RTP® and FedNow® Free Instant Payments for Merchants
To help businesses capture their full revenue through instant RTP® and FedNow® payments using legal surcharging methods that eliminate processing costs, delays, and chargebacks.
TodayPayments.com empowers merchants with modern payment solutions that deliver full payment value instantly. Our RTP® and FedNow® surcharging services shift fees to the payer, giving businesses cash flow without compromise, fully compliant and fully optimized.
What is Instant Payment Surcharging via RTP® and FedNow®?
Full-Fund Instant Payments for Modern Merchants
In today’s fast-moving digital economy, merchants shouldn’t have to wait days to get paid—or give up a portion of their revenue to processing fees. With RTP® and FedNow® Instant Payments, businesses can now accept instant, irrevocable, “Good Funds” and receive 100% of the payment amount without delay.
By implementing legal surcharging where the payer covers the transaction fee, businesses can eliminate losses while gaining real-time access to cash flow across POS, MOTO, Auto-Bill Pay, and Invoicing environments. Better yet, this approach is compliant across federal and most state regulations and offers a powerful alternative to outdated cash discounting models.
RTP® (Real-Time Payments) and FedNow® allow merchants to receive instant, irrevocable payments directly into their business bank account—anytime, day or night. By applying a processing fee surcharge to the customer, the merchant receives 100% of the payment, avoiding traditional processing fees.
This payer-funded model works across A2A (Account-to-Account) credit and debit transfers and supports B2B, B2C, and C2B payments with ISO 20022 messaging compliance. It outperforms cash discounting with greater flexibility, transparency, and compatibility with modern banking rails.
Itemized Parameters, Attributes, Benefits, and Features
Core Parameters of RTP® and FedNow® Instant Payments
- Payment Rails: RTP® and FedNow® Real-Time Networks
- Settlement Speed: Instant (seconds) with 24/7/365 availability
- Transaction Types: B2B, C2B, B2C (A2A Credit/Debit)
- Surcharge Model: Payer covers processing fee
- Merchant Net Revenue: 100% of the original amount
- Legal Compliance: Federally permitted, state-compliant
- Use Cases: POS, MOTO, Subscription Billing, Invoicing, Auto-Bill Pay
- Data Format: ISO 20022 enriched messaging for RfP and remittance
Key Attributes of Real-Time Surcharge Payment Models
- Irrevocable Good Funds – Payments are final with no chargebacks or reversals.
- Always-On Payments – Accept payments instantly—even after hours, on weekends, and holidays.
- Multi-Platform Integration – Compatible with accounting tools like QuickBooks®, CRMs, and ERP systems.
- Transparent to Payer – Surcharge clearly shown at checkout, just like with card surcharges.
- Regulatory Alignment – Approved by Federal Reserve guidelines and state-by-state surcharging laws.
- Better than Cash Discounting – No pricing manipulation, simpler accounting, full digital compliance.
Benefits and Use Cases
- Enable RTP® and FedNow® Free Instant Payments by shifting the payment fee to the customer through a compliant surcharge model.
- Get paid in seconds with irrevocable, Good Funds using A2A real-time payments across B2B and C2B channels.
- Replace risky cash discounting programs with legally compliant surcharging that lets merchants receive 100% of the sale.
- Use ISO 20022 messaging to send rich RTP® and FedNow® payment data for real-time reconciliation and reporting.
- Integrate Instant Payments with POS, MOTO, and online invoicing systems for seamless 24/7/365 business operations.
- Never deal with chargebacks or non-authorized returns again—every payment is final and immediate.
- Offer your customers real-time payment options with full fee transparency and legal compliance.
Why Surcharging Beats Cash Discounting for Instant Payments?
Unlike cash discounting, which artificially inflates list prices and confuses accounting, real-time surcharging is simple, transparent, and bank-approved. The payer sees the fee at checkout and agrees to it—giving your business the ability to receive full value in real time, without financial compromise.
FedNow is a real-time payment service developed by the Federal Reserve, aimed at enabling instant payment and settlement for businesses and individuals in the United States. This service can provide a significant advantage for companies looking to enhance their payment processes. By integrating FedNow with strategies like surcharge and cash discounting, businesses can further streamline their financial operations.
