Total Economic Impact
Cost Savings And Business Benefits Enabled By Visa Direct
A FORRESTER TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY COMMISSIONED BY Visa Direct, FEBRUARY 2026
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Total Economic Impact The Total Economic Impact™ Of Visa DirectA FORRESTER TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY COMMISSIONED BY Visa Direct, FEBRUARY 2026 Cost Savings And Business Benefits Enabled By Visa Direct
Executive SummaryConsumers today are accustomed to instant experiences — sending emails in seconds, receiving SMS instantly, and shopping online with just a few clicks. Yet when it comes to moving money, especially across borders, traditional systems often operate like the postal service in the digital age: slow, fragmented, and far from seamless. Globalization has transformed how we live and shop, but transferring funds remains stuck in the past in some markets, unable to match the speed and simplicity of modern consumer payments like contactless payments or one-click checkouts. In today’s world of convenience and immediacy, customer expectations of financial transactions have transformed rapidly, fueling demand for convenient and instant banking solutions and widespread adoption of digital native fintechs. Retail banks face mounting pressure to modernize amid competitive threats from fintechs and complex regulatory demands. Visa Direct enables a variety of organizations, including financial institutions, payment providers, and businesses, to send and receive funds fast or in real-time1 for various use cases, including cross-border remittances, domestic person-to-person (P2P) and account-to-account (A2A) transfers using push (Original Credit Transaction [OCT]) and pull (Account Funding Transaction [AFT]) transaction mechanisms.2 Visa Direct commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct a Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study and examine the potential return on investment (ROI) enterprises may realize by deploying Visa Direct. This study explores how collaborating with Visa Direct to offer real-time payment capabilities enables banks to improve customer experience and unlock revenue opportunities and operational efficiencies. The purpose of this study is to provide readers with a framework to evaluate the potential financial impact of Visa Direct on their own organizations. Forrester interviewed eight decision-makers and surveyed 409 decision-makers at retail banks across Asia Pacific (APAC); Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), Europe, and North America to uncover trends shaping the money movement solutions that these banks offer consumers. Further, to better understand the benefits, costs, and risks associated with the implementation of Visa Direct, Forrester interviewed four decision-makers across three organizations with experience using Visa Direct. For the purposes of this study, Forrester aggregated the experiences of the interviewees and combined the results into a single composite organization, a regional retail bank that processes 80 million domestic transfers and 3 million remittances per year for consumers. Interviewees said that prior to using Visa Direct, their organizations faced limitations in P2P payments: Domestic real-time transfers had limited reach, while cross-border remittances relied on correspondent banking. After the investment in Visa Direct, the interviewees increased transfer volumes, improved customer retention and loyalty, and realized cost savings from smoother transfer experiences and reduced correspondent banking use for international payments. Key FindingsQuantified benefits. Three-year, risk-adjusted present value (PV) quantified benefits for the composite organization include:
Unquantified benefits. Benefits that provide value for the composite organization but are not quantified for this study include:
Costs. Three-year, risk-adjusted PV costs for the composite organization include:
The financial analysis that is based on the interviews found that a composite organization experiences benefits of $6.5 million over three years versus costs of $3.2 million, adding up to a net present value (NPV) of $3.3 million and an ROI of 103%. Key Statistics103%Return on investment (ROI) $6.5MBenefits PV $3.3MNet present value (NPV) 9 monthsPayback Benefits (Three-Year)[CHART DIV CONTAINER]
Increased transfer volumes
Improved customer loyalty
Improved customer experience
Reduced reliance on correspondent banking
Market OverviewThe money movement landscape is undergoing rapid transformation as neobanks and fintechs continue to evolve, disrupting the space. As customer expectations rise, traditional retail banks are facing increasing pressure to innovate and improve their offerings to stay competitive. In response, they are developing proprietary solutions in-house while also forging strategic partnerships with external providers to accelerate transformation and deliver greater value. To explore this opportunity, Visa Direct commissioned Forrester to conduct a comprehensive study involving 409 survey participants and eight in-depth interviews. Respondents were senior decision-makers holding director or above positions across technology, product, strategy, treasury, and risk and compliance at retail banks across North America, APAC, CEMEA, and Europe, representing institutions with assets exceeding $5 billion. See Appendix B for research demographics. Delivering Smoother, Cost-Efficient Experiences Drives Payment Innovations Retail banks are seeing notable increases in money movement volumes: 64% of decision-makers reported growth of 6% or more in cross-border remittances and 59% noted similar growth in domestic P2P transfers over the past year. Enhancing customer experience has emerged as the top strategic priority. More than half of respondents (56%) identified it as the primary objective shaping their payments product strategy, surpassing other goals such as revenue growth (10%) and competitive differentiation (3%). 