PaymentsEd

PaymentsEd is a 501(c)(6) non-profit founded in 1989 and run by a volunteer board of payment professionals. Its stated purpose is to raise the level of practice across the industry, not to sell anything, and leadership is merchant-led rather than vendor-led.

What it runs The Annual Forum is a three-day working conference with more than 67 sessions, merchant roundtables and keynotes; the next one is in San Diego on 9 to 11 August 2027. Sessions are picked through blind submissions and speakers are payment operators rather than sales reps. Free monthly webinars cover fraud, compliance, real-time schemes and other topics, with over 99 recordings archived. A community network adds merchant and advisory boards, peer groups and private roundtables.

Funding Sponsors include card networks such as Visa and Mastercard, processors and payments companies whose aims fit the educational mission.

Why payments people join A merchant's payment or risk lead can watch recorded webinars on dispute handling or real-time schemes, then bring questions to peers at the forum without sitting through vendor pitches. Everything is in English and aimed mainly at US merchants.