The Payments Association Unveils 2030 UK Strategy to Secure Critical National Infrastructure

The Payments Association has launched its Payments Manifesto 2027, a strategic roadmap calling for the UK government to reclassify the payments sector as critical national infrastructure. For fintech leaders, this signals a push for greater regulatory interoperability and cross-sector accountability in fraud prevention, aiming to align the industry with energy and telecommunications by 2030.

What was announced

The document, titled "The Payments Manifesto 2027: A national strategy for trusted, competitive and innovative payments by 2030," outlines a framework designed to influence government policy and regulatory direction. It is structured around four primary objectives intended to modernise the UK’s financial landscape. The first, Growth, Competitiveness and Resilience, focuses on upgrading infrastructure through interoperability and creating environments where UK payment firms can scale internationally.

The second pillar, Trust, Security and Consumer Protection, advocates for earlier fraud prevention by mandating intelligence sharing and ensuring accountability is distributed across the entire fraud chain. This is paired with goals for improved financial inclusion and maintaining consumer choice in payment methods. The third objective, AI, Data and Digital Infrastructure, addresses the rise of autonomous technology by seeking secure rules for "agentic payments" and international standards for agentic commerce.

Finally, The future of Money and Payments calls for a coherent regulatory approach to next-generation assets, specifically stablecoins and tokenised money. The manifesto builds upon the government’s existing National Payments Vision and was developed through engagement with the association’s membership and Advisory Board. Nick Kerigan, Chair of the Advisory Board and Managing Director, Head of Innovation at Swift, noted that the strategy combines policy recommendations with a commitment to test proposals against real-world market experience.

"The assumption that payments can run on autopilot while facing mounting fraud and digital disruption has to end. Payments are the vital economic lifeblood keeping society functioning. If money stopped moving for even five minutes, the fallout would be significant. We aren't just presenting a wish list. Our members are stepping up to deliver the accountability, infrastructure and cross-sector collaboration required to future-proof the UK economy."

Emma Banymandhub, Chief Executive Officer of The Payments Association.

The companies involved

The Payments Association is a prominent trade body representing the UK payments industry. It operates as a community for payment providers, technology firms, and scale-ups, providing a platform for collaboration and policy advocacy. The organisation underwent a significant rebrand on 8 October 2021, changing its name from the Emerging Payments Association to its current title to reflect its broader role in the maturing financial ecosystem.

The association is led by Chief Executive Officer Emma Banymandhub and is supported by an Advisory Board chaired by Nick Kerigan. Its influence is bolstered by its ability to convene expertise from across the sector, including major global players like Swift. The group has recently expanded its footprint, including the acquisition of TPA EU, as it seeks to drive global fintech expansion and harmonise standards across different jurisdictions. By acting as a bridge between the private sector and regulators, the association plays a central role in shaping the UK's response to emerging financial technologies and security threats.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely followed the evolution of this strategic vision, previously reporting that The Payments Association Unveils 2030 Manifesto to Modernize UK Financial Infrastructure. This long-term planning coincides with heightened regulatory scrutiny, as seen when UK Financial Crime Leaders Converge at Financial Crime 360 as FCA and Bank of England Take the Stage to discuss the rising threat of sophisticated fraud.

The association's international ambitions were highlighted when The Payments Association Acquired TPA EU to Drive Global Fintech Expansion, marking a shift toward cross-border advocacy. Additionally, FF News has explored the technical challenges underlying these policy goals, noting that AI Banking Tools Failing Vulnerable Customers Despite High Industry Confidence, a finding that underscores the manifesto's focus on financial inclusion and trusted AI rules.

What this means

The demand for "critical national infrastructure" status is a significant escalation in how the payments industry views its own role. If adopted, it would likely lead to more stringent resilience requirements but also more direct government support. The focus on "agentic commerce" is particularly forward-looking, suggesting the industry is preparing for a shift from human-initiated transactions to autonomous AI agents. Furthermore, the call for "accountability across the fraud chain" places direct pressure on telecommunications and social media giants to share the financial burden of APP fraud. For the wider market, this manifesto signals that the era of light-touch regulation for emerging payment types like stablecoins is rapidly closing.