In this vital leadership role, Ms. Kim will oversee all of DirecFunds’ core product development, system architecture enhancements, and support programming initiatives. Her primary focus will be optimizing platform reliability, expanding API capabilities, and maintaining the absolute technical integrity of DirecFunds’ secure middleware infrastructure.

Ms. Kim joins DirecFunds with a robust background in enterprise-grade software design and database management. She previously served as a software engineer for National Data Systems Corporation, where she specialized in high-availability data processing and system security. Ms. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from California State University.

“Securing our payment environment and maintaining continuous technical integrity requires elite engineering leadership,” said the DirecFunds executive team. “Tiffany brings the exact combination of rigorous computer science principles and hands-on enterprise troubleshooting experience that our platform demands. As market adoption accelerates, her leadership over our development and support programming teams will ensure our software continues to scale seamlessly and safely.”

Based in Orange County, California, Ms. Kim is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys mountain climbing, fishing, and playing tennis in her free time.

To learn more about the DirecFunds development roadmap or technical architecture, visit about.direcfunds.com.

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Mr. Wacker brings decades of elite, data-driven operational expertise to DirecFunds. As a retired senior executive from Kroger’s 84.51°, he spearheaded initiatives for the organization that manages the massive national Kroger Store Loyalty Program. During his tenure at 84.51°, Mr. Wacker worked closely with multi-billion-dollar Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturers, successfully translating complex, large-scale data insights into actionable corporate marketing and growth strategies for the Kroger Corporation.

Prior to his leadership role at 84.51°, Mr. Wacker built a distinguished career managing high-level data analytics and consumer insights at market-leading organizations including Catalina Marketing and dunnhumby.

Driving the Future of Fintech Middleware

At DirecFunds, our mission centers on eliminating transaction risk, preventing fraud, and establishing unchangeable, automated audit trails within banking firewalls. Achieving this requires an absolute commitment to data integrity and highly scalable software structures. Mr. Wacker’s deep background in navigating massive, enterprise-grade data pipelines adds invaluable strategic guidance to the DirecFunds board as the platform expands its integrations.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ken to our Board of Directors,” said the DirecFunds executive team. “His experience working alongside multi-billion-dollar entities and transforming technical data insights into secure, high-value corporate strategies aligns perfectly with our vision. As we continue to scale our fintech middleware to meet growing market demand, Ken’s operational wisdom will be an immense asset.”

A long-time resident of the region, Mr. Wacker is married with two daughters and resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.

To learn more about how DirecFunds builds authenticated environments for enterprise payment processing, visit about.direcfunds.com.

The post DirecFunds Welcomes Data Infrastructure Leader Ken Wacker to Board of Directors first appeared on DirecFunds.

Ms. Collins currently serves as the President of the Cincinnati Center for Improved Communications (CCIC), a regional leader in addressing communication disorders and language-based learning challenges. Under her leadership, the CCIC has become a vital resource for the majority of private schools in the Greater Cincinnati area, providing essential speech therapy and learning disorder services.

A longtime resident of the area, Sharon lives with her husband, Donald Hughes, and is an active member of the Terrace Park Country Club. DirecFunds looks forward to the insight and professional perspective she will contribute to the company’s future growth.

The post DirecFunds Appoints Sharon Collins to Board of Directors first appeared on DirecFunds.

Eliminating the Paper Check

The SoftPro E-Payments module will be “Powered by DirecFunds,” providing title agencies and law firms with the technology needed to finally eliminate paper checks. Despite modern advancements, 80% of all property closing payments are still processed via paper check today. This partnership provides a digital-first alternative that increases speed and reduces human error.

Unmatched Security and Insurance

Security is at the core of this integration. Every payment processed through DirecFunds passes through a proprietary Payment Fraud Filter. To provide ultimate peace of mind, DirecFunds backs its technology with a financial guarantee: agencies are insured against fraud-related losses for up to $1 million per payment.

A First for the Industry

SoftPro E-Payments, powered by DirecFunds, represents the first-ever embedded banking solution in the real estate sector to offer a comprehensive suite of payment rails, including:

• Wire Transfers
• Real-Time Payments (RTP)
• ACH
• Zelle

Beyond Real Estate

While launching first in the title industry, DirecFunds is actively expanding its reach. The company is currently working with leaders in Retail, Financial Institutions, and Manufacturing to integrate similar secure digital payment services into other major operating platforms that disburse high-value funds.