Understanding FedNow
FedNow allows for instant payment processing, operating 24/7, 365 days a year. This service provides immediate access to funds, which can be crucial for cash flow management. It aims to support various use cases, from business-to-business (B2B) payments to customer-to-business (C2B) transactions, facilitating quicker and more efficient financial operations.
Surcharge and Cash Discounting
Surcharge and cash discounting are two different pricing strategies used by businesses to manage payment processing costs.
- Surcharge: This involves adding a fee to the total cost when a customer chooses to pay with a credit card. The goal is to offset the processing fees charged by credit card companies.
- Cash Discounting: This strategy provides a discount to customers who pay with cash or equivalent methods, such as direct bank transfers. The discount incentivizes customers to choose payment methods that have lower processing costs for the business.
Implementing Surcharge and Cash Discounting with FedNow
Businesses can leverage FedNow to provide free or discounted instant payments by integrating these strategies:
- Encouraging FedNow Payments through Discounts:
- Promote Instant Payments: Offer discounts to customers who opt to pay using FedNow. Since FedNow transactions are instant and carry lower processing costs compared to credit card payments, this can be a compelling incentive.
- Cash Discounting: Frame the FedNow payment method as part of your cash discount program, emphasizing the savings customers receive by avoiding credit card fees.
- Implementing Surcharges for Credit Card Payments:
- Transparent Surcharging: Clearly communicate to customers that credit card payments will incur an additional surcharge to cover the processing fees. This transparency can encourage customers to switch to FedNow payments to avoid extra costs.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that your surcharging practices comply with state and federal regulations. Some states have specific rules about surcharges, so it's essential to stay informed and compliant.
Benefits for Businesses
- Cost Savings: Reduce or eliminate credit card processing fees by encouraging FedNow payments through cash discounts.
- Improved Cash Flow: Instant access to funds through FedNow can improve liquidity and financial planning.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: Offering immediate payment options and transparent pricing strategies can enhance customer satisfaction.
Practical Steps for Integration
- Setup with Financial Institution: Work with your bank to set up FedNow for your business. Ensure that your payment systems are compatible and that staff are trained on the new processes.
- Update POS Systems: Make sure your point-of-sale (POS) systems can handle instant payments via FedNow and apply discounts or surcharges appropriately.
- Customer Communication: Clearly communicate the benefits of using FedNow to your customers, including any discounts they can receive. Use signage, receipts, and digital communication to keep customers informed.
- Monitor and Adjust: Regularly review the effectiveness of your surcharging and cash discounting strategies. Be prepared to make adjustments based on customer feedback and changing regulations.
Example Scenario
A retail store can offer a 2% discount for customers who pay using FedNow instead of a credit card. This discount offsets the typical 2-3% credit card processing fee the business would incur. At the same time, the store can add a 2% surcharge on credit card payments, encouraging more customers to use FedNow for the cost benefits.
Conclusion
Integrating FedNow with surcharge and cash discounting strategies offers a powerful way for businesses to optimize payment processing costs and enhance financial operations. By promoting instant payments through FedNow and managing the costs associated with credit card payments, businesses can improve their cash flow and provide better service to their customers.
Why wait to get paid—or lose part of your revenue to fees?
At TodayPayments.com, we help merchants activate RTP® and FedNow® Free Instant Payments with compliant surcharging—so you always receive 100% of your revenue, instantly and securely.
✅ No delays
✅ No
chargebacks
✅ No lost revenue
✅ No
regulatory guesswork
👉 Visit TodayPayments.com and start offering Free Instant Payments to your customers—powered by RTP®, FedNow®, and your business’s future.
Features & Benefits
FedNow instant payments has benefits for all parties involved in
Financial Transactions.
Benefits to your company include:
Money Transfer: Current limit of $1,000,000+ ~ FedNow, $10,000,000+ ~ RTP.
It's Final: All RTP and Instant Payments are Final & Irrevocable.
It's Fast: 24/7/365 access to funds anytime vs.
several days for paper checks or ACH transfers to process.
