Dwolla, a U.S.-based leader in account-to-account payments, recently announced a strategic expansion of its instant payment capabilities with the addition of the Federal Reserve’s FedNow Service. Combined with the existing RTP network integration, this enhancement enables multi-rail payment orchestration through a single API, giving businesses greater reach, real-time speed, and operational efficiency.
The upgrade represents a significant leap forward in simplifying real-time payments for enterprises across industries. With FedNow now live on Dwolla’s platform via its banking partner, businesses can seamlessly access both major U.S. instant payment rails. Intelligent orchestration routes each payment through the optimal network based on eligibility and availability, helping finance teams streamline operations and meet rising customer expectations.
Broader Coverage, Faster Transactions
For businesses managing high volumes of payments, speed and coverage are non-negotiable. The addition of FedNow nearly doubles the number of financial institutions that can be reached via instant payments on the Dwolla platform. This is particularly valuable for organizations needing to move funds quickly across a growing and diverse set of counterparties.
Dwolla’s payment orchestration technology automatically determines whether a recipient account supports the RTP network or the FedNow Service. Once eligibility is verified, the system routes the transaction through the most efficient rail, all without additional input from the client.
“Instant payment coverage is key for businesses aiming to optimize cash flow and operational efficiency,” the press release states. “By supporting FedNow transactions, Dwolla nearly doubles the number of financial institutions reachable via instant payment rails, allowing clients to send payments within seconds to a broader network.”
Simplifying Payment Management at Scale
“As businesses face increasing pressure to deliver immediate payments, seamless access to multiple real-time payment networks is critical,” said Dave Glaser, CEO at Dwolla. “By supporting both the FedNow Service and RTP and orchestrating between them, we equip businesses with the tools to simplify payments, enhance cash flow, and improve operational efficiency.”
By reducing the complexity of managing multiple real-time payment networks, Dwolla gives clients a unified solution that supports scaling without added overhead. Instead of integrating separately with RTP and FedNow or maintaining parallel systems, businesses simply connect to Dwolla’s single API to access both networks intelligently.
Why Multi-Rail Orchestration Matters
This upgrade addresses a longstanding challenge in the U.S. real-time payments landscape: fragmentation. While RTP and FedNow are each powerful on their own, they are not universally interoperable. Without orchestration, businesses often need to choose one, maintain dual connections, or risk failed transactions due to rail mismatches.
Dwolla’s platform now offers:
- Broader Coverage: Access to a combined network of financial institutions via RTP and FedNow.
- Redundancy: If one network is down, payments can still move in real time via the other.
- Unified API: Clients manage fewer endpoints, fewer credentials, and less risk.
- Improved Cash Flow: Real-time funds availability boosts liquidity.
- Increased Customer Satisfaction: Faster payments improve the user experience.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Real-time rails support metadata-rich transactions for better reporting and insights.
With 80% of businesses planning to adopt instant payments by 2026, Dwolla’s expanded orchestration arrives at a critical moment. Businesses are increasingly prioritizing payment speed and predictability, not just for internal optimization but to meet growing customer expectations.
Real-World Validation from Industry Leaders
Dwolla’s platform enhancements have earned praise from key voices in the payments industry, including the U.S. Faster Payments Council and the Federal Reserve.
“Dwolla’s access to both the FedNow Service and the RTP network represents a significant step toward realizing the full potential of faster payments in the United States,” said Reed Luhtanen, Executive Director and CEO of the U.S. Faster Payments Council. “By leveraging intelligent routing and multi-rail orchestration, Dwolla is making it easier for businesses to access the benefits of real-time payments — greater speed, transparency, and efficiency. This is the kind of innovation and commitment to interoperability that moves the industry forward and delivers tangible value to end users.”
Mark Gould, chief payments executive for Federal Reserve Financial Services, emphasized the importance of private-sector adoption: “We’re excited to see how organizations like Dwolla are finding efficient and effective ways to leverage the FedNow Service, which was designed to help businesses and consumers access the countless benefits of instant payments,” he said. “By advancing real-time transactions, this type of private-sector adoption plays a vital role in advancing the nation’s payment infrastructure.”
Built for Developers, Trusted by Enterprises
Dwolla’s API-first approach removes much of the technical friction traditionally associated with real-time payment implementation. Businesses can embed FedNow and RTP capabilities directly into their applications and workflows, without the need to overhaul internal systems or deal with complex network configurations.
The platform’s orchestration engine automates eligibility checks and intelligently selects the optimal rail, saving teams from manual processing and errors. It also provides visibility into transaction status and metadata in real time, supporting better reconciliation and forecasting.
From lending platforms to digital marketplaces to insurance providers, companies across sectors are leveraging Dwolla’s orchestration layer to process high volumes of payments efficiently and securely.
Looking Ahead: Transforming the Future of Payments
As real-time payments become table stakes, businesses need solutions that reduce complexity, improve speed, and provide reliable access to funds. Dwolla’s orchestration of FedNow and RTP empowers companies to meet that demand with confidence.
“Instant payments are fundamentally changing the way money moves — and businesses that harness these technologies early will have a competitive edge,” said Dave Glaser. “Our mission is to remove the technical and operational barriers so that every business, regardless of size, can realize the benefits of faster, smarter payments.”
This update strengthens Dwolla’s position as a modern infrastructure provider that helps businesses scale payment operations securely and intelligently. With hundreds of SMBs and Fortune 500 clients moving over $50 billion through its platform each year, Dwolla continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in business payments.
To learn how Dwolla’s FedNow Service and RTP capabilities can streamline payment operations and enhance cash flow, visit Dwolla’s website.
Spencer Hulse is the Editorial Director at Grit Daily. He is responsible for overseeing other editors and writers, day-to-day operations, and covering breaking news.