The post DirecFunds and SoftPro Announce Industry-First Embedded Digital Banking Solution for Real Estate first appeared on DirecFunds.

Here’s how it typically works:

• Scammers gain access to the email account of someone involved in the transaction—often a title company, real estate agent, lender, or attorney.
• They monitor the communication quietly, waiting for the perfect moment.
• Just before closing, they send an urgent, convincing-looking email with fake wire instructions, often using real signatures, logos, and formatting.
• Buyers—already overwhelmed with last-minute tasks—follow the instructions and unknowingly transfer their closing funds directly to the scammer.

These funds are often impossible to recover once sent.

How to Protect Yourself

Even a small pause can save you from a costly mistake. Before sending any wire transfer:

✔ Always verify wire instructions by phone
Use a trusted, previously confirmed number—not a number from the email.

✔ Be cautious with any last-minute changes
Legitimate companies rarely change wire details at the eleventh hour.

✔ Watch for subtle email address changes
Scammers often register look-alike domains that are easy to miss at a glance.

Stay Informed. Stay Protected. Stay in Control.

Understanding the risks is the first step toward stopping real estate fraud in its tracks. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned investor, knowing how scammers operate empowers you to take the right precautions.

If you want to explore the landscape of real estate fraud more deeply—and learn how to better protect your money during the closing process—visit this helpful resource:

? https://about.direcfunds.com

You’ll find tools, insights, and solutions designed to make every real estate transaction safer, smarter, and more secure.

The post The #1 Threat: Wire Fraud & Email Compromise first appeared on DirecFunds.

Instant Payments, Superior Protection

Our new Digital Wire utilizes DirecFunds’ “best-in-class” Wire and Instant Payment prevention filter to significantly safeguard against payment fraud. This cutting-edge security measure is central to our commitment to protecting our customers.

• Consumers and businesses can now confidently send Good Funds instantly.
• Payments are processed using the FedNow and Real-Time Payment Networks.
• The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Addressing the Need for Security

The need for secure, instant payment methods has never been greater. According to the FBI, over $220 Billion in payment fraud occurred in the United States during 2024. DirecFunds is dedicated to reducing this risk for our users, offering both speed and unparalleled security.

The post DirecFunds Launches Nationwide Digital Wire for Instant, Secure Payments first appeared on DirecFunds.

For decades, the industry has relied on outdated, stressful, and risk-prone wire transfers to move closing funds. The process has become increasingly vulnerable as fraud schemes evolve, bank cutoff times disrupt closings, and consumers struggle to navigate unclear instructions. Settlement agents ultimately shoulder the burden, fielding phone calls, chasing confirmations, and resolving avoidable delays.

With Consumer Funds to Close, DirecFunds eliminates these challenges and delivers a modern, secure, compliant, and streamlined process for both consumers and settlement professionals.

Why the Old Way No Longer Works

Traditional wire transfers create unnecessary stress and uncertainty for homebuyers and settlement teams:

Escalating Wire Fraud

Wire fraud is rising at alarming rates across the real estate industry. Criminals intercept emails, spoof identities, and manipulate wiring instructions—often resulting in devastating financial losses.

Bank Cutoff Times

Buyers frequently find themselves rushing to the bank at the last minute, only to be blocked by cutoff times that jeopardize same-day closings.

Lack of Visibility

Consumers often worry whether their funds arrived safely and on time, while settlement agents scramble to track receipts and verify transfers.

Preventable Delays

Phone calls, troubleshooting, and confirmation chasing add unnecessary friction to the closing process.

A Modern Solution: How Consumer Funds to Close Works

DirecFunds replaces outdated wire transfers with a secure, intuitive, fully authenticated system that provides true peace of mind.

Here’s how it works:

1. The consumer logs into the DirecFunds Secure Portal at DirecFunds.com.
2. They enter their personal and banking information to be authenticated.
3. DirecFunds completes extensive fraud checks to verify all parties involved.
4. Good funds are transferred directly from the consumer’s bank account to the settlement agent—smoothly, securely, and without the stress of wiring instructions.

