NatPay and Zebec Network launched a real-time payroll service on the Federal Reserve’s FedNow rail on Dec. 3, linking standard payroll files to instant wage settlement across participating U.S. banks. The integration processes conventional NACHA payroll files and delivers wages in seconds, replacing batch ACH settlement cycles.
NatPay introduced the service as NatPayNOW, positioning it as a real-time upgrade to existing payroll operations. Employers continue using legacy processes, and workers receive wages with immediate settlement, including on weekends and bank holidays.
Zebec Network and NatPay Integration Brings FedNow to Payroll at Scale
NatPay is currently the only independent payroll processor operating on FedNow. The company processes about $150 billion in annual payroll volume and supports more than 300,000 ACH clients across the United States. The exclusivity gives the Zebec network integration a sizable distribution channel within existing payroll flows.
Under the integration, NatPay remains the FedNow participant and responsible for routing payroll files. Zebec network provides the settlement layer using Solana-based rails. The system aligns with ISO 20022 messaging standards, enabling compatibility with FedNow’s domestic settlement model and international systems that rely on SWIFT messaging.
Payroll teams submit NACHA-formatted files through NatPay’s platform. The system routes settlement through FedNow instead of batch ACH. Workers gain immediate access to earnings. The model allows payroll providers to adopt real-time settlement without new software or process changes.
The architecture also introduces the potential for continuous wage streaming once employers decide to move beyond fixed payroll cycles.
Payroll Timing Still Relies on ACH
Most wage payments in the United States still clear through ACH, which processes transactions in batches and posts funds on banking days. Settlement delays extend around weekends and holidays. FedNow, launched in July 2023, is the first nationwide instant-payment system operated by the Federal Reserve, and allows participating banks to settle funds 24 hours a day.
The NatPay integration moves payroll execution to a public settlement rail while keeping employer workflows unchanged.
Real-time payroll requires the employee’s bank to support FedNow. Participation is expanding but remains incomplete. NatPay and Zebec did not disclose how many employers have enabled NatPayNOW or how many banks are processing payroll through the service. However, Zebec said earlier that it processed more than $400 million in payroll volume over the past 12 months. The company reported payroll support for over 250 employers and 12,000 workers. Zebec also issued 65,000 payment cards, which recorded $50 million in annual spending linked to payroll flows.
Compliance considerations will remain central because the integrated model supports both bank settlement and on-chain options, depending on employer preferences.
Even after the integration went live, Zebec network’s native token ZBCN price is changing hands at $0.002982 on Dec. 4, down 1.53% over the past 24 hours.