56%Respondents who say improving customer experience is the top driver of their payments product strategy Two in five retail banks are actively modernizing their payments infrastructure to stay competitive (44%) and meet rising customer expectations (42%). However, gaps remain in delivering cost-efficient, fast, and transparent payment experiences (see Figure 1):
Figure 1Top Five Unmet Customer Needs In Banks’ P2P Payment Capabilities[CHART DIV CONTAINER]
Lower cost for cross-border remittances
Better transparency of payments status
Faster cross-border remittances
Enhanced security and fraud protection
Lower cost for domestic transfers
Base: 409 money movement decision-makers at retail banks across North America, APAC, CEMEA, and Europe Costs, Legacy Systems, And Regulatory Hurdles Slow Progress Of Real-Time Money Movement Respondents from retail banks acknowledged that their current plans are insufficient to keep pace with modern competitors, evolving regulations, and the growing demand for real-time payments. In particular, 39% admitted their organizations are minimally prepared for customers shifting to neobanks and fintech, and a further 24% said they are only moderated prepared. Respondents from retail banks working to modernize their payment capabilities face significant operational and strategic obstacles. Whether building in-house or partnering with external providers, institutions must contend with legacy infrastructure, regulatory complexity, and rising customer expectations. These challenges are especially daunting for banks developing real-time payment capabilities internally, where technical and resource constraints slow progress and increase risk (see Figure 2). Key obstacles include:
Figure 2“Which of the following barriers hinders your bank’s ability to improve its payment solutions?”[CHART DIV CONTAINER]
High cost of cross-border payments due to multiple intermediareies
Heightened requirement to detect and prevent fraud
Complexity of meeting multijurisdictional AML/CFT requirements in real time
Incompatibility of legacy systems and real-time payments processing
Limited transparency afforded by correspondent banking
Complex liquidity management for real-time cross-border remittances
Lack of interoperability between domestic real-time payments systems and cross-border systems
Slow adoption of global payments standards among coutnerparts
Base: 409 money movement decision-makers at retail banks across North America, APAC, CEMEA, and Europe Additional pricing, technical expertise, and security hurdles challenge those implementing real-time payment solutions. More than three in five respondents identified pricing considerations as a major barrier (63%), closely followed by a lack of technical expertise (62%), and meeting stringent security requirements (56%). These challenges create tangible business impact, with customer churn (61%), dissatisfaction (59%), and cost inefficiency (58%) ranking among the most significant consequences of payment-related issues (see Figure 3). Figure 3“What impacts do payment-related challenges have on your bank?”[CHART DIV CONTAINER]
Increased customer churn
Decreased customer satisfaction
Inability to reduce operational costs
High cost of maintaining correspondent banking connections
Time to market of payments innovations
Decline in transaction reveneues
Loss of market share
Base: 409 money movement decision-makers at retail banks across North America, APAC, CEMEA, and Europe Investments In Real-Time Payment Capabilities Are Growing Retail banks are expanding their payment ecosystems and partnerships, launching new payment capabilities. Survey revealed that banks have built strong foundations in P2P, A2A, and cross-border remittances. Looking ahead, they will be growing investments in card-based and loyalty payout solutions (see Figure 4). Strategic priorities for the next 12 months reflect a clear shift toward ecosystem integration, customer experience enhancement, and innovation through partnerships and proprietary development:
Figure 4“What are your organization’s plans to invest in the following payment capabilities?”[CHART DIV CONTAINER]
Cross-border P2p transfers (remittances)
Cross-border B2B payments
Domestic P2P transfers
A2A transfers
Credit card bill pay using card credentials
Digital wallet funding/withdrawl using card credentials
Account funding/withdrawl using card credentials
Loyalty reward payouts
Alerady investing and expanding investment
Already investing
Plans to invest within the next 12 months
Interested but no immediate plans to invest within the next 12 months
