Payments News Desk: August 2026 Edition
August payments news: BNPL flexibility, same-day ACH growth, Gen Z digital wallets, AI-powered shopping, and increased chargebacks.
Introduction
Welcome to the latest edition of Payments News Desk, TRX Services' monthly series highlighting the news, research, and developments shaping the payments industry. Each month, we examine stories that offer insight into how payment preferences, technologies, and industry trends are evolving.
This month, our stories cover growing demand for flexibility in buy now, pay later plans, the continued expansion of same-day ACH, increased digital wallet use among Gen Z consumers, the opportunities and challenges of AI-powered shopping, and the growing volume of chargeback requests worldwide.
1. BNPL Users Want More Flexibility
New PYMNTS Intelligence research shows that many buy now, pay later (BNPL) users want more flexibility in how long they have to repay purchases — and many are willing to pay interest for that flexibility.
The study found that two-thirds of U.S. BNPL users would be willing to pay interest in exchange for a longer repayment schedule. That willingness increases significantly for larger purchases. For purchases between $500 and $999, 79% of BNPL users said they would be willing to pay interest for more time, while 76% said the same for purchases of $1,000 or more.
Interest in longer repayment periods also varies among consumers. Millennials were the most willing among the generations surveyed to pay interest for longer-term BNPL plans, at 75%, followed by Gen X at 66%, Gen Z at 52%, and baby boomers and seniors at 35%.
The research also found that consumers want greater control over their repayment schedules. Nearly nine in 10 BNPL users, or 88%, want the ability to choose how many payments they make. Nearly half of BNPL users already use a repayment plan that extends beyond the traditional Pay in 4 model.
The findings point to growing consumer demand for choice in how BNPL purchases are financed, particularly as purchase amounts increase.
2. Same-Day ACH Continues to Gain Momentum
Same-day ACH payments experienced significant growth during the second quarter of 2026, according to data from Nacha reported by Payments Dive.
Same-day ACH transactions increased 29.5% year over year to 435.7 million payments, while the value of those payments grew 28.1% to $1.3 trillion. Overall, ACH Network transactions increased 6.2% to 9.3 billion during the quarter, with total payment value rising 11.1% to $25.9 trillion.
Business-to-business payments were also a significant part of the growth. B2B ACH transactions increased 9.9% to 2.2 billion during the second quarter. Nacha attributed the increase to continued demand for faster payment capabilities for time-sensitive transactions such as B2B payments, payroll, account transfers, insurance claims, and tax payments.
3. Digital Wallets Gain Ground Among Gen Z Consumers
New PYMNTS Intelligence research finds that digital wallets are playing an increasingly important role in how consumers make retail purchases, particularly among younger consumers.
According to the research, 36% of Gen Z consumers used a digital wallet for their most recent retail purchase in November 2025, an increase of 21 percentage points from March 2024. Across all consumers, digital wallet use for the most recent retail purchase reached 15%, up five percentage points over the same period.
The research also examined the relationship between financial pressure and digital wallet use. Consumers experiencing high financial stress used a digital wallet for 28% of their most recent retail purchases, compared with 11% among consumers experiencing low financial stress. For grocery purchases, wallet use was 21% among high-stress consumers versus 8% among low-stress consumers.
The report notes that access to buy now, pay later plans and real-time spending information could help explain the differences in digital wallet usage among consumers experiencing different levels of financial pressure.
Overall, the findings show that digital wallets are gaining adoption, with particularly strong growth among Gen Z consumers.
4. Consumers Are Interested in AI for Shopping, but Trust Has Limits
A new report from RTB House finds that consumers are increasingly using artificial intelligence for product discovery, but many are not yet ready to allow AI to complete purchases without safeguards.
The report, which surveyed 1,840 consumers in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Japan, found that 59% of U.S. consumers say AI helps them discover brands they were previously unaware of. However, AI can also lengthen the purchasing decision process, with 42% of U.S. consumers saying AI increases the amount of time they need to make a final purchase decision.
When it comes to allowing an AI agent to make purchases, consumers remain cautious – 35% of consumers globally said they would want human approval before an AI completes a purchase. Among U.S. consumers, younger generations were more willing than older consumers to trust an AI agent to make a purchase of up to $250 when a seven-day return window was available. That included 42% of Millennials and 35% of Gen Z, compared with 29% of Gen X and 22% of Baby Boomers.
The article also notes that payment companies recognize the importance of security as AI becomes more involved in purchasing. A separate survey found that 66% of U.S. respondents want agentic commerce to have security levels equal to or better than existing payment methods.
5. Chargeback Requests Expected to Reach 616 Million by 2031
New findings from Juniper Research project that the number of chargeback requests made by cardholders will reach 616 million globally by 2031, representing growth of more than 50%.
According to the research, the increase is being driven by greater consumer awareness of chargebacks through social media, as well as rising cases of deliberate friendly fraud.
The growing volume of chargebacks is also increasing demand for automated chargeback management solutions. Juniper Research reports that automated solutions are scaling because of the high costs associated with manually handling chargebacks, including the time employees spend deciding whether to contest a chargeback, gathering evidence, and preparing representment.
The research highlights automated decision-making rules, automatic collection of proof of legitimate purchases, and automated templates as ways that merchants can reduce the amount of manual work associated with chargebacks. However, Juniper Research recommends pairing automation with human oversight to balance efficiency with the quality of chargeback responses.
Conclusion
The August payments landscape highlights a continued focus on flexibility, speed, digital adoption, and payment risk. BNPL users are looking for more control over repayment terms, while same-day ACH continues to grow as businesses and other organizations seek faster movement of funds. Digital wallets are gaining momentum among Gen Z, while consumers remain cautious about allowing AI to fully take over the purchasing process.
At the same time, the projected increase in chargeback requests underscores the growing importance of managing payment disputes efficiently as transaction volumes and fraud-related challenges continue to evolve.
Stay tuned for next month's edition of Payments News Desk, where we'll continue tracking the latest developments shaping the payments industry.
