Braid wins FedNow service certification

Braid has completed the FedNow Service Certification and Readiness Program for service providers, positioning the company to help community banks and credit unions adopt instant payments. The move comes as financial institutions look for ways to speed deployment and keep up with demand for real-time payments.

Why it matters: - The certification gives Braid a formal readiness signal for helping community financial institutions launch instant payment services. - Community banks and credit unions can use that support to offer faster payment experiences and stay competitive as real-time payments grow. - The FedNow Service is built to let participating financial institutions send and receive instant payments around the clock, every day of the year.

What happened: - Braid said June 24, 2026, that it completed the FedNow Service Certification and Readiness Program for service providers. - The certification shows Braid can support financial institutions that want to participate in the FedNow Service. - The announcement was made from Santa Clara, California.

The details: - Braid said the certification validates its ability to help community financial institutions implement and manage instant payment capabilities. - The company said its platform is prepared to support institutions as they evaluate and deploy instant payment services. - Braid said its Sidecar Core runs inside a financial institution’s own environment. - Sidecar Core supports ledger management, payment operations, compliance controls and program oversight. - Braid said the setup does not rely on middleware providers or external processors. - Randy San Nicolas, CEO of Braid, said modern banking infrastructure should be accessible to financial institutions regardless of size or geography. - San Nicolas said Braid aims to give community banks and credit unions the same infrastructure and opportunities available to the largest financial institutions. - San Nicolas said the FedNow certification is another step toward helping customers deliver modern payment capabilities while maintaining ownership, control and oversight of their programs. - Braid provided more information at the company’s website. - Braid Technologies also shared its LinkedIn page at its social media profile.

Between the lines: - The certification points to a broader push by fintech infrastructure providers to make instant payments easier for smaller institutions to adopt. - Braid is positioning its platform around control and in-house program management, which may appeal to banks and credit unions looking to reduce dependence on outside processors.

What's next: - Braid is now positioned to support institutions that want to evaluate, implement and manage FedNow-enabled payment programs. - The company is likely to use the certification as a credibility marker while pursuing community financial institution customers. - Financial institutions interested in instant payments can expect more vendor tools aimed at speeding adoption and deployment.