The result?
A safer, faster, more transparent way to move funds for closing.

Why Settlement Agents Love It

Consumer Funds to Close delivers:

• Enhanced security backed by Federal Reserve governance and SOC II compliance
• A faster process with no bank visits and no cutoff-time risk
• A consumer-friendly experience that reduces confusion
• Fewer inbound calls and status checks for your team
• More reliable closings with fewer delays

This is the future of good-fund delivery — built for title and settlement professionals who demand accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.

Questions? We’re Here to Help

If you have any questions about the platform or looking to register, please contact:

Ron Frederick
Ron.Frederick@DirecFunds.com

The post Introducing Consumer Funds to Close: A Faster, Safer, and More Reliable Way to Receive Good Funds first appeared on DirecFunds.

This partnership will play a vital role in supporting several new products and services that DirecFunds plans to launch nationwide in the first quarter of 2026.

In addition, U.S. Bank will serve as an important partner in the implementation of the DirecFunds-SoftPro Technologies Embedded E-Payment solution, which is also expected to be available across the U.S. in the first half of 2026.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in DirecFunds’ mission to deliver secure, efficient, and innovative financial technology solutions to clients nationwide.

The post DirecFunds Announces Strategic Banking Partnership with U.S. Bank first appeared on DirecFunds.

Corporate One Credit Union, one of only five corporate credit unions serving as a key facilitator of payments for credit unions nationwide, has a strong presence in Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and California.

Through this partnership, DirecFunds and Corporate One Credit Union will collaborate on leading-edge digital payment solutions, with the potential to expand into additional software products. These offerings are expected to become available to the credit union industry beginning in 2026.

The post DirecFunds and Corporate One Credit Union Announce Strategic Partnership to Develop Digital Payment Solutions first appeared on DirecFunds.

Fraud fears still cloud real-time rails adoption, yet actual fraud rates remain low. So why do myths about fraud in faster payments still hold sway?

1. Fear of fraud remains one of the biggest hurdles to real-time payments adoption. Many banks limit participation to receive-only mode, driven by concerns that speed increases exposure to scams and fraud risk.
2. Despite these anxieties, current fraud rates on faster payment rails are significantly lower than for traditional payment systems. Real-time transactions face less fraud than checks, wires or ACH—yet many institutions still view them as riskier.
3. Financial institutions must raise awareness of real-time payments’ strong fraud prevention tools to encourage broader adoption. Many FIs already support advanced solutions—and U.S. real-time rails are fully on board, launching their own initiatives.

Faster payments are gaining traction, but fraud fears haven’t kept pace with facts. Convinced that speed invites scams, many banks in the United States remain hesitant about fully embracing real-time rails such as the RTP^® network and the FedNow^® Service. This fear persists—even though it’s outdated. Today’s instant rails offer stronger fraud defenses than checks, wires or automated clearing house (ACH). Still, stubborn myths about payment speed and its attendant risks shape how financial institutions (FIs) act. Too many try to “play it safe” by offering receive-only service, bottlenecking adoption and limiting faster payments’ value. It’s time for a reset. Clearing up misperceptions could unlock real-time payments’ broader benefits—from better customer experience to lower fraud exposure.

• Fraud Fears Still Hamper Real-Time Payments Adoption
• Fraud on the RTP^® Network and FedNow^® Remains Rare
• Fraud Prevention Tools Win Bank Support
• Turning the Page on Faster Payments Myths

Fraud Fears Still Hamper Real-Time Payments Adoption

Fear of fraud remains one of the biggest hurdles to real-time payments adoption. Many banks limit participation to receive-only mode, driven by concerns that speed increases exposure to scams and fraud risk.

Banks’ fear of fraud in instant payments is widespread—and growing.

Fraud remains a central fear restricting real-time payments adoption at scale. In a recent study by RedCompass Labs, 85% of U.S. payment professionals said they expect fraud to increase as instant payments become more common. Larger banks, worried about being bigger targets, are the most on edge. Ninety-five percent of firms with more than 50,000 employees expect fraud to rise, and half predict a sharp increase, according to the same findings.

