Next-Gen Payments Infrastructure for FIs, FinTechs
FEATURED CONTENT from Sal Atta (Enterprise Partnerships @ Highnote)
For fintech companies, Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) providers, and SaaS platforms, payments infrastructure is the foundation of future growth & innovation.
Yet, many organizations find themselves constrained by systems built for a different era.
Legacy systems hinder the ability to compete in the current landscape, which demands speed, resilience, and adaptability.
According to research from Capgemini, 71% of financial institutions cite legacy systems as their top barrier to digital transformation.
Inaction is no longer an option—it’s a liability.
Let’s breakdown why payments infrastructure modernization matters in 2025 (TL;DR):
Payments innovation requires agile architecture
The painpoints from legacy infrastructure fuel the need to migrate
What’s important in migrating to modern infrastructure
2025 is the year to take action
A Vision for the Future of Payments
Modernizing payments infrastructure isn’t just about solving today’s problems—it’s about building the foundation for upcoming innovation in the payments landscape.
The rise of embedded finance, real-time payments, and decentralized finance is already reshaping the financial services industry.
Integrating flexible, scalable systems enable firms to be positioned well in capitalizing on the next wave of innovation.
A clear example is with embedded banking.
Enterprises & fintech companies are redefining customer journeys by offering seamless payment experiences in their platforms. Clients are able to transact, borrow, and manage funds without going to an external banking site — gamechanger.
Decentralized finance and tokenization present further opportunities for transformation. As blockchain technology matures, payments infrastructure is adapting to incorporate tokenized assets and enable faster cross-border settlements.
The future innovation requires infrastructure that supports multiple rails, real-time ledger reconciliation, robust compliance frameworks, and integrations with multiple bank partners & vendors.
Leaving Legacy Architecture in the Past
Unlocking payments innovation with modern infrastructure isn’t just a technical upgrade — it’s a business-wide transformation.
It’s about addressing operational bottlenecks AND eliminating risks that cripple growth.
For organizations maintaining legacy platforms, the growing list of constraints can no longer be ignored:
Lack of flexibility to launch features at the speed of customer demand (i.e. in weeks instead of months)
Single points of failure (e.g. reliance on a single bank partner, inflexible BIN configurations) lead to poor client experiences
Compliance audits are more tedious and costly due to outdated tools unable to address the latest regulations
Additionally, experts estimate the average fintech experiences 10% annual revenue loss due to slow feature rollouts and outages.
Competitors with modern systems are ahead of the game — setting higher benchmarks for customer satisfaction and platform innovation.
For fintechs & enterprises dependent on payments, the stakes couldn’t be higher in 2025.
The Role of Leadership in Payments Modernization
Modernizing payments infrastructure is as much about vision as it is about technology.
The tools and solutions to drive transformation are readily available, but meaningful progress begins with leadership that prioritizes innovation and embraces the opportunity to future-proof their organizations.
By fostering alignment across teams and selecting the right technology partner, leaders can simplify operations, reduce inefficiencies, and create space for strategic growth.
Platforms designed to integrate ledger functionality, program management, and embedded finance capabilities make it easier for organizations to focus on what matters most — delivering exceptional customer experiences and staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing industry.
Leadership is not just about addressing today’s challenges—it’s about laying the groundwork for a resilient and innovative future.
The Formula for an Effective Infrastructure Migration
Migrating payments infrastructure is a challenge for every company, but it’s one with definitive rewards.
A successful migration plan revolves around three critical pillars:
Seamless Ledger Transition:
Ledger is the backbone of payments infrastructure, and migrating it demands absolute precision.
All historical balances, transactions, and in-flight loans must transfer without error.
For compliance & risk teams, audit trails should remain in place during migration to enure proper tracking and no disruptions for customers.
Rigorous testing through simulations & parallel systems is essential.
Building Resilience and Scalability:
Resilience comes from multi-bank setups that minimize reliance on a single institution — ensuring continuity even in the face of partner challenges.
Scalability ensures a path is available for future growth, whether through higher transaction volumes, global expansion, or assorted payment products.
‘All-in-one’ for Efficiency:
A platform that integrates compliance, risk, and operational oversight into one system simplifies day-to-day management right away.
By reducing complexity, organizations can focus on strategic growth rather than toggling between various dashboards and vendor programs.
If one of these pillars is missing with a prospective infrastructure provider, chances are it’s not a long-term solution. Successful migrations create a sustainable foundation for enterprises & fintechs to explore/integrate best-in-class products.
The Time to Act is Now
Fintechs, BNPL providers, and SaaS platforms can no longer afford to rely on outdated payment systems.
Every moment spent maintaining legacy infrastructure is a moment lost to competitors who are moving faster, innovating more effectively, and delivering better customer experiences.
Infrastructure migration isn’t just a cost—it’s an investment in long-term resilience and a path to unlock future growth. Those who delay — risk being left behind; not because they lack the tools, but because they fail to seize the opportunity.
In 2025, modernizing payments infrastructure goes beyond a technical upgrade — it’s a strategic necessity that empowers organizations to meet today’s demands while preparing for what’s next.
Organizations that take action now will shape their future business in a positive manner. They will lead markets, redefine standards, and unlock new opportunities that others can only follow.
The question isn’t whether or not to modernize payments infrastructure —it’s how long are you willing to wait?
Note on Sal Atta & Highnote:
Sal Atta brings over a decade of experience in fintech, having held key roles at Marqeta, FIS, and Fiserv.
With deep expertise in payments innovation & embedded finance, Sal now leads enterprise partnerships at Highnote — helping fintechs, BNPL providers, and SaaS platforms unlock the modern infrastructure to drive growth and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Highnote sets the bar in modern issuance and card program management. Its integrated technology allows businesses (of all sizes) to seamlessly embed virtual and physical card payments, ledger functionality, and wallet capabilities directly into their products.