Base: 409 money movement decision-makers at retail banks across North America, APAC, CEMEA, and Europe A seamless payment experience combining speed and simplicity will be a differentiator. Respondents said they believe that faster transfers are strategic drivers of revenue growth (see Figure 5), strengthening their ability to acquire new customers (59%), improve customer satisfaction (51%), and enhance relationships (40%). When selecting a payments partner, the largest share of respondents (37%) ranked the ability to facilitate instant payments as the most valued attribute — outweighing security and fraud protection (24%) and cost efficiency (14%). This underscores the growing importance of real-time capabilities in shaping the next generation of money movement. Figure 5“What outcomes do you expect, or have you experienced, with the adoption of fast domestic and/or cross-border transfers capabilities?”[CHART DIV CONTAINER]
Increased customer acquisition
Better customer satisfaction
Increased transaction fees
Reduced transaction fees
Expanded customer relationships
Reduced transaction cost for the bank
Enhanced reputation as an innovative bank
Improved ease of compliance
Reduced risk of fraud
Improved differentiation
Base: 409 money movement decision-makers at retail banks across North America, APAC, CEMEA, and Europe The Visa Direct Customer JourneyDrivers leading to the Visa Direct investmentInterviews
Key ChallengesBefore implementing Visa Direct, interviewees relied on traditional transfer methods such as automated clearinghouse (ACH), which may have limited real-time reach for domestic P2P transfers. They also operated through correspondent banks for remittances. These solutions were costly, slow, and lacked transparency, creating friction for customers who often faced delays and uncertainty about the status of their transactions. Organizations struggled to deliver seamless experiences and had limited visibility into payment flows. Additionally, managing multiple correspondent banking relationships demanded significant time and effort, adding operational complexity. Interviewees noted how their organizations struggled with common challenges that led to poor customer experiences, including:
Investment ObjectivesThe interviewees searched for a solution that could:
Composite OrganizationBased on the interviews, Forrester constructed a TEI framework, a composite company, and an ROI analysis that illustrates the areas financially affected. The composite organization is representative of the interviewees’ organizations, and it is used to present the aggregate financial analysis in the next section. The composite organization has the following characteristics:
KEY ASSUMPTIONS
Analysis Of BenefitsQuantified benefit data as applied to the compositeTotal Benefits
Increased Transfer VolumesEvidence and data. Banks were able to improve the transfer experience with Visa Direct, offering customers faster, more transparent, and more convenient remittances and broadening reach for domestic P2P transfers. Across interviewees, common themes emerged: Visa Direct enabled speed and convenience and expanded access to new endpoints and corridors. These capabilities drove higher transfer volumes in domestic and cross-border contexts. For remittances, interviewees’ organizations reported strong adoption and transaction growth after implementing Visa Direct.
For domestic P2P transfers, one interviewee’s bank leveraged Visa Direct to extend instant transfers beyond cards issued by the bank, allowing customers to send money to any debit card in the country.
Modeling and assumptions. Based on the interviews, Forrester assumes the following about the composite organization: For remittances:
For domestic P2P transfers:
Risks. The value of the benefit varies depending on the following factors:
Results. To account for these risks, Forrester adjusted this benefit downward by 20%, yielding a three-year, risk-adjusted total PV (discounted at 10%) of $750,000. Increased Transfer Volumes
Improved Customer LoyaltyEvidence and data. Visa Direct enabled banks to retain customers and strengthen loyalty by transforming the transfer experience. Interviewees consistently highlighted how Visa Direct enabled faster, more transparent, and more convenient transfers that customers valued.
Modeling and assumptions. Based on the interviews, Forrester assumes the following about the composite organization:
Risks. The value of the benefit varies depending on the following factors:
Results. To account for these risks, Forrester adjusted this benefit downward by 20%, yielding a three-year, risk-adjusted total PV (discounted at 10%) of $2.0 million. Improved Customer Loyalty
Improved Customer ExperienceEvidence and data. Interviewees shared that Visa Direct contributed to fewer customer queries and complaints. By enabling real-time or near-real-time transfers and improving ease of tracing payment status, it minimized uncertainty for customers and reduced the need to reach out to their banks with queries.
Modeling and assumptions. Based on the interviews, Forrester assumes the following about the composite organization:
Risks. The value of this benefit varies depending on:
Results. To account for these risks, Forrester adjusted this benefit downward by 10%, yielding a three-year, risk-adjusted total PV (discounted at 10%) of $1.6 million. Improved Customer Experience
Reduced Reliance On Correspondent BankingEvidence and data. Interviewees said that Visa Direct simplified cross-border payment operations as their banks shifted away from processed remittances via correspondent banking. Their organizations reduced operational overhead and avoided costs associated with maintaining correspondent relationships and processing through SWIFT. Additionally, they freed up liquidity that would otherwise be tied up in nostro account deposits.
