The payments industry has seen such rapid growth and dramatic technological advancements in recent years that conferences have become a crucial way to stay connected to the pulse of the space. There are few bigger industry events than Nacha’s Smarter Faster Payments 2025, which will kick off in New Orleans next spring.
In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Peter Tapling, Managing Director of PTap Advisory and a member of the Conference Planning Committee, Ashley Mustico, Director of Education and Accreditation at Nacha, and Brian Riley, Director of Credit and Co-Head of Payments at Javelin Strategy & Research, discussed the topics on tap for next year’s conference, the exhibitor experience, and the multitude of ways that payments professionals can make new connections.
The Payments Prom
Nacha might be most associated with the ACH network it governs, but the Smarter Faster Payments conference encompasses the entire payments ecosystem. Last year, the conference drew over 2,200 attendees, including professionals from financial institutions, fintechs, and organizations that serve as end users of payments services.
“It’s like the prom of the payments industry,” Tapling said. “You’ll run into a lot of people who support the ecosystem, everything from consultants and service providers to regulators, not just the staff who write the rules around the ACH.”
Smarter Faster Payments also differs from other conferences because the speakers and leaders aren’t whisked away once their talk is complete. Attendees will get the chance to meet and engage with the speakers, exchange business cards, connect on LinkedIn, and carry the conversation forward.
“The attendees come because they know that the conference offers unmatched access to first class payments education,” Mustico said. “People know that when they come here, they’re going to walk away with fresh ideas, brand new partnerships, the exchange of business cards, and practical, tangible solutions to everyday concerns that they’re facing at their organizations.”
Covering the Spectrum
There will be 10 main topics, or tracks, that the educational sessions will cover. Many of these sessions will provide different solutions to the same central question—how do organizations provide the innovation that their customers deserve and the frictionless experience that they crave, while staying compliant and keeping them safe at the same time?
The tracks were selected to cover the full spectrum of the payments industry, highlighting innovations across various payment rails, evolving regulations shaping the industry, and strategies for mitigating fraud and risk.
One of the innovations being implemented in every facet of the payments industry is artificial intelligence. Organizations are using AI to detect fraud, enhance security, and drive efficiency, and that is why there is a new track at the Smarter Faster Payments conference that is dedicated to AI.
“We’re going to see a lot of Rule 1033 content, which came out of the CFPB quite recently,” Tapling said. “The conference planning committee had hundreds of session submissions, and it’s always a tough effort to read those, understand those, and make sure we have a great mix of content and speakers and not too much overlap.”
In addition to the informational content, there will be recognition for those professionals who have been selected by the 15 under 40 program. The program is for under-40 professionals who have made significant impacts on the payments ecosystem.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our awesome keynotes this year,” Mustico said. “We have Mike Massimino, who’s coming to talk about the importance of cohesive teamwork, which he knows just a little bit about from his time as a NASA astronaut, where he worked on the Hubble Telescope. Then we have Kyle Sheely, who’s an author and an influencer, and he’s going to be talking about nurturing ideas that can lead to more innovation.”
Networking Opportunities
There will also be plenty of networking opportunities. There are openings to connect during breaks, in the exhibit hall, and plenty of chances to meet over breakfast or dinner.
“I throw in preparation, preparation, preparation,” Tapling said. “That means that once you get registered, if you go to the app you can see the attendee list and identify the people that you want to meet with. But you want as much as possible to not overlap the education sessions with meetings.”
To eliminate potential overlap with the sessions, there are dedicated networking events built into the conference schedule. Some of the events will be tailored to various audiences, such as a gathering for lawyers in the industry, and a reception for professionals that hold a Nacha accreditation.
There are also activities that are available to all registered attendees, such as the exhibit hall networking event on Monday. The event occurs in the exhibit hall after all the educational sessions are over, so attendees don’t have to miss an educational session to meet the vendors and see the innovations. The conference has historically had over 90 exhibitors.
Attendees can also check out the George Throckmorton Innovation Center, which is sponsored by the London Stock Exchange Group. The Innovation Center will have an array of fintech demos so professionals can see the new technology solutions coming down the pipeline.
And finally, there’s the Nacha accreditation awareness center, where attendees can consider one of the organization’s accreditation programs and learn about the scope of the exam and how to successfully prepare for it.
“My favorite event every year is the Tuesday Night Out, which is a fantastic opportunity to let loose with your new contacts,” Mustico said. “There’s usually dancing, there’s great food, and it’s just a great way to put an end cap on a fantastic event.”
Getting a Beignet
In the thriving payments industry, conferences are one of the most important ways to learn about trends and make contacts with other professionals. Nacha’s Smarter Faster Payments 2025 is a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and grow, and it takes place from April 27-30 in New Orleans.
“As an attendee, it’s important in New Orleans not to get hung up going for beignets at Cafe du Monde,” Riley said. “There’s a real purpose to this conference and the educational tracks are a big deal. Nacha has a prime name in the payments industry, and it sounds like the place to be. “
With so much going on, a booth in the exhibit hall is a great anchor where organizations can meet with customers and colleagues.
“If you’re thinking that you want to get in on the action of the exhibit hall, there’s still time to secure a booth at Smarter Faster Payments 2025, but our booth rates are going up after January 1,” Mustico said.
