Zelle® tag Adoption Tops 1 Million; Small Businesses Across America Enroll at a Rate of Nearly 3,500 Per Day in the First Half of 2026

NEW YORK – From contractors to health care providers and local service businesses, small businesses across Main Street America are increasingly turning to Zelle to help simplify operations, improve the customer experience and get paid more easily.

During the first half of 2026, small businesses enrolled in Zelle® tag at an average rate of approximately 3,500 per day, as enrollment tops 1 million small businesses. Small businesses with a Zelle® tag received nearly $5.8 billion across all of their enrolled payment credentials during the period, offering an early indication of how the feature can help businesses make it easy for customers to pay them.

“Every customer interaction matters for a small business,” said Adam Klappholz, head of product for Zelle. “Whether it’s a family-owned construction business or a personal trainer, small businesses are at the heart of the Main Street economy and part of the fabric of American communities. We’re focused on building tools that make it easy for small businesses to be paid so they can spend more time serving their customers.”

Powering Main Street Businesses

Available since 2025, Zelle® tag is part of Zelle® Forward, a broader set of initiatives designed to expand how consumers and businesses use Zelle. The feature gives participating small businesses a customized digital “open for business” sign that makes it easy to pay them while preserving the speed, reliability and cash-flow visibility they expect from Zelle.

Small-business activity across the Zelle® network of more than 2,400 banks and credit unions that represent all slices of America also continued to grow during the first half of 2026. Zelle reached a milestone of 8.3 million enrolled small-business bank and credit union accounts that sent or received more than $200 billion in the first half of the year.

Adoption by Local Businesses

Zelle® tag is being adopted across a wide range of businesses that serve communities across America. The largest categories using the feature include real estate, health services, construction and specialty contractors and transportation services. Some of the fastest-growing categories include amusement and recreation services, membership organizations, automotive repair and parking.

Together, these businesses help power local economies and support the everyday needs of the Americans they serve.

“It’s the convenience,” said Mark W., a real estate small business owner from Illinois. “[Zelle] gives me time back not having to run around and physically collect money or pay money to someone.”

About Zelle® 

Zelle® powers fast, reliable person-to-person digital payments, moving more than $1 trillion between millions of consumer and small business accounts at United States banks and credit unions. Available through a network of more than 2,300 financial institutions, Zelle® enables people to send and receive money directly – without cash, checks or third-party apps. Zelle® is owned and operated by Early Warning Services, LLC, which works with America’s banks, credit unions and government agencies to drive prosperity, deliver bold innovation and improve how payments are made. Learn more at www.zelle.com.

Media May Contact:

Eric Blankenbaker
Eric.Blankenbaker@earlywarning.com
929.745.0923

Sidney McKenzie
Sidney.Mckenzie@earlywarning.com
646.276.0405