Payactiv and Blackhawk Network announce partnership to help maximize earned wages with digital gift cards and promotions. Oct 20, 2026, 09:00 ET SILICON VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Payactiv, the creator of Earned Wage Access (EWA) and a certified B Corp, has partnered with Blackhawk Network (BHN), a global leader in branded payments, to offer digital gift cards and special promotions directly from the Payactiv app. Payactiv users will be able to browse a robust selection of digital gift cards and promotional offers within the app's marketplace and purchase them using their available earned wages. The partnership maximizes the value of workers' earned wages by giving them opportunities to pay less for gift cards with dozens of top participating brands, adding new ways in which they can spend their funds, find deals and ultimately save money. "Payactiv's partnership with BHN provides cost-saving opportunities for employees, helping to reduce expenses at a time when many struggle to make ends meet," Payactiv CEO and founder Safwan Shah said. "By integrating within the Payactiv Marketplace, BHN helps employees' earned wages go further." Gift cards are increasingly popular for consumers seeking affordable and convenient payment options. For participating brands, the Payactiv Marketplace creates an opportunity to reach workers at the point of purchase, support customer acquisition, and build lasting loyalty through relevant offers and added value. Through Payactiv, employers and other businesses can expand their wellness and loyalty offerings by offering the most requested employer rewards and gifts to strengthen retention and engagement among those they serve. "Our research shows that everyday expenses like grocery and fuel prices are leading causes of economic concern going into the holidays, which is why gift cards are such a smart addition to the Payactiv app," said Mei-joy Foster, vice president of talent management, BHN. "People are using value like gift cards, rewards and points as part of their everyday budgeting strategy and are combining them with deals and promotions to maximize spending power. Payactiv empowers users to do all of that within its app and provides convenient digital access so funds are easier to store and spend." Payactiv connects access to earned wages with tools that help people use and manage their money, including bill pay, savings, financial wellness resources, and marketplace offers. BHN's digital gift card experience will launch within the Payactiv app in November 2026. About Payactiv Payactiv is the access standard for earned money. As the pioneer of Earned Wage Access (EWA), Payactiv powers access to earned money across employers, payroll and HCM providers, financial institutions, and workforce platforms. Its infrastructure enables more than 245,000 businesses to deliver EWA, card programs, real-time payments, and embedded financial experiences - giving people greater choice in when, where, and how they access their money. Payactiv is a Certified B Corporation and Public Benefit Corporation based in Silicon Valley. For more information, visit payactiv.com. About Blackhawk Network Today, through BHN's single global platform, businesses of all kinds can tap into the world's largest network of branded payment solutions. BHN helps businesses grow revenue, increase loyalty, motivate and reward their teams, disburse funds and engage consumers. Branded payment solutions include the issuance and distribution of gift cards, eGifts, corporate payