Before we dive into 2026, let’s take a quick look back.

Predictions are everywhere right now, and they’re great for planning what’s next. But sometimes the best way to understand where we’re headed is to look at what captured attention in the past year. So, we pulled together the blogs you spent the most time reading in 2025, the ones that sparked conversations and kept readers engaged.

Some of these were expected favourites, while others surprised us. Either way, they tell a story about what mattered most in B2B payments. From compliance deadlines to embedding payments and next-level fraud prevention strategies, these pieces reflect the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry.

We appreciate every click and every moment you choose Bottomline for insight. So, just for fun, let’s do this in reverse, Top 3 style, but for a change we’ll skip “the rule of threes” and go with a top four combination.

(Rankings only – blogs links at the bottom)

#4: What If You Miss the Swift CBPR+ ISO 20022 Deadline? A Reality Check for FIs

If you missed this important November 2025 deadline, we’re here to help you get on track. Non-compliance is likely to put payment flows and correspondent relationships at risk, so here’s how to close the gap quickly.

Sticking with our advice from September 2025, and as the ISO deadline approached, we told readers, “The [new] MX/message exchange standard’s data-rich format, offering up to ten times the data capacity of legacy MT [type] messages, enables banks to enhance their internal processes, improve customer experiences, and even develop new revenue streams.” Whether you’re an FI or corporate, MX is, undoubtedly, the new normal.

And now it’s 2026, so if ISO 20022 non-compliance still applies to you, it’s time to act.

We stand by our original checklist for an ISO jumpstart:

  • Engage Swift: Explore translation services for short-term message conversion.
  • Engage Third-Party Solutions: PSPs like Bottomline can help bridge the gap.
  • Review Correspondent Banking Arrangements: Only as a last resort, and only if your partners are fully compliant and willing to support you temporarily.
  • Prioritize Critical Payment Flows: Focus resources on the most business-critical payment types to minimize disruption.

What’s next? Expect continued pressure for richer data and interoperability across global payment networks. ISO 20022 is more than a compliance requirement; it’s the foundation for innovation in cross-border payments.

#3: Confirmation of Payee (CoP), Verification of Payee (VoP) Take on APP Fraud Flood

APP fraud continues to rise, but new verification rules are changing the game. Our late 2024 blog about Confirmation of Payee (CoP) and Verification of Payee (VoP) climbed the 2025 blog charts, even though CoP went into effect way back in 2019. We suspect that the allure has more to do with the EU’s VoP rule, requirements for which became effective in October 2025.

We said this: Being VoP-ready is mandatory, with an October 5, 2025, deadline. While the [Cop and VoP] systems are separate, "We expect to see independent schemes converge and interoperate over the next few years," said Bottomline’s Erez Nounou. While CoP was gradually rolled out, VOP will be a ‘big bang’ with more than 2000 PSPs mandated to join in October 2025.

Identity verification is the future of B2B payments. You’ll want to be ready with CoP in the UK, VoP in the EU, and superior ISO 20022 financial messaging worldwide (see blog #4, above).

What’s next? Watch for convergence of verification schemes and interoperability across regions, plus new mandates that make identity checks a standard part of every payment flow.

#2: 3 Key Strategies to Combat Payment Fraud in AP Departments

Fraud in AP departments is a growing threat, costing businesses millions. Penned by our very own Richard Ransom, this guide offers practical steps to strengthen your defenses and make your processes harder to compromise.

We won’t give it all away (read his blog; link below), but one key takeaway stands out. Ransom said something valuable in just two sentences: “By combining technological solutions with rigorous manual processes and regular audits, businesses can create a robust defense against fraudsters. Prioritizing these areas fortifies your organization's reputation and operational efficiency, boosting your business’s financial health.”

What’s next? Expect more automation and AI-driven fraud detection tools to complement manual processes, as businesses look for scalable ways to protect AP workflows in 2026.

#1: B2B Payments Outlook ‘26: Real-Time Lethargy, Embedded Options, and ISO Value

As 2025 ended, Eric Campbell, Global Solutions Architect at Bottomline, shared insights for 2026, touching on embedded payments, instant payments, and a regulatory roundup.

He wasn’t shy calling out the weakest link: paper checks. “Our industry's biggest exposure is checks,” Campbell said, adding that “There are a few major players who have set deadlines to eliminate check payments” and “once a few more set deadlines for ‘no more checks’ it’s going to be like dominoes falling.”

He also had a dose of reality for instant business payments, saying “We thought it was going to be explosive in 2020, 2021, 2022,” but noted that only about 15% of Bottomline’s banking partners had adopted TCH RTP by the end of 2025. The upshot? Instant business payments need more time to scale and mature before reaching ubiquity.

Lastly, Campbell sees promise in embedded B2B payments, but not everywhere, all the time. Complexity rises with multiple ERPs, multiple banks, and “host-to-host” links - creating fragmentation. His last word on the topic is that 2026 will be the year embedded payments moves from concept to clarity. “Users [will] understand where the rubber meets the road on this. Does it work? Who does it work for?”

Now, Read the Blogs…