On February 17, 2026, ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW) announced a significant advancement in the UK’s payments landscape with the deployment of ACI Connetic—a pioneering, cloud-native platform that unifies SWIFT, CHAPS, and Faster Payments. This monumental shift comes as a leading UK retail bank opts for ACI Connetic, marking a crucial milestone in the ongoing modernization of payment systems across the UK. The integration of this innovative platform is expected to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance the overall payment experience for both banks and customers.

2. Unifying Payment Systems on a Single Platform

Richard Albery, head of banking for UK and Ireland at ACI Worldwide, emphasized the pressing need for banks to modernize their systems amidst rising operational complexities. “ACI Connetic is more than a new payments product — it’s an operating model built for the digital economy,” he stated, highlighting the platform's ability to consolidate previously siloed payment systems into one cohesive solution.

The deployment of ACI Connetic allows UK banks to integrate various payment methods seamlessly, addressing the long-standing issues of fragmentation that have historically plagued the sector. By bringing together account-to-account (A2A) payments, card payments, and AI-driven fraud prevention into a single cloud-native Software as a Service (SaaS) environment, ACI Connetic represents a clear industry first.

3. Key Features and Benefits of ACI Connetic

The ACI Connetic platform is designed to meet the evolving demands of modern banking. Its attributes include:

Consolidation of Payment Systems: By uniting different payment methods, banks can enjoy a centralized approach to managing transactions, leading to enhanced efficiency.

Operational Resilience and Complexity Reduction: The platform aims to streamline operations, making it easier for banks to comply with regulatory changes and adapt to evolving market conditions.

Acceleration of Innovation: ACI Connetic provides the agility that financial institutions need to innovate quickly, ensuring they remain competitive in a fast-paced digital economy.

Albery further noted that the deployment in the UK is a pivotal step, enabling banks to speed up the adoption of new regulatory mandates while also enhancing their operational readiness.

4. Partnership with Microsoft Azure

ACI Worldwide’s collaboration with Microsoft is critical to the success of ACI Connetic. The platform leverages Microsoft Azure’s robust cloud capabilities, providing banks with enhanced security, compliance, and scalability. Christian Sarafidis, Chief Executive for EMEA Financial Services at Microsoft, emphasized the importance of cloud technology in the evolving payments landscape. “Our collaboration with ACI Worldwide helps banks access a cloud-native approach that supports security, compliance, resilience, and scalability,” he said.

5. Growing Demand Across Europe and the U.S.

The introduction of ACI Connetic is not limited to the UK; banks across Europe and the U.S. are increasingly adopting the platform as they navigate regulatory challenges and rising customer expectations. The need for cloud modernization has transformed from a technology choice into a strategic imperative for financial institutions eager to thrive in a digital-first world.

6. Conclusion

The deployment of ACI Connetic represents a significant leap forward in the UK banking sector’s modernization efforts. As ACI Worldwide continues to drive innovation through its cloud-native platform, financial institutions can expect to unlock new growth opportunities while enhancing their operational efficiencies. With a strong focus on meeting the demands of the digital economy, ACI Connetic is poised to redefine the future of payments in the UK and beyond.

Original press release