The Innovative Payments Association (IPA), the leading voice of the electronic payments industry, marks its 20th anniversary, commemorating two decades of impactful advocacy, education, and leadership that have helped define the modern payments ecosystem.
Founded on Dec. 19, 2005, the IPA has guided its members – and the broader financial services community – through an era of rapid transformation. From the early growth of prepaid cards to landscape of digital wallets, open banking, earned wage access, real-time payments, and fintech-enabled financial services, the IPA has consistently provided clarity, expertise, and a unified voice for responsible innovation.
“For 20 years, the IPA has provided steady leadership amid constant change,” said IPA President and CEO Brian Tate. “Our work has helped consumers, businesses, and government agencies benefit from a modern, inclusive, and secure payments system. We are proud to have shaped the trajectory of this industry, and we remain committed to ensuring that innovation continues to support and protect the people who rely on it every day.”
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From its earliest years, the IPA’s advocacy helped secure foundational regulatory frameworks that enabled payment products widely relied upon today. The association played a pivotal role in ensuring that mobile wallets and prepaid cards remained available to consumers when policymakers considered eliminating them, preserving a critical financial tool for millions of Americans. IPA’s efforts also helped establish the stable deposits in prepaid and fintech programs were not classified as brokered deposits – expanding access to safe, FDIC-insured accounts through innovative product design and partnerships.
For 20 years, IPA has provided steady leadership amid constant change. Our work has helped consumers, businesses, and government agencies benefit from a modern, inclusive, and secure payments system.”
— Brian Tate, IPA President and CEO
Today, the IPA continues to shape the regulatory landscape with the same clarity of purpose. Last week, Tate testified before the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Consumer Advisory Board on earned wage access (EWA), emphasizing the importance of regulatory clarity to ensure consumers’ continued access to low-cost, non-credit liquidity tools. The association is also leading industry engagement on updates to the CFPB’s Prepaid Account regulations, advocating for regulatory approaches that preserve innovation while strengthening consumer protection.
Throughout its history, the IPA has built a reputation as a central hub for compliance education and collaboration. Its annual conferences, compliance boot camps, and working groups have become vital forums for dialogue among regulators, financial institutions, technology providers, and other stakeholders committed to advancing responsible payments innovation.
As the association marks two decades of service, its mission remains clear: to advance the next generation of payments solutions while supporting an ecosystem grounded in security, inclusion, and trust.
“As we look ahead, the IPA will continue helping members navigate new technologies, new business models, and evolving regulatory expectations,” said Tate. “Our next chapter will build on the same foundation of leadership and partnership that has defined us for 20 years.”
The IPA will celebrate its anniversary throughout 2026 with special programs recognizing the industry’s evolution and the association’s enduring commitment to shaping the future of payments.
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