Modeling and assumptions. Based on the interviews, Forrester assumes the following about the composite organization:
Risks. The value of this benefit varies depending on:
Results. To account for these risks, Forrester adjusted this benefit downward by 20%, yielding a three-year, risk-adjusted total PV (discounted at 10%) of $2.2 million. Reduced Reliance On Correspondent Banking
Unquantified BenefitsInterviewees mentioned the following additional benefits that their organizations experienced but were not able to quantify:
FlexibilityThe value of flexibility is unique to each customer. There are multiple scenarios in which a customer might implement Visa Direct and later realize additional uses and business opportunities, including:
Flexibility would also be quantified when evaluated as part of a specific project (described in more detail in Total Economic Impact Approach). Analysis Of CostsQuantified cost data as applied to the compositeTotal Costs
Visa Direct Transaction FeesEvidence and data. Visa Direct transaction fees depend on the transaction type and amount, whether it requires currency conversion, and the transfer location. Modeling and assumptions. To quantify this cost, Forrester assumes the following about the composite organization:
Risks. The impact of this cost may vary by organization depending on:
Results. To account for these risks, Forrester adjusted this cost upward by 5%, yielding a three-year, risk-adjusted total PV (discounted at 10%) of $1.7 million. Visa Direct Transaction Fees
Implementation, Expansion, And Ongoing Management CostsEvidence and data. The interviewees shared that initial implementation required significant internal effort and support from Visa Direct or third-party providers. Integration involved multiple teams and lasted approximately one year. Organizations also reported progressive expansion into new markets and ongoing management activities for operational monitoring, maintenance, and customer support.
Modeling and assumptions. To quantify this cost, Forrester assumes the following about the composite organization:
Risks. The impact of this cost may vary by organization depending on:
Results. To account for these risks, Forrester adjusted this cost upward by 10%, yielding a three-year, risk-adjusted total PV (discounted at 10%) of $997,000. Implementation, Expansion, And Ongoing Management Costs
Incremental Marketing Program CostsEvidence and data. Interviewees mentioned that Visa Direct adoption required dedicated marketing efforts to drive customer awareness and engagement. The MD, regional consumer bank at a retail bank in Singapore said, “Of course, the company has to work on the marketing front in order to ensure that we are able to acquire more customers.” Modeling and assumptions. To quantify this cost, Forrester assumes that the composite organization allocates 5% of incremental revenue generated from benefits A, B, and C. Risks. The impact of this cost may vary by organization depending on:
Results. To account for these risks, Forrester adjusted this cost upward by 10%, yielding a three-year, risk-adjusted total PV (discounted at 10%) of $475,000. Incremental Marketing Program Costs
Financial SummaryConsolidated Three-Year, Risk-Adjusted MetricsCash Flow Chart (Risk-Adjusted)[CHART DIV CONTAINER]
Total costs
Total benefits
Cumulative net benefits
Initial
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Cash Flow Analysis (Risk-Adjusted)
Please NoteThe financial results calculated in the Benefits and Costs sections can be used to determine the ROI, NPV, and payback period for the composite organization’s investment. Forrester assumes a yearly discount rate of 10% for this analysis. These risk-adjusted ROI, NPV, and payback period values are determined by applying risk-adjustment factors to the unadjusted results in each Benefit and Cost section. The initial investment column contains costs incurred at “time 0” or at the beginning of Year 1 that are not discounted. All other cash flows are discounted using the discount rate at the end of the year. PV calculations are calculated for each total cost and benefit estimate. NPV calculations in the summary tables are the sum of the initial investment and the discounted cash flows in each year. Sums and present value calculations of the Total Benefits, Total Costs, and Cash Flow tables may not exactly add up, as some rounding may occur. From the information provided in the interviews, Forrester constructed a Total Economic Impact™ framework for those organizations considering an investment in Visa Direct. The objective of the framework is to identify the cost, benefit, flexibility, and risk factors that affect the investment decision. Forrester took a multistep approach to evaluate the impact that Visa Direct can have on an organization. Due DiligenceInterviewed Visa Direct stakeholders and Forrester analysts to gather data relative to Visa Direct. InterviewsInterviewed four decision-makers at three organizations using Visa Direct to obtain data about costs, benefits, and risks. Composite OrganizationDesigned a composite organization based on characteristics of the interviewees’ organizations. Financial Model FrameworkConstructed a financial model representative of the interviews using the TEI methodology and