Nacha and the U.S. Faster Payments Council: 161 Accredited Faster Payment Professionals (AFPPs) Pass Inaugural Exam

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Nacha and the U.S. Faster Payments Council announced that 161 payments professionals successfully passed the inaugural Accredited Faster Payment Professional (AFPP) exam, marking an important milestone in demonstrating expertise and commitment within the faster payments ecosystem.

The AFPP credential demonstrates the growing emphasis on professional education and industry excellence in an era where faster payments are becoming a cornerstone of commerce and economic activity.

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The AFPP accreditation, developed as a collaboration between Nacha and the U.S. Faster Payments Council (FPC), with assistance from Payments Associations and other leading payments industry experts and stakeholders, sets a new standard for professionals dedicated to advancing secure, efficient and innovative faster payments solutions. The exam focuses on a variety of payments rails used across the United States, including Same Day ACH, FedNow, RTP and Push-to-Card Debit Card Networks. This credential demonstrates the growing emphasis on professional education and industry excellence in an era where faster payments are becoming a cornerstone of commerce and economic activity.

“The AFPP designation exemplifies the dedication of industry professionals committed to leading the evolution of faster payments. Passing this exam is a significant feat, and these individuals have validated their expertise and proven their passion for shaping the future of payments,” said Jane Larimer, President and CEO of Nacha. “Their hard work paves the way for stronger collaboration and innovation in our industry.”

The FPC also recognized the significance of this accomplishment. FPC CEO and Executive Director Reed Luhtanen commented, “We congratulate these pioneering AFPPs for their achievement. Faster payments are vital to improving the lives of consumers and the efficient operation of businesses. The AFPP accreditation reflects a shared commitment to fostering a secure and accessible faster payments ecosystem. This accomplishment is a testament to the expertise of these leaders in the field.”

As the faster payments landscape grows and evolves, this achievement begins a new chapter in industry excellence and innovation. In the first quarter of 2025, Same Day ACH continued its growth trajectory, recording 326 million payments valued at $897 billion. Those represent increases of 19.1% and 24.8% respectively over the same time period in 2024. Likewise, more than 100 million instant payment transactions were conducted in the United States in the first quarter of 2025.

For more information about the AFPP certification program or how to get involved, visit https://www.nacha.org/afpp.

About Nacha

Nacha governs the thriving ACH Network, the payment system that drives safe, smart, and fast Direct Deposits and Direct Payments with the capability to reach all U.S. bank and credit union accounts. There were 33.6 billion ACH Network payments made in 2024, valued at $86.2 trillion. Through problem-solving and consensus-building among diverse payment industry stakeholders, Nacha advances innovation and interoperability in the payments system. Nacha develops rules and standards, provides industry solutions, and delivers education, accreditation, and advisory services.

About the U.S. Faster Payments Council (FPC)

The FPC is an industry-led membership organization whose vision is a world-class payment system where Americans can safely and securely pay anyone, anywhere, at any time and with near-immediate funds availability. By design, the FPC encourages a diverse range of perspectives and is open to all stakeholders in the U.S. payment system. Guided by principles of fairness, inclusiveness, flexibility and transparency, the FPC uses collaborative, problem-solving approaches to resolve the issues that are inhibiting broad faster payments adoption in this country. For more information, please visit FasterPaymentsCouncil.org.