Unlocking Instant Inbound Payments: Cross River Launches Request for Payment Solution

Overcoming Traditional Payment Delays with Real-Time Authorization

From a Press Release dated June 9, 2025, Fort Lee, NJ

Cross River Bank has launched its Request for Payment (RfP) solution, a new feature designed to enable secure, real-time inbound payments via the RTP® (Real-Time Payments) network. This innovation addresses a longstanding imbalance in money movement: while outbound payments have become nearly instantaneous, incoming payments have typically relied on slower methods like ACH and wire transfers, which are limited by batch processing and banking hours.

(Photo by Çağlar Oskay on Unsplash)

With RfP, businesses can send digital payment requests that allow payers to authorize and send funds instantly, giving recipients immediate access to funds, improving cash flow, and reducing operational friction from delayed deposits. This push-payment model also enhances security and transparency, as each transaction requires explicit payer authorization and provides real-time visibility into payment status.

Plaid is the first partner to implement this feature, enabling instant pay-ins for its Plaid Transfer platform. For example, Carvana customers can now complete vehicle purchases instantly, bypassing the delays of traditional bank transfers.

“Instant payment rails unlock huge value for businesses and end customers by reducing friction, accelerating funding, and boosting conversion. Through our partnership with Cross River, Plaid Transfer now offers instant pay-ins, instant payouts, and Same Day ACH, as part of a full solution with best-in-class account linking and optimized conversion, so customers can tailor bank payments across their business.” — Brian Dammeir, Global Head of Payments and Financial Management at Plaid

Built on Cross River’s API-based banking infrastructure, the RfP solution supports always-on processing (including weekends and holidays), instant settlement, and full payment transparency. It is currently available only through the RTP® network, not FedNow®, and each merchant must be individually approved to use the feature.

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