risk-adjusted the financial model based on issues and concerns of the interviewees. Case StudyEmployed four fundamental elements of TEI in modeling the investment impact: benefits, costs, flexibility, and risks. Given the increasing sophistication of ROI analyses related to IT investments, Forrester’s TEI methodology provides a complete picture of the total economic impact of purchase decisions. Please see Appendix A for additional information on the TEI methodology. Total Economic Impact ApproachBenefitsBenefits represent the value the solution delivers to the business. The TEI methodology places equal weight on the measure of benefits and costs, allowing for a full examination of the solution’s effect on the entire organization. CostsCosts comprise all expenses necessary to deliver the proposed value, or benefits, of the solution. The methodology captures implementation and ongoing costs associated with the solution. FlexibilityFlexibility represents the strategic value that can be obtained for some future additional investment building on top of the initial investment already made. The ability to capture that benefit has a PV that can be estimated. RisksRisks measure the uncertainty of benefit and cost estimates given: 1) the likelihood that estimates will meet original projections and 2) the likelihood that estimates will be tracked over time. TEI risk factors are based on “triangular distribution.” Financial TerminologyPresent value (PV)The present or current value of (discounted) cost and benefit estimates given at an interest rate (the discount rate). The PVs of costs and benefits feed into the total NPV of cash flows. Net present value (NPV)The present or current value of (discounted) future net cash flows given an interest rate (the discount rate). A positive project NPV normally indicates that the investment should be made unless other projects have higher NPVs. Return on investment (ROI)A project’s expected return in percentage terms. ROI is calculated by dividing net benefits (benefits less costs) by costs. Discount rateThe interest rate used in cash flow analysis to take into account the time value of money. Organizations typically use discount rates between 8% and 16%. PaybackThe breakeven point for an investment. This is the point in time at which net benefits (benefits minus costs) equal initial investment or cost. Appendix ATotal Economic ImpactTotal Economic Impact is a methodology developed by Forrester Research that enhances a company’s technology decision-making processes and assists solution providers in communicating their value proposition to clients. The TEI methodology helps companies demonstrate, justify, and realize the tangible value of business and technology initiatives to both senior management and other key stakeholders. Appendix BSurvey DemographicsInterviews
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Appendix CSupplemental MaterialRelated Forrester Research The Cross-Border Payment Solutions For B2B Landscape, Q1 2024, Forrester Research, Inc., January 31, 2024 Appendix DEndnotes1 Actual fund availability for all Visa Direct transactions may depend on receiving financial institution, account type, region, compliance processes, along with other factors, as applicable. 2 Availability varies by geography. Please refer to your Visa representative for more information on availability. 3 Source: United States Rates & Bonds, Bloomberg, accessed February 9, 2026. 4 Actual fund availability for all Visa Direct transactions may depend on receiving financial institution, account type, region, compliance processes, along with other factors, as applicable. DisclosuresReaders should be aware of the following: This study is commissioned by Visa Direct and delivered by Forrester Consulting. It is not meant to be used as a competitive analysis. Forrester makes no assumptions as to the potential ROI that other organizations will receive. Forrester strongly advises that readers use their own estimates within the framework provided in the study to determine the appropriateness of an investment in Visa Direct. For any interactive functionality, the intent is for the questions to solicit inputs specific to a prospect’s business. Forrester believes that this analysis is representative of what companies may achieve with Visa Direct based on the inputs provided and any assumptions made. Forrester does not endorse Visa Direct or its offerings. Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this model, Visa Direct and Forrester Research are unable to accept any legal responsibility for any actions taken on the basis of the information contained herein. The interactive tool is provided ‘AS IS,’ and Forrester and Visa Direct make no warranties of any kind. Visa Direct reviewed and provided feedback to Forrester, but Forrester maintains editorial control over the study and its findings and does not accept changes to the study that contradict Forrester’s findings or obscure the meaning of the study. Visa Direct provided the customer names for the interviews but did not participate in the interviews. Consulting Team:Sanny Mok PublishedEmilie Beaud |
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The Total Economic Impact™ Of Visa Direct
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