The PAY360 Awards has today revealed the shortlist for 2026, and it is the strongest the awards have seen in nearly two decades. Record entries. Household names alongside fast-moving challengers. A field that reflects exactly what the payments industry looks like right now: competitive, innovative and showing no signs of slowing down. This is what nearly 20 years of industry recognition looks like when the industry itself keeps raising the bar. Emma Banymandhub, CEO of The Payments Association, said: "The PAY360 Awards have been recognising excellence in payments for nearly two decades, and this year's record entry numbers are a real statement of intent from the industry. The shortlist is the most competitive we've ever seen and that speaks to just how much genuine innovation is happening across the ecosystem right now. We can't wait to celebrate it in October." Judged entirely by independent industry practitioners with no commercial stake in the outcome, getting onto this shortlist means something. Across 21 categories, the companies below represent the best of what payments and fintech has produced in the past year. The 2026 ShortlistBest Payments Initiative in Open Banking Yaspa, Lloyds Banking Group, Truelayer, Ozone API, Worldpay, Genome Best Consumer Payments Product Float Technologies, Mastercard, Paysafe, Wirex, Paynetics, Copecto GmbH Best Credit or Lending Product Payjoy, Nexo, multifi, 365 Finance, Digital Treasury Loan Best Initiative in Financial Inclusion and ESG Ripple, Paymentology, Thunes, Money Carer, Nationwide Building Society, Al-Amal Microfinance Bank Best Loyalty or Customer Engagement Product eToro, Paynetics, Engage People, Lloyds Banking Group, Cardlytics, Moorwand Best Data Initiative in Open Banking or Open Finance TSB, Yapily, Yaspa, Notabene, 9Spokes Disability Inclusion Award (in association with Purple Tuesday) Nationwide, HSBC, Adyen, Money Carer Best Innovation in Mobile Paynetics, eSIM Travel, Burbank, Deutsche Bank AG, Mastercard, MiFinity Best Innovation in Retail and Merchant PaymentsHands In, Token.io, Akurateko, Tigapo by Nayax, G4S Cash Solutions (UK), Dojo Intelligence Best Initiative in Embedded Finance Viber & Paynetics, Unipaas, ClubRight, Sync Savings, Lenderwize, Gemba, TEG (Transport Exchange Group) Best Business Payments Product Thunes, Tribe Payments, SAP Fioneer, Finastra, G4S Cash Solutions (UK) Limited, OpenPayd, WEX Inc. Best Partnership Initiative Crassula and ClearBank, Fair for You and EML Payments, NatWest Group and Serene, OpenWay Europe SA, BORICA AD, Griffin and Yonder, Attenda, Lloyds Banking Group and PayPoint Best FX InitiativeCorpay Cross-Border Solutions, Thunes, Euro Exim Bank, Lumon, Neo, HAI Best Financial Crime Prevention Solution or Initiative Lloyds Banking Group and Visa, Metro Bank, Ask Silver, Santander UK, Tunic Pay, AVIEL Intelligence, FNA Best Initiative with Digital Currencies or Assets Thunes, MoonPay, Fireblocks, Ctrl Alt, Polygon Labs, OpenPayd Best Use of AI in Payments IBanFirst, Mastercard, Elavon, the payments division of U.S. Bank, AVIEL Intelligence, Checkout.com Best Risk or Compliance Initiative NOTO - 360 Fraud and Compliance, norbloc (Norbloc AB), Lloyds Banking Group & Visa, Tribe Payments, Quavo Fraud & Disputes, Wirex Limited Best Customer Experience in PaymentsGoCardless and Octopus Energy, Paynetics & Swiipr, Paynetics & Trading212, Millennium bcp, Ecrypt, Hands In Payments Industry Impact Award Paymentology, PAYSTRAX, BORICA AD, OpenWay Europe SA, 3S Money, Cauridor, OpenPayd Leading Industry Start-up HY10 Global Ltd, tapaya, AVIEL Intelligence, eyeDP, Paysecure Join the industry at Grosvenor House on 7 OctoberWinners are announced at the PAY360 Awards ceremony on 7 October 2026 at Grosvenor House, London. Over 950 senior leaders attend each year, with more than half at C-suite level. It is one of the most commercially significant evenings in the payments calendar. Tables are available now. For sponsorship and table enquiries, visit www.thepay360awards.com or contact the team directly. About The Payments AssociationThe Payments Association is the leading membership body for the payments ecosystem, representing 250+ organisations across payments, fintech, banking and financial services. It connects and champions the people and businesses shaping the future of payments. www.thepaymentsassociation.org Media contact Rachel Baines: rachel.baines@thepaymentsassociation.org Holly Smith: holly.smith@thepaymentsassociation.org NoYesFinTech StartUps24 Sep, 2026