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CELEBRATING THE BOLD.
2026 Awards Call for Nominations
Recognizing leaders and awarding innovations that have propelled the industry forward.
NOMINATIONS CLOSE DECEMBER 9, 2025
ETA CPP
ETA Certified Payments Professional of the Year
- Should be a current ETA CPP and should have held your credential for at least two years when applying.
- Should have made material contributions to further awareness and growth of the program (e.g., authored/co-authored white papers/blogs, webinars/spotlight calls/podcasts, industry events).
- No repeat
- ETA CPP Committee picks the winner
The ETA Star Awards honors individuals and companies that have made a significant difference in the payments industry through innovation, business practices, or contributions to the association.
Nominations are judged by the ETA Industry Affairs Awards & Recognition Committee, made up of a panel of industry executives, who selected the finalists and winners in each category.
All honorees will be recognized at the Visa Celebration & ETA Star Awards at TRANSACT, March 18-20, 2026, in Atlanta.
Committee Volunteer of the Year
- Should be a current ETA member in good standing when receiving this award.
- Should have served as an active committee chair in 2025.
- Should have been an ETA committee volunteer for at least two years prior to receiving the award.
- Should have made material contributions to further awareness and learning while on the committee. E.g. Authored/Co-authored white papers/blogs, webinars/spotlight calls/podcasts, managed the agenda and key speakers.
- The recipient cannot be a past winner.
Pay it Forward
- The recipient should be a current ETA member or company who has exhibited selfless acts of kindness to improve their community. The good deed may or may not be linked to the payments industry.
- The company or individual should be an active ETA member in good standing at the time of receiving this award.
- The recipient cannot be a past winner.
ISO of the Year
- The ISO should be currently registered with Visa and Mastercard.
- The ISO should be an active ETA member in good standing at the time of receiving this award.
- The recipient cannot be a past winner.
Most Innovative Product or Solution
- Candidates for this award can be VARs, ISVs, mPOS providers, Security Providers, Payment Facilitators, Embedded Payments providers, or other technology companies that have a product supporting or relating to payments.
- The organization should be an active ETA member in good standing at the time of receiving this award.
- The recipient cannot be a past winner.
- This category could have more than one winner.
Sales professionals are indispensable in the payments industry because they drive growth, revenue, and innovation while providing essential support, education, and problem-solving for businesses navigating the complex world of payments. This industry involves facilitating financial transactions and payment processing, and sales professionals play a crucial role in helping businesses and consumers adopt and use payment solutions effectively. Their role goes beyond sales; they act as consultants and partners in helping businesses optimize their payment processes and achieve their financial goals.
The ETA is honoring 50 sales representatives from member companies that have demonstrated commitment and passion for achieving excellence. Applications are welcome from all sectors of payment sales.
Sales professionals in the payments industry can be successful due to their in-depth product knowledge, problem-solving skills, relationship-building abilities, industry expertise, and their capacity to adapt to evolving technologies and regulations. These qualities enable them to meet the diverse needs of clients in a complex and dynamic field.
Each recipient will be honored, and receive an award, at TRANSACT, March 18-20, 2026, in Atlanta. They will also be featured on ETA’s website, in a press release and a special edition of TT Weekly Newsletter.
ETA YPP
ETA Young Payments Professionals
PROGRAM SPONSORED BY
ETA YPPs, the rising stars of the industry, are offered valuable mentorship and leadership opportunities guided by some of the most successful and experienced leaders in the field.
2026 ETA YPPs and their mentors will be recognized at TRANSACT, March 18-20, 2026, in Atlanta.
ETA seeks mentors for the 2026 class of ETA YPP scholars. Mentors will help the ETA YPP scholars build knowledge, leadership skills and gain tools to advance goals through coaching and feedback.
Goals & Benefits
The ETA YPP scholar program provides support, education and opportunity to young payments professionals, and encourages ETA YPPs to assume leadership roles within ETA and the industry.
ETA YPPs stand to gain invaluable insight through this program. ETA’s goal is to provide the elements needed to help our young payments professionals of today grow, build collegial relationships with a class of scholars, and meet with respected leaders from influential companies that matter to the future of payments innovation.
Following their year as an appointed ETA YPP scholar, ETA invites these young payments professionals to continue their involvement with ETA by volunteering on committees and councils, contributing articles, and taking on an advisory role with the next group of ETA YPP scholars.
Each of the 2026 ETA YPP scholars will receive benefits in 2026 as listed.
Eligibility
- Currently employed by an ETA member company
- Each of the scholars will represent different companies, though one company may have multiple applicants
- Between the ages of 21-35 years
- Working in payments for a minimum of two years
- Application approved by your supervisor
- Has not previously served as an ETA YPP
ETA YPP Scholars Receive
- Assigned a senior industry mentor
- Complimentary exam to earn ETA CPP Certification
- Complimentary registration and travel stipend (if applicable) to TRANSACT
- Complimentary registration to Payments Fly-In on Capitol Hill, Fintech Policy Forum and TRANSACT Tech events
- Dedicated networking time with industry leaders
- Opportunity to contribute to development of ETA YPP session at TRANSACT
- Discount at SLF
PROGRAM SPONSORED BY
The ETA Forty Under 40 award recognizes the game changers of the payments industry. The ETA Forty Under 40 honorees represent all the evolving segments of the industry and are widely recognized for their contributions to the industry.
All honorees will be recognized at TRANSACT, March 18-20, 2026, in Atlanta.
Nominees must be under the age of 40 as of April 30, 2026, to be eligible. Previous ETA Forty Under 40 honorees are not eligible to apply.
