Newline by Fifth Third and Trustly Partner to Transform Open Banking Payment Infrastructure in the U.S.

Fifth Third Bank’s embedded payments platform joins forces with global open banking leader to reshape how payments flow through ACH and real-time networks

The payments ecosystem just got more interconnected. Newline™ by Fifth Third, an API-first embedded payments platform, and Trustly, a pioneer in open banking payment solutions, have inked a strategic partnership aimed at revolutionizing how money moves across U.S. financial networks.

What’s Actually Happening Here?

The collaboration centers on a simple but powerful idea: making deposits and withdrawals faster and more seamless by leveraging multiple payment rails simultaneously. Newline’s API architecture now connects directly to Trustly’s infrastructure, enabling transactions via the Automated Clearing House (ACH) and Real Time Payments (RTP) networks, while simultaneously accessing Trustly’s pay-by-bank ecosystem.

“This isn’t just another integration,” explained Tom Bianco, general manager of Newline™ by Fifth Third. “We’re working with true innovators who understand the future of payments. The shared vision between both teams creates something genuinely different in how payments are processed.”

Eric Foust, vice president of banking partnerships at Trustly, emphasized the practical benefits: “Our customers demanded frictionless payment experiences. This partnership delivers exactly that—secure, instantaneous, and built on principles of open banking that put users first.”

Why This Matters for the Payments Industry

Fifth Third’s commercial payments division is processing staggering volumes: $17 trillion in annual payment transactions, and the bank maintains relationships with 25% of Fortune 100 companies. That scale, combined with Newline™ by Fifth Third’s modern API platform, creates infrastructure that Trustly can leverage to accelerate its own growth trajectory.

The timing reflects a broader industry shift. Trustly has already transformed payment experiences for over 9,000 merchants across 30+ markets, connecting them to a network of 650+ million consumers through 12,000+ banks globally. By partnering with Fifth Third’s payment processing prowess, Trustly gains direct access to U.S. banking infrastructure while helping merchants and consumers experience payments without friction.

The Broader Picture

Since Fifth Third’s acquisition of Rize Money in 2023, Newline™ by Fifth Third has repositioned itself at the intersection of fintech innovation and traditional banking stability. The platform enables enterprises to launch payment products, card offerings, and deposit solutions directly through Fifth Third’s federally chartered banking infrastructure.

Trustly’s own trajectory underscores the market opportunity. Founded in 2008, the company has grown into a global payment force, with existing partnerships spanning PayPal, eBay, Hargreaves Lansdown in Europe, and FanDuel, T-Mobile, and Coinbase in North America. Each partnership represents a validation of open banking’s potential to simplify how consumers and merchants interact.

Looking Forward

The initial focus on ACH and RTP transactions represents just the opening move. Both parties signaled that expanded payment products are in development, suggesting this partnership has runway well beyond the initial deployment phase.

For Fifth Third—a bank operating since 1858 with a reputation for pioneering financial innovation—this partnership reinforces its position as infrastructure for the next generation of payment experiences. For Trustly, direct integration with Fifth Third’s payment processing network removes friction from the merchant onboarding process and strengthens its competitive positioning in North America.

The convergence of open banking principles, API-first architecture, and established banking infrastructure creates something meaningful: a pathway for payments that works faster, scales easier, and prioritizes user experience. That’s the real story here.