85% of U.S. payment professionals expect more fraud as instant payments scale.

In fact, fraud’s ranking as a hurdle to real-time rails adoption saw the biggest increase this year, climbing to fourth place from ninth in 2024, though this was still relatively low, cited by 26% of FIs. Of all the named obstacles to instant payments implementation, fraud followed fierce competition from FinTechs at number one (36%), the challenge of needing to offer 24/7 availability at number two (34%), and the difficulty of updating architecture and internal systems at number three (28%). Researchers noted that the rise of fraud concerns as a barrier makes sense as banks come to grips with the actual operation of instant payments after focusing almost exclusively on structural challenges until now.

Amid rising financial fraud, robust protection is essential.

The 2025 Faster Payments Barometer found that the specific fraud fears surrounding real-time payments adoption mirror those in the financial industry at large. At 35%, account takeover fraud ranks as the top worry regarding instant payments, followed closely by authorized push payment (APP) fraud, such as scams that trick users into sending money, at 30%. Other risks—including synthetic identity and invoice fraud—draw more moderate urgency (10% to 15%). Meanwhile, so-called money mule activity—when fraudsters use individuals to transfer stolen funds—occupies a lower yet still significant tier of concern, at less than 5%.

These apprehensions suggest that FIs should prioritize authentication and customer education to address both the technical and the human weaknesses that fraudsters exploit. However, many institutions are taking the less rational approach of forgoing adoption altogether.

Opting out of instant payments serves no one.

Fears tied to authorized sender fraud—especially on platforms like Zelle, where it has drawn regulators’ attention—are shaping real-world choices, with many banks adopting receive-only functionality to reduce exposure. According to the 2025 Faster Payments Barometer, 78% of all surveyed organizations planned to begin their implementations with receive-only capabilities, whereas just 22% intended to launch full send-and-receive services.

The assumption behind these decisions? “Faster payments equal faster fraud.” That myth still shapes how institutions act, even as today’s rails tell a different story. FIs that limit engagement due to a lack of confidence in their defenses only create a bottleneck that constricts adoption across the banking ecosystem.

Fraud on the RTP^® Network and FedNow^® Remains Rare

Despite these anxieties, current fraud rates on faster payment rails are significantly lower than for traditional payment systems. Real-time transactions face less fraud than checks, wires or ACH—yet many institutions still view them as riskier.

Legacy rails face higher fraud risk than real-time payments.

63% of firms report check fraud. Just 2% report fraud on RTP or FedNow.

Fraud on traditional rails still exceeds real-time payments fraud by a wide margin. According to the 2025 Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) Payments Fraud and Control Survey Report, 63% of firms reported attempted or actual check fraud in 2024, compared to just 2% on RTP or FedNow. According to The Clearing House (TCH), fraud rates on the RTP network are a fraction of a percentage point. In April 2025, for example, out of 35 million transactions, there were just 123 instances of reported fraud. Meanwhile, ACH debits and wire transfers took second and third place in actual or attempted fraud, at 38% and 30%, respectively.

Those findings reflect how fraudsters target older systems that move high volumes while lacking modern safeguards. Real-time networks, by contrast, often run in tokenized API environments that improve transaction security and access control. Real-time payments networks allow only push payments, where the account holder must send the transaction. This is unlike other payment types, such as ACH, where pull (debit) payments are allowed.

Checks still dominate payments despite high fraud exposure.

Checks remain widely used, despite persistent fraud risks. Although nearly two in three institutions experienced check fraud in 2024 and nearly one in four incidents involved stolen mail, 75% of firms still plan to keep using checks over the next two years. Instant payments are often better protected, but that advantage still hasn’t revolutionized institutional behavior.

Meanwhile, the government is taking action against the tidal wave of check fraud. The U.S. Treasury and banking groups are fast-tracking the digitization of federal checks per an executive order ahead of a September deadline. This move, which specifically recommends real-time payments as a safer alternative, is a crucial step in the government’s broader efforts to safeguard federal payments against fraud.

“Removing paper Treasury checks from circulation is an important step toward reducing theft and the related losses,” top banking associations said in a recent joint letter to the Treasury regarding the order.

