On April 1, Zelle officially discontinued its standalone mobile app. While the change might seem minor at first glance, it has raised critical questions for banks and credit unions, especially those seeking a more flexible, fraud-resistant P2P strategy.
Zelle made headlines by sunsetting its standalone app, used by only about 2% of its total transaction base, a figure that still represents millions of users. The rest of Zelle’s $1 trillion in 2024 payment volume happened within embedded bank experiences.
But for those whose banks hadn’t adopted Zelle, the app was their sole access point. Now, they’re locked out and many institutions are struggling to guide users elsewhere.
Some are pointing them to third-party apps like Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, or Apple Cash - tools that may serve the customer in the short term, but siphon deposits and data outside your ecosystem in the long run.
And it gets more complicated when you consider trust and safety.
Zelle has become a prime target for scammers and phishing attacks. In fact, entire fraud rings have been built around exploiting P2P platforms like Zelle, especially as banks and credit unions scramble to manage chargebacks and customer disputes .
These issues aren’t new. But the app sunset reignited concerns about how exposed some institutions remain—and whether their current P2P solution is really serving them.
That’s the reality: many banks are shouldering costs that were never designed with them in mind. When you add implementation complexity, brand limitations, and a one-size-fits-all experience, it’s clear that change is overdue.
At Neural Payments, we believe banks shouldn’t have to compromise between outdated infrastructure and disjointed third-party apps. You deserve a platform that works for your institution, your brand, and your customers.
Our platform was built from the ground up to deliver:
✅ Real-time payments to bank accounts, debit cards, Venmo, or PayPal
✅ A modern fraud engine that you control and customize
✅ Full white-label branding embedded inside your mobile banking platform
✅ Receiver-driven flexibility - recipients choose how to receive funds
✅ Zero need for customers to download another app
The result? A payment experience that feels seamless, secure, and entirely yours.
Zelle’s app shutdown didn’t just disrupt peer-to-peer payments, it left businesses in a bind, too. That 2% of Zelle’s $1 trillion in 2024 volume? It includes not just individuals but small businesses, independent contractors, and institutions who had been using Zelle’s standalone app to get paid, or to pay others.
Without the ability to enter Zelle’s network on an off-network financial account, they’ve created a walled garden that makes competitors look more appealing for their user experience alone. While 2% may seem small in a vacuum, the situation takes on more gravity when considering that stat accounts for $20 billion in transactions.
Compare that to what Neural Payments offers: a modern, white-labeled disbursement platform that puts control back in your institution’s hands. Whether you’re helping a business pay contractors, processing insurance reimbursements, or handling school per diems, you can deliver funds instantly, securely, and flexibly, without sending users to third-party apps, or making them figure out someone else’s fraud policy.
Zelle took away the app. But it also took away the freedom of choice.
We think it’s time you got both back.
This moment isn’t about Zelle’s app, it’s about rethinking how your institution approaches payments.
At Neural Payments, we’re not just an alternative. We’re building a future where banks own the payment experience, protect their customer relationships, and recapture lost value.
Because your brand should be the one your customers trust to send money.
Because flexibility shouldn’t mean giving up security.
Because modern payments should work for you.
Ready to talk? Schedule a demo today: