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Women in Payments USA 2026

Event Details

Be inspired by women making waves in the USA payments industry and beyond. Join us at the 2026 Symposium! Our theme for this year is "Unstoppable: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures".

Our keynotes, panels, and break-out sessions will help strengthen your skills while keeping you on top of industry trends. Hear from women leaders on a variety of subjects including current payments issues and initiatives, fintech, and leadership. You’ll also have the opportunity to network with women at all levels and with diverse backgrounds in payment and fintech. This is a must-attend event for any woman who’s serious about accelerating her career in the payments industry.

The Women in Payments symposium is a unique event that provides perspectives from key women leaders in payments, supports diversity and gender parity, and includes topics impacting all aspects of the payments ecosystem. The format includes keynote addresses, executive panel discussions, career development breakout sessions and networking breaks. This forum is an unparalleled opportunity that is empowering, current and immediately relevant to any woman pursuing a career in payments.

  • Date: February 26-27, 2026
  • Venue: The Ritz- Carlton, Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, Virginia, USA, 22102

     

Register

Agenda

All Dates
All Dates
Feb 25
Feb 26
Feb 27
All Rooms
Salon II & III
Salon I
Old Dominion
Ballroom Foyer
Peachgrove Ballroom
Feb 26

9.10 AM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Opening Remarks
    9.10 AM - 9.25 AM
    Room: Salon II & III

9.25 AM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Opening Keynote
    9.25 AM - 9.55 AM
    Room: Salon II & III

6.00 PM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Welcome Remarks
    6.00 PM - 6.05 PM
    Room: Salon II & III

11.30 AM

- Room(s): Ballroom Foyer
  • Networking Lunch
    11.30 AM - 12.45 PM
    Room: Ballroom Foyer

1.00 PM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Executive Panel - Reshaping Leadership
    1.00 PM - 1.30 PM
    Room: Salon II & III
    This session explores how today’s leaders are breaking barriers and redesigning the blueprint for the next generation. As AI transforms creativity and workplace dynamics, the conversation examines how diversity in all its forms fuels innovation, resilience, and organizational effectiveness. Speakers will share how inclusive design, human-centered leadership, and emerging technologies are shaping a more agile and creative workforce. Join us to discover what it takes to build a future-ready ecosystem where diversity, technology, and imagination drive lasting impact.

4.15 PM

- Room(s): Old Dominion, Peachgrove Ballroom, Salon I
  • Leading Well: Health as Strategy
    4.15 PM - 5.00 PM
    Room: Old Dominion
    Leadership often demands long hours, intense focus, and emotional resilience—yet lasting success depends on balance. This session explores how health and mental wellbeing are essential to high performance and sustainable leadership. Speakers from diverse backgrounds will share practical insights on maintaining energy, focus, and clarity while recognizing the importance of rest and recovery. Through open discussion on stress, support systems, and redefining what it means to pause, this conversation will offer actionable strategies for cultivating resilience, wellbeing, and sustained excellence in demanding professional environments.
  • The Power of Perspective: Women Shaping Payments
    4.15 PM - 5.00 PM
    Room: Peachgrove Ballroom
    In recent years the payment landscape has exploded with new tools, wallets, apps, and experiences designed to appeal to users across the country. Many solutions reflect generational preferences, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z. But what if we looked at it differently? What do women want? This session explores how women want to pay and be paid. It examines existing applications, highlights gaps, and reimagines what the future of payments could —and should —look like to better meet women’s needs and expectations.
  • The New Age of Financial Crime
    4.15 PM - 5.00 PM
    Room: Salon I
    Fraud and scams remain major risks across the payments ecosystem, impacting both consumers and businesses. This session explores a wide range of threats, from phishing and identity theft to account takeover and social engineering, highlighting the evolving tactics used by fraudsters. With artificial intelligence now playing a pivotal role in early detection and real-time prevention, experts will examine how fraud and fraud management are being transformed. Attendees will gain practical strategies for prevention, detection, and mitigation, and discover how cross-sector collaboration is helping reduce risks and reinforce trust across the payments landscape.

6.05 PM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Opening Remarks
    6.05 PM - 6.10 PM
    Room: Salon II & III

9.55 AM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Unicorn Challenge
    9.55 AM - 10.40 AM
    Room: Salon II & III
    The Women in Payments Unicorn Challenge gives female-run fintech start-ups the opportunity to present their concepts to a panel of judges and an audience of payments professionals. Winners will have the chance to pitch to major market leaders to gain valuable feedback from industry experts. Don’t miss an exciting event.

1.30 PM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Payments Around the World
    1.30 PM - 2.00 PM
    Room: Salon II & III
    Explore how global payment trends are reshaping the financial landscape and influencing the U.S. market. This session highlights the innovations driving transformation worldwide—from real-time payments and open banking to emerging technologies and regulatory shifts. Hear from industry leaders as they share perspectives on how international developments are shaping consumer expectations, cross-border commerce, and financial inclusion. Gain insights into how the U.S. payments ecosystem can adapt, collaborate, and stay competitive in an increasingly interconnected world of digital transactions and evolving customer demands.

8.15 AM

- Room(s): Ballroom Foyer
  • Registration & Networking Breakfast
    8.15 AM - 9.00 AM
    Room: Ballroom Foyer

10.50 AM

- Room(s): Old Dominion, Salon I, Peachgrove Ballroom
  • Visa Sponsored Session
    10.50 AM - 11.30 AM
    Room: Old Dominion
  • Payments Careers: Paths and Insights
    10.50 AM - 11.30 AM
    Room: Salon I
    Career success in payments rarely follows a straight path—and that’s what makes it so dynamic. This session explores the diverse and inspiring journeys of professionals who have built impactful careers across the payments ecosystem, spanning banking and fintech to retail and technology. Discover what drew them to the industry, how they navigated challenges, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Attendees will gain candid insights on embracing risk, building resilience, and developing adaptable, transferable skills to design a career that is bold, authentic, and future-ready.
  • Partnerships Powering Payments
    10.50 AM - 11.30 AM
    Room: Peachgrove Ballroom
    AI, digital assets, and distributed ledger technology (DLT) are reshaping the payments landscape, but true transformation happens when banks, fintechs, and technology partners collaborate to address real client needs. This workshop features candid insights from senior leaders driving high-impact innovations, showcasing how partnerships can turn complex concepts into practical, client-focused solutions. Attendees will explore real-world examples of groundbreaking work in AI and digital assets, uncover key lessons and best practices, and walk away with a proven action plan for building effective collaborations. Leave equipped to foster partnerships that enable future-ready and innovative payment strategies.

2.15 PM

- Room(s): Peachgrove Ballroom, Salon I, Old Dominion
  • Future-Proof Your Career with AI
    2.15 PM - 2.55 PM
    Room: Peachgrove Ballroom
    Generative AI is transforming business, not by replacing humans, but by empowering those who know how to harness it. This workshop explores how AI skills can accelerate careers, unlock growth opportunities, and enable unique professional pathways. Attendees will discover how companies are integrating AI across functions such as sales and marketing to enhance decision-making, boost efficiency, and personalize customer engagement. The session offers practical strategies for building AI expertise, adopting AI responsibly, and positioning yourself as a key contributor in an AI-driven world — supported by real-world examples that demonstrate measurable business impact.
  • Digital Assets: Transforming Global Payments
    2.15 PM - 2.55 PM
    Room: Salon I
    Digital assets, including stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and cryptocurrencies, are reshaping the financial services landscape by enabling faster, cheaper, and borderless payments. This session explores how banks and fintechs can strategically harness these innovations to modernize payments, enhance settlement, generate new revenue, and mitigate fraud, all while navigating regulatory requirements and building trust. Experts will discuss the evolving role of central banks, public-private partnerships, and blockchain technologies, sharing real-world go-to-market strategies. Attendees will gain insights into the opportunities, risks, and practical applications of digital assets in the future of finance.
  • Economic Outlook: A View from the Top
    2.15 PM - 2.55 PM
    Room: Old Dominion
    Gain a clear understanding of today’s economic landscape through real-time, data-driven insights into key trends, including the labour market, inflation trajectory, and evolving consumer behaviour. This session offers a strategic perspective designed to empower businesses to navigate and thrive amid uncertainty. Attendees will examine the implications of current economic indicators, evaluate emerging risks and opportunities, and consider practical approaches to decision-making. By combining timely data with forward-looking analysis, the discussion will equip organizations with the knowledge and tools needed to stay resilient and seize growth in 2025 and beyond.