Most fraud cases tied to RTP and FedNow are low-impact.

Moreover, the severity of fraud’s impact on faster payments is often limited. According to the Faster Payments Barometer, just 3% of financial institutions report real-time payments’ fraud impact as “significant.” Most incidents are categorized as “slight” or “moderate,” and a large portion of FIs report zero impact. These findings suggest that current controls are working, though sustained investment is still needed to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Fraud Prevention Tools Win Bank Support

Financial institutions must raise awareness of real-time payments’ strong fraud prevention tools to encourage broader adoption. Many FIs already support advanced solutions—and U.S. real-time rails are fully on board, launching their own initiatives.

Banks back stronger fraud defenses—but broader adoption is needed for them to work.

Many institutions back targeted tools to contain fraud. For example, nearly all banks, at 96%, support introducing an ID verification system like Confirmation of Payee (CoP). The principle is simple: Before processing a transaction, the recipient’s details are matched against the sender’s entered information, with the sender then notified of any discrepancy. Among small to mid-sized banks, support rises to 97%.

96% of banks support ID checks like Confirmation of Payee to fight real-time payments fraud.

Such a system has already proven effective at combating APP fraud in the United Kingdom, where its mandate has resulted in a 60% reduction in fraud cases. However, for tools like CoP to work, bank participation must be near-universal. The concern is that partial adoption of this tool, as in the fragmented U.S. real-time payments market, would simply reroute fraud to banks that are not covered.

The top five tools banks say they need.

RedCompass Labs asked U.S. banks which fraud prevention measures they consider most urgent. Leading the list: artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) (40%), followed by real-time detection (39%) and multifactor authentication (MFA) (35%). Data sharing among banks (32%) and coordination with telecom and tech firms (27%) round out the top five.

All five strategies aim to stop fraud before funds move. Confidence is growing in technology’s potential to achieve just that, with 54% of U.S. big banks this year believing AI can improve financial crime detection, up from only 31% overall last year.

TCH and the Fed step up fraud defense.

Banks that participate in the major U.S. real-time networks, meanwhile, will find these rails’ defenses already robust and gaining strength. The Clearing House and the Federal Reserve have each launched new fraud mitigation tools for the RTP network and FedNow, respectively. These include real-time monitoring, collaborative data exchange and the Fed’s ScamClassifier model—a framework for tracking scam types and patterns. These efforts matter. With the measures’ continued success fueling more bank participation, the U.S. could quickly become a leader in the real-time payments race.

Turning the Page on Faster Payments Myths

Even as fraud rates remain low, persistent myths about risk are slowing real-time payments adoption. To move forward, stakeholders must confront the perception gap, equipping institutions and consumers alike with the tools and clarity needed to build trust at scale.

• Fraud is still a top concern—but not the top threat. Just 2% of firms report fraud on real-time rails, versus 63% on checks.
• Risk is concentrated, not constant. Account takeover and push payment scams top the threat list, yet most fraud events have limited impact on faster payment rails.
• CoP-style ID checks have near-universal support. Ninety-six percent of banks want them—but coverage must be consistent to close gaps.
• Technology works best when paired with collaboration. Banks rank AI, MFA and real-time monitoring highly—but also want stronger data sharing.
• Network operators are stepping up. RTP and FedNow are expanding real-time defenses and scam-tracking frameworks.

Real-time payments have reached an inflection point. While risk won’t disappear entirely anytime soon, the tools to manage it are mature, tested and widely endorsed. Widespread instant payments adoption now depends on better communication, smarter coordination and closing the trust gap.

The RTP network’s design, with push-only payments and instant confirmations, has kept unauthorized fraud rates among the lowest in the industry. In April, just 123 fraudulent transactions occurred out of 35 million—a rate that is far below other payment types. While authorized fraud, such as scams, remain a broader challenge across all payment types, participating banks on the RTP network are adding good friction—such as confirmation prompts—to protect customers without slowing the real-time experience.”

Jim Colassano
Senior Vice President, RTP Business Product Management, The Clearing House

The post Reality Check: Fact vs. Fiction in Real-Time Payments Fraud first appeared on DirecFunds.