ACI Speedpay Pulse report finds 59% of US adults lack savings for $1,000 emergency expense

ACI Worldwide’s 2026 Speedpay Pulse Report found 59% of US adults lack savings to cover a $1,000 emergency expense. Control over bill timing has become decision-driving, with over 60% calling it very or extremely important. Debit card use reached 52.7% in 2025, leading credit cards by 11.4%, signaling a shift toward spend-limited payment methods. Digital bill pay accelerated, with 40% using mobile wallets in 2025, up from 17% in 2019. AI usage rose to 53.4%, yet 89.1% still prefer human support for billing issues, highlighting a trust gap in automation. Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. ACI Worldwide Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief via (Ref. ID: 20260819025135) on September 18, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. (C)