Zelle

Zelle is a United States–based digital payments network owned by Early Warning Services, LLC, a private financial services company owned by the banks Bank of America, Truist, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo. The Zelle service enables individuals to electronically transfer money from their bank account to another registered user's bank account (within the United States) using a mobile device or the website of a participating banking institution.

The Zelle instant payment service was launched in June 2017. Previously, the Zelle service was known as clearXchange, which offered payment services through member financial institutions and a website. Launched in April 2011, clearXchange was originally owned by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. After Capital One and US Bank joined as additional partners, clearXchange was sold to Early Warning Services in January 2016. In December 2017, all clearXchange accounts for person-to-person payment services were rebranded as "Zelle", and clearXchange users began being required to recreate their profiles in Zelle to continue using the service.

History

• In April 2011, the clearXchange service was launched. It was originally owned and operated by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. The service offered person-to-person (P2P), business-to-consumer (B2C), and government-to-consumer (G2C) payments.
• For person-to-person payments, clearXchange enabled users to send money to other registered users having accounts at participating banks in the United States. Users accessed the network within the websites and apps of member financial institutions, and through clearXchange's website. The network connected with existing bank accounts, so consumers would not need to fund a separate account to use the service. This feature and the lack of fees for using the service were highlighted as advantages for competition with other person-to-person payment services such as PayPal, Popmoney, and Square. The system associated each user bank account with an email address and mobile phone number, so only the recipient's email address or mobile number was needed to send money directly from a bank account to the bank account of another person who had signed up for the service.
• Over time, the number of financial institutions that were affiliated with clearXchange grew to include various other banks and credit unions. Capital One and US Bank were added as additional owner-members.
• In June 2015, clearXchange announced the availability of a real-time payment system. However, some transactions could take as much as five days or longer to be completed.
• In January 2016, clearXchange was sold to Early Warning Services. Early Warning Services is owned by Bank of America, Truist, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, US Bank, and Wells Fargo.
• In September 2017, Early Warning Services released the Zelle payment system and mobile app and announced that all clearXchange "person-to-person" payment service accounts would be deactivated in December 2017. After that, clearXchange stopped supporting person-to-person payments but has continued to provide payments from companies and government entities to certain customers. The company encouraged the former users of clearXchange to sign up for the new Zelle service. As in the former clearXchange service, payees are identified in the Zelle service by an association between the recipient's bank account and an email address or mobile phone number. Money sent to a registered payee who has an account at a financial institution that is a member of the Zelle network is typically available to the recipient "within minutes".
• In March 2019, Early Warning Services's CEO, Paul Finch, stepped down to work with the Finch Family Foundation, a Phoenix, Arizona, nonprofit organization that serves needy families and children. Finch cited his long tenure, the completion of the launch of the Zelle network, and the company's plans to start new projects as reasons for the timing of his departure.
• In May 2019, Early Warning Services appointed their new CEO, Albert Ko. Before his appointment, Ko was the chief transformation officer for Intuit. While with Intuit, Ko was the general manager for Mint, as well as an overseer of QuickBooks.