In 2026, consumers carry nearly every part of their lives on their phones — credit cards, IDs, health records, and even car keys. Yet when it’s time for a business to pay them back, too many payout journeys still end with a paper check. Onbe and NRG’s 2026 Payouts Landscape report shows how far mobile-first consumer habits have outpaced legacy business-to-consumer (B2C) payout systems.

Mobile-first habits are the norm

• 66% of consumers typically add their boarding pass to a mobile wallet when they fly.

• 74% are comfortable making in-store payments with their mobile phone, up six points year over year.

Digital preference is overwhelming

• 89% of consumers say they prefer digital payment methods.

• 71% believe digital methods are more secure than physical alternatives, up 12 points from last year.

• 80% would pay a fee for a faster or more convenient payout.

Checks introduce an avoidable disconnect

Many businesses still default to mailing paper checks despite the cost, complexity, and risk that come with them. As payouts grow more frequent and financially significant, that gap between how consumers manage money and how they get paid is harder to justify.

The bigger picture

The macroeconomic backdrop is raising the stakes on every payout -- full-time hiring for recent graduates has slowed, more Americans are turning to gig work, and inflation expectations are rising. Consumers expect their payouts to move as fast as the rest of their digital lives.

Modernizing B2C payouts isn’t an operational nice-to-have anymore — it’s table stakes for meeting consumers where they already are. Digital disbursements close that gap. Download the full 2026 Payouts Landscape report or talk to Onbe about where to start.