Request for Payments ( RfP ™): Mobile & Online Real-Time Bill Payments.
Software Integration: Integrate your A/R & A/P Management
or Enterprise software with us.
Message Detail: Full 145 characters available
using ISO 20022 messaging XML format.
Online Down Payments: Don't use inconvenient
and expensive Wires & Cashier's Checks.
Online Real-Time Reporting: Configured
Dashboard with Virtual Terminal login.
Reduced calls / emails in the "Purchasing Chain": All
parties to a instant payment transaction receive immediately
text & email messaging.
The
FedNow and RTP Systems enables Participants to initiate credit transfers,
receive final and irrevocable settlement for credit transfers,
and make available to Receivers funds associated with such
credit transfers in real-time, twenty-four (24) hours a day,
seven (7) days a week, fifty-two (52) weeks a year. All instant payments are "Credit
Push" instead of "Debit Pull."
Creation Request for Payment Bank File
Call us, the .csv and or .xml FedNow or Request for Payment (RfP) file you need while on your 1st phone call! Our system will Validate your upload data payment files. We guarantee our reports work to your Bank and Credit Union. We were years ahead of competitors recognizing the benefits of RequestForPayment.com. We are not a Bank. Our function as a role as an "Accounting System" in Open Banking with Real-Time Payments to work with Billers to create the Request for Payment to upload the Biller's Bank online platform. U.S. Companies need help to learn the RfP message delivering their bank. Today Payments' ISO 20022 Payment Initiation (PAIN .013) shows how to implement Create Real-Time Payments Request for Payment File up front delivering a message from the Creditor (Payee) to it's bank. Most banks (FIs) will deliver the message Import and Batch files for their company depositors for both FedNow and Real-Time Payments (RtP). Once uploaded correctly, the Creditor's (Payee's) bank continues through a "Payment Hub", will be the RtP Hub will be The Clearing House, with messaging to the Debtor's (Payer's) bank.
... easily create Real-Time Payments RfP files. No risk. Test with your bank and delete "test" files before APPROVAL on your Bank's Online Payments Platform.
Today Payments is a leader in the evolution of immediate payments. We were years ahead of competitors recognizing the benefits of Same-Day ACH
and Real-Time Payments funding. Our business clients receive faster
availability of funds on deposited items and instant notification of
items presented for deposit all based on real-time activity.
Dedicated to providing superior customer service and
industry-leading technology.
1) Free ISO 20022 Request for Payment File Formats, for FedNow and Real-Time Payments (The Clearing House) .pdf for you manually create "Mandatory" (Mandatory .csv or .xml data for completed ISO 20022 file) fields, start at page 4, with "yellow" highlighting. $0.0 + No Support
2) We create .csv or .xml formatting files using your Bank or Credit Union. Using your invoice information database to create an existing Accounts Receivable file, we CLEAN, FORMAT to FEDNOW or Real-Time Payments into CSV or XML. Create Multiple Templates. You can upload or "key data" into our software for File Creation of "Mandatory" general file. Use either the Routing Number and Account Number for your Customers or use "Alias" name via Mobile Cell Phone and / or Email address.
Fees = $57 monthly, including Activation, Support Fees and Batch Fee, Monthly Fee, User Fee. We add your URI for each separate Payer transaction for additional Payment Methods on "Hosted Payment Page" (Request for file with an HTML link per transaction to "Hosted Payment Page" with ancillary payment methods of FedNow, RTP, ACH, Cards and many more!) + $.03 per Transaction + 1% percentage on gross dollar file,
3) Add integrating QuickBooks Online "QBO" using FedNow Real-time Payment using our Free Instant Payments system.
Fees Above 2) plus $29 monthly additional QuickBooks Online "QBO" formatting, and "Hosted Payment Page" and WYSIWYG
4) Above 3) plus Create "Total" (over 600 Mandatory, Conditional & Optional fields of all ISO 20022 Pain .013) Price on quote.
Each day, thousands of businesses around the country are turning their transactions into profit with real-time payment solutions like ours.
Contact Us for Real-time Payments processing
