support.
RfP can enhance both retail and business use cases:
- Loan and account funding: New accounts or pre-approved auto loans can be funded instantly with good funds once the member approves the request, improving onboarding and member experience.
- Auto purchases: Credit unions can coordinate with local dealerships to fund vehicle purchases in real time, even outside branch hours, creating a turnkey solution for members.
- Collections and delinquent loans: Institutions can receive immediate, guaranteed payments for past-due accounts, reducing risk and operational complexity.
- COD payments and utilities: Businesses can ensure payment before delivering goods or prevent service shutoffs by sending RfP for partial or full payments.
- Property closings: Members can approve payments for real estate transactions safely and instantly, reducing fraud risk and removing the need for certified checks.
Operational impact
Credit unions serve diverse populations, from digitally fluent Gen Z members to those simply looking to streamline everyday processes. RfP minimizes the burden on credit union staff who manage exception handling, follow-up, and reconciliation.
For credit unions, the strategic advantages of adopting RfP include:
- 24/7 instant payments: Members can pay bills or fund accounts outside normal branch hours.
- Enhanced member experience: RfP simplifies high-value transactions, reduces friction, and supports digital-first behaviors.
- Risk reduction: Two-step approval and good-funds settlement minimize exposure compared with ACH or card payments.
- Operational efficiency: Replacing paper checks, manual invoices, and statement mailings reduces costs and staff workload.
- Market differentiation: Early adoption positions credit unions as innovators in payments, strengthening member loyalty.
Request for Payment gives credit unions greater control over how and when funds move by shifting payment initiation to the member. This model supports authenticated, irrevocable payments and reduces operational friction tied to exceptions and follow-up. As real-time networks expand, RfP is becoming a foundational capability that improves payment clarity and trust while enabling high-value use cases such as loan payments, account funding, and collections.
Watch the full webinar, Beyond Bill Pay: Using RFP and Real-Time Payments To Deepen Member Relationships.
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. Alacriti’s Orbipay Loan Payments is a customizable electronic billing and payments solution for businesses and financial institutions of all sizes. Orbipay Loan Payments offers convenient and flexible choices that include all the payment channels, payment methods, and payment options expected from a modern digital bill pay experience. To speak with an Alacriti payments expert, please contact us at (908) 791-2916 or info@alacriti.com
