Why Do Payment Apps Need Usernames?

Nobody wants to send money to an account number they cannot recognise

Imagine sending a message online.

You would probably search for:

You would not search for a random string of numbers.

Yet payments have traditionally relied on exactly that approach.

This is one reason payment apps increasingly use usernames and payment identities.

A payment username is a simple identity used to send and receive payments.

Instead of relying entirely on:

users can interact through a recognizable identity.

Examples include:

The goal is simple.

Make payment destinations easier to recognise.

“People naturally remember names better than financial information.”

The internet already runs on identity.

People use usernames for:

Payment apps increasingly apply the same principle.

Identity makes interactions feel more human and easier to understand.

Usernames reduce friction because people understand them immediately.

Traditional payment information can be difficult to verify visually.

For example, users may struggle to identify:

A recognizable username is easier to review before a payment is initiated.

This creates a more intuitive user experience.