2.55 PM

- Room(s): Ballroom Foyer
  • Networking Break
    2.55 PM - 3.25 PM
    Room: Ballroom Foyer

3.25 PM

- Room(s): Old Dominion, Salon I, Peachgrove Ballroom
  • Ethics of Intelligent Payments
    3.25 PM - 4.05 PM
    Room: Old Dominion
    As artificial intelligence transforms payments, it promises smarter, faster, and more personalised commerce—yet also introduces new ethical challenges. This session explores how AI is reshaping fraud prevention, credit decisioning, and customer engagement, and the implications when algorithms reflect bias or compromise fairness. The session will examine responsible innovation through the lenses of governance, data ethics, and inclusivity. Attendees will gain insight into building intelligent payments systems that advance efficiency while safeguarding trust, transparency, and consumer protection across the ecosystem.
  • The Merchant View: Agentic Commerce & Tokenization
    3.25 PM - 4.05 PM
    Room: Salon I
    The future of commerce is agentic, but are merchants ready to implement it securely, fairly, and at scale? This session offers a candid, interactive exploration of agentic commerce and tokenization from the merchant perspective. Panelists will discuss real-world challenges, practical solutions, and the opportunities these innovations present for enhancing customer experiences, streamlining operations, and managing risk. Attendees will gain insight into how merchants are navigating tokenized payments, balancing security with convenience, and preparing for the next wave of commerce—moving beyond hype to actionable strategies for today’s payments ecosystem.
  • The Generational Puzzle: Fitting Together for Success
    3.25 PM - 4.05 PM
    Room: Peachgrove Ballroom
    Today’s workplaces span more generations than ever before — each bringing unique values, communication styles, and expectations. This interactive session explores why we work the way we do, unpacking the motivations behind generational differences and challenging common stereotypes. Through guided reflection, self-assessments, and table-led discussions, participants will examine diverse perspectives on workplace norms and discover practical ways to foster empathy and connection across age groups. Attendees will leave with strategies to navigate change, coach effectively, and strengthen collaboration in a multigenerational workforce—building a stronger foundation for collective success.

5.00 PM

- Room(s): Ballroom Foyer
  • Registration & Awards Reception
    5.00 PM - 6.00 PM
    Room: Ballroom Foyer

7.40 PM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Awards Presentation
    7.40 PM - 9.00 PM
    Room: Salon II & III

12.45 PM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Unicorn Challenge Finale
    12.45 PM - 1.00 PM
    Room: Salon II & III
    The Women in Payments Unicorn Challenge gives female-run fintech start-ups the opportunity to present their concepts to a panel of judges and an audience of payments professionals. Winners will have the chance to pitch to major market leaders to gain valuable feedback from industry experts. Don’t miss an exciting event.

6.10 PM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Awards Dinner
    6.10 PM - 7.40 PM
    Room: Salon II & III

9.00 AM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Welcome Remarks
    9.00 AM - 9.10 AM
    Room: Salon II & III
Feb 27

10.10 AM

- Room(s): Salon I
  • Practical Applications of AI and Machine Learning in Payments
    10.10 AM - 10.25 AM
    Room: Salon I
    This session explores how Bank of America is using innovative technology to meet and anticipate the needs of its clients and employees. AI and machine learning are already embedded across the company’s business lines, including global technology, operations, and training, with a transformative impact on efficiency and decision-making. Attendees will gain insight into how these technologies are shaping the future of payments, improving employee effectiveness, and enabling clients to drive business growth with greater speed and confidence.

