ACI Connetic Accelerates Global Adoption as UK Banks Can Now Unite SWIFT, CHAPS and Faster Payments on One Cloud-Native Platform
Rhea-AI Impact
(Neutral)
Rhea-AI Sentiment
(Positive)
Tags
Key Terms
swiftfinancial
SWIFT is the global messaging network banks use to send secure payment and transaction instructions to one another, like a tightly controlled international courier service for financial messages. Investors care because disruptions, sanctions, or changes to SWIFT access can delay or block cross-border payments, affect a company’s cash flow and foreign operations, and increase transaction risk and costs across markets.
chapsfinancial
CHAPS is the U.K. high-value, same-day electronic payment system banks and large institutions use to move and settle sterling payments with finality. For investors it matters because CHAPS keeps large transfers—such as interbank lending, corporate settlements and big trades—moving smoothly; a disruption can delay payments, force firms to hold extra cash and raise short-term funding stress, similar to a clogged highway slowing vital freight.
faster paymentsfinancial
Faster payments are electronic systems that move money between bank accounts almost instantly or within hours, instead of days. For investors they matter because quicker money movement improves companies’ cash flow, reduces the chance of payment failure, and can speed up sales and payroll cycles — like swapping a check for immediate bank transfer — all of which can affect revenue timing, liquidity and short-term valuation.
saastechnical
SaaS, or Software as a Service, is a way of delivering computer programs over the internet, allowing users to access and use them through a web browser without needing to install or maintain the software themselves. For investors, it highlights a business model where companies generate recurring revenue by providing ongoing access to their software, often leading to predictable income and growth potential.
cloud-nativetechnical
Cloud-native describes a way of creating and running applications that are designed specifically to operate smoothly on cloud computing platforms. Think of it as building a house with flexible, lightweight materials that can be easily moved, scaled, or adjusted as needed, rather than using rigid, traditional construction. For investors, it signifies technology that is more adaptable, efficient, and capable of quickly responding to changing market demands.
account-to-account (a2a)financial
Account-to-account (a2a) describes a direct electronic transfer of money from one bank or payment account to another without using cards or intermediaries, like sending cash directly from your checking account to a brokerage or a friend’s account. For investors it matters because a2a transfers typically lower fees, speed up funding and settlement of trades, and reduce reliance on third-party payment services, making moving capital faster, cheaper and more reliable.
ai-driven fraud preventiontechnical
A system that uses computer algorithms that learn from transaction and behavior data to spot and stop suspicious activity such as scams, forged documents, or stolen accounts. For investors this matters because it can reduce direct losses, cut fraud investigations and compliance costs, and protect a company’s reputation and customer trust — similar to an alarm system that improves over time and scales as a business grows.
apistechnical
APIs are sets of rules that let different software systems talk to each other, like standardized doorways that let apps, data services and websites exchange information without needing to be rebuilt each time. For investors, APIs matter because they speed product development, enable digital partnerships and data feeds, create new revenue or cost savings, and introduce operational or security dependencies that can affect growth and risk.
First ACI Connetic UK deployment marks pivotal milestone as country prepares for the next wave of payments transformation
OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ:ACIW), an original innovator in global payments technology, today announced a major step forward in the UK’s payments modernization journey as a leading UK retail bank chooses ACI Connetic — the industry’s first unified, cloud-native platform — for deployment. Powered by Microsoft's cloud capabilities, this milestone demonstrates strong industry confidence in ACI’s next-generation platform and its ability to empower financial institutions to modernize, innovate and unlock new growth.
Landmark UK Deployment as Government and Regulators Push for Payments Modernization
The first ACI Connetic deployment in the UK is a pivotal milestone as the country prepares for the next wave of payments transformation. For the first time, UK banks can bring SWIFT, CHAPS, and Faster Payments together on one cloud-native SaaS platform, eliminating the fragmentation that has long driven operational cost, risk, and complexity.
Designed to meet the demands of modern banking, ACI Connetic, the industry’s first unified, cloud-native platform enables banks and financial institutions of all sizes to:
Consolidate siloed systems and embrace a centralized approach to processing all payment types
Reduce operational complexity, increase resiliency across all schemes and speed up the adoption of regulatory mandates
Accelerate innovation, increase agility and position themselves for future real-time and cross-border modernization
One Cloud Platform for All Payments — A Clear Industry First
ACI Connetic is the industry’s first platform to bring together account-to-account (A2A) payments, card payments, and AI-driven fraud prevention within one cloud-native SaaS environment. Its modular design, cloud-native architecture, and open APIs streamline integration, shorten implementation timelines, and deliver faster time to value. Designed for institutions of all sizes, ACI Connetic enables rapid modernization without compromising enterprise-grade resilience or regulatory readiness.
“ACI Connetic is gaining real global traction — and the UK deployment is a major milestone,” said Richard Albery, head of banking, UK and Ireland, ACI Worldwide. “Banks are facing unprecedented pressure to modernize quickly as payments grow more complex. ACI Connetic is more than a new payments product — it’s an operating model built for the digital economy, giving institutions the agility and scale they need to grow.”
“Microsoft Azure is increasingly becoming a foundational platform for high‑performance enterprise payments,” said Christian Sarafidis, Chief Executive EMEA Financial Services. “Our collaboration with ACI Worldwide helps banks access a cloud‑native approach that supports security, compliance, resilience and scalability, while enabling continuous innovation. As payments continue to evolve, cloud technology is playing an important role in helping institutions respond to digital commerce, regulatory change and rising customer expectations.”
Global Demand Builds Across Europe and the U.S.
Beyond the UK, banks across Europe and the U.S. are adopting ACI Connetic as they rethink how to operate amid regulatory change, heightened competition, and rapid shifts in customer expectations. Cloud modernization is no longer a technology decision — it is a strategic requirement. ACI Connetic on Microsoft Azure gives banks the platform, scale, and resilience required to compete in a digital-first, real-time world.
About ACI Worldwide
ACI Worldwide, an original innovator in global payments technology, delivers transformative software solutions that power intelligent payments orchestration in real time so banks, billers and merchants can drive growth, while continuously modernizing their payment infrastructures, simply and securely. With nearly 50 years of trusted payments expertise, we combine our global footprint with a local presence to offer enhanced payment experiences to stay ahead of constantly changing payment challenges and opportunities.
ACI, ACI Worldwide, ACI Payments, Inc., ACI Pay, Speedpay, and all ACI product/solution names are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACI Worldwide, Inc., or one of its subsidiaries, in the United States, other countries, or both. Other parties’ trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.
