Your payment clears instantly on one end, but the recipient’s bank is still waiting for the next batch cycle to show it.
Talk about a buzzkill for the whole “real-time payments” promise, right?
SWIVEL and Kinective just announced a partnership that’s tackling exactly that issue. SWIVEL—a fintech subsidiary of SWBC that specializes in integrated payment solutions—is tapping Kinective’s technology to power up its Connect2Core (C2C) platform. Think of it as giving their real-time payment hub a serious infrastructure upgrade.
What’s Actually Happening Here
SWIVEL’s C2C hub is designed to integrate directly with financial institutions’ core processing systems, which is banker-speak for “the main software that runs the bank.” It handles real-time payment data posting so people can actually see their transactions the moment they happen. Pretty basic expectation in the age of instant everything, but surprisingly tough to pull off behind the scenes.
Now they’re bringing Kinective Gateway into the mix—an advanced API integration platform that connects to a frankly impressive network. Kinective works with over 4,300 banks and credit unions, maintains relationships with more than 40 core systems, and partners with over 100 fintechs. That’s a lot of connections.
Why This Matters for Banks (and Eventually, You)
The upgrade gives C2C a more resilient and standardized connectivity layer. In practical terms, that means faster implementation, smoother onboarding, and better service for financial institutions using the platform. It also sets the stage for future innovations, including real-time money movement through SWIVEL Instant Payments via FedNow® and RTP®.
“At SWIVEL, we are focused on helping financial institutions deliver modern, seamless payment experiences,” said Amanda Licona-Crocker, president of SWIVEL. “Partnering with Kinective strengthens that mission by expanding connectivity and accelerating access to innovative payment capabilities. Together, we’re helping our clients improve efficiency, support growth and create better experiences for the consumers they serve.”
The Speed Factor
Traditionally, connecting to core banking systems has been a custom integration nightmare that can drag on for months. Kinective Gateway’s massive portfolio of existing integrations cuts through that red tape, potentially opening SWIVEL’s real-time payment capabilities to thousands of new financial institutions without the usual headache.
Dan Snyder, executive vice president of product at Kinective, put it plainly: “A community financial institution shouldn’t need months to stand up real-time payments. Data has to move the moment it happens, not on the next batch cycle. Kinective Gateway removes that barrier for SWIVEL’s clients now, so financial institutions can get connected fast, and their members see a payment hit their account the second it happens. That’s intelligent banking in practice.”
What Happens to Existing Clients
Good news if you’re already using C2C: absolutely nothing changes on your end during the transition. SWIVEL’s existing client base will keep humming along without interruption while the infrastructure upgrade happens behind the scenes.
SWIVEL is also stepping up as a Silver sponsor of Kinections26, Kinective’s annual user conference happening November 15-17 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Kinective plans to unveil the next generation of its intelligent banking platform at the event, complete with new capabilities designed to tackle everyday challenges banks and credit unions actually face.
Bottom line? Real-time payments should mean real-time everywhere, not just on the sender’s side. This partnership is a meaningful step toward making that actually work.