10.30 AM

- Room(s): Old Dominion, Peachgrove Ballroom, Salon I
  • Decoding Gen Z: Payments & Rewards
    10.30 AM - 11.10 AM
    Room: Old Dominion
    Join us for an engaging fireside chat exploring new research on Gen Z’s approach to payments, incentives, and rewards. As this generation gains financial independence, their spending power is rapidly increasing—but do we fully understand their unique preferences? Drawing on recent research findings and exclusive interviews with Gen Z consumers, speakers will examine their payment behaviours, technology habits, and expectations around rewards. Attendees will gain practical insights into how to engage this influential demographic, adapt offerings to meet their needs, and design payment and loyalty experiences that resonate in today’s evolving financial landscape.
  • Mastercard Sponsored Session
    10.30 AM - 11.10 AM
    Room: Peachgrove Ballroom
  • Networks as a Superpower
    10.30 AM - 11.10 AM
    Room: Salon I
    True networks are transformational, driving innovation, resilience, and growth. In this dynamic session, accomplished speakers will share personal stories of partnerships that transcended competition and fostered authentic collaboration. Attendees will explore how meaningful connections—beyond business cards and LinkedIn contacts—can become a true professional superpower. The discussion will highlight strategies for building, nurturing, and activating networks that open doors to mentorship, co-creation, and career advancement. Participants will leave with practical insights on leveraging relationships to unlock opportunities, fuel innovation, and elevate both personal and organizational success in today’s fast-evolving professional landscape.

11.20 AM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • The Future is Now
    11.20 AM - 12.00 PM
    Room: Salon II & III
    The future is now, and it’s reshaping how we think about money, trust, and innovation. This session explores the rapid evolution of emerging technologies such as stablecoins, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, and their growing influence on the payments ecosystem. Speakers will examine the opportunities and risks these technologies present, from faster cross-border transactions to new regulatory frameworks. Discover how governments, financial institutions, and innovators are navigating this shifting landscape to build secure, transparent, and efficient systems for the next generation of payments.

8.40 AM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Welcome Remarks
    8.40 AM - 8.50 PM
    Room: Salon II & III

12.35 PM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Closing Remarks
    12.35 PM - 12.50 PM
    Room: Salon II & III

10.00 AM

- Room(s): Ballroom Foyer
  • Networking Break
    10.00 AM - 10.30 AM
    Room: Ballroom Foyer

12.00 PM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Closing Keynote Introduction
    12.00 PM - 12.05 PM
    Room: Salon II & III

12.05 PM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Closing Keynote
    12.05 PM - 12.35 PM
    Room: Salon II & III

8.00 AM

- Room(s): Ballroom Foyer
  • Registration & Networking Breakfast
    8.00 AM - 8.40 AM
    Room: Ballroom Foyer

8.50 AM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Opening Remarks
    8.50 AM - 9.00 AM
    Room: Salon II & III

9.30 AM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Meaningful Allyship
    9.30 AM - 10.00 AM
    Room: Salon II & III
    In traditionally male-dominated industries, male allyship plays a crucial role in expanding access, visibility, and opportunity. Allies can help open doors to networks and sponsorships that may otherwise remain out of reach due to historical or informal barriers. This session brings together senior leaders to share how authentic allyship has shaped their careers and the careers of others. Join this session to explore how intentional collaboration, advocacy, and mentorship can drive inclusion, empower growth, and build stronger, more equitable workplaces.

12.50 PM

- Room(s): Ballroom Foyer
  • Lunch
    12.50 PM - 1.30 PM
    Room: Ballroom Foyer

9.00 AM

- Room(s): Salon II & III
  • Opening Keynote
    9.00 AM - 9.30 AM
    Room: Salon II & III
Feb 25

5.00 PM

- Room(s): Ballroom Foyer
  • Opening Cocktail
    5.00 PM - 7.00 PM
    Room: Ballroom Foyer

Accommodations

We have arranged for a limited number of rooms at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd, McLean, Virginia  at a group rate of $349 USD + Taxes and fees. Reservations must be made no later than February 2, 2026  to qualify for the group rate.  We encourage you to make your reservations early as rooms sell quickly. Kindly book your group rate here.

You may also call in to make a reservation at 1-800-542-8680.  Please reference the group name Women in Payments 2026 USA Symposium February 2026 when making reservations.

USA Ritz

Sponsors & Partners

USA 2026 SPONSORS logos-Dec10