For years, community institutions have focused on the “send” side of instant payments as the primary revenue driver. It’s fast, visible to accountholders, and easy to quantify: with transaction fees, accountholder acquisition, and competitive positioning all tied directly to sending instant payments.
But here’s the twist: while everyone’s been focused on Send, RTP Receive has quietly emerged as a revenue powerhouse. Many community banks and credit unions are just now realizing they’ve been swimming in opportunity without noticing the water.
Historically, RTP Receive has been viewed as passive – a technical requirement, not a strategic lever. Unlike Send, institutions struggled to model the financial upside. That’s no longer the case.
RTP Receive ROI: Data That Shows Real Deposit Value
With years of RTP transaction data now available, The Clearing House recently introduced a public tool that flips the narrative. The RTP Deposits Value Calculator shows there’s real money in receiving RTP transactions.
The calculator uses actual RTP volumes and values to help financial institutions larger than $1B in assets estimate deposit value based on their asset size, accountholder base, and use cases. (Average annual deposits are based on actual RTP volumes and values and are provided for informational purposes only. Actual RTP transaction volumes, values, and deposits may vary by institution.)
And it’s not just about what you gain, it’s also about what you might be losing if you don’t choose to receive.
You’re Already in the Water: Time to Adopt RTP Receive
Most community institutions have built their payments strategy around cards. It’s familiar, reliable, and deeply embedded in point-of-sale culture. But that’s the problem. We’re so immersed in card rails that we forget there are faster, cheaper, and increasingly preferred ways to move money.
RTP Receive is one of those ways. It’s not just a technical upgrade. It’s a strategic shift that unlocks new revenue, better accountholder experiences, and more efficient operations.
Show Me the ROI: How RTP Receive Generates Revenue
How does RTP Receive generate revenue for banks and credit unions? Let’s count the ways:
- Fee-Based Services for Incoming Payments
Institutions can charge for premium features tied to receiving instant payments – such as instant payroll deposits, insurance disbursements, or treasury services. Businesses value speed and certainty when sending funds, and institutions can monetize the ability to receive those funds instantly.
- Accountholder Retention
Offering instant deposit capabilities helps retain accountholders who might otherwise migrate to fintechs or larger banks. Keeping those relationships intact protects long-term revenue.
- Operational Savings
RTP Receive reduces manual exception handling, batch processing, and reconciliation. Fewer delays and errors mean lower operational costs.
- Liquidity Management
Instant settlement improves cash flow visibility for treasury teams. This benefits internal operations and adds value for business accountholders who rely on timely funds availability.
- Transaction Capture
Institutions not enabled for RTP Receive may miss out on payments altogether. Many senders default to RTP when the receiver is capable. If you’re not live on the network, those transactions may simply bypass you. This isn’t just a missed opportunity – it’s a silent revenue leak.
Estimate Revenue Potential with the RTP Calculator
The RTP Deposits Value Calculator helps quantify the opportunity. It:
- Estimates deposit value based on actual RTP volumes and asset size.
- Highlights risk of accountholder attrition and lost transactions for non-RTP institutions.
- Backed by the RTP Receive Business Case, which outlines profit potential, efficiency gains from RTP vs ACH, and competitive risks.
Institutions with over $1B in assets can request customized modeling – you can plug in your volume, accountholder base, and use cases to see how even modest adoption can drive meaningful revenue. Smaller institutions can access case studies through their third-party service provider. JHA PayCenter™ from Jack Henry™ supports about 450 financial institutions today.
RTP Receive Benefits for Community FIs
RTP Receive isn’t just for top-tier banks with massive IT budgets. Community institutions may see faster ROI because they’re more agile and closer to their accountholders.
The infrastructure is already in place. Many cores can be RTP-enabled. You don’t need a massive overhaul, just a smart strategy.
Ready to Wade In and Activate RTP Receive?
If you’re already live with RTP Receive, congratulations! You’re ahead of the curve. Now it’s time to activate the use cases that turn capability into additional cash flow and perhaps branch into Send.
If you’re still on the sidelines, consider this your wake-up call.
The water is warm. The fish are biting. RTP Receive is no longer just a compliance checkbox. It’s a revenue stream just waiting to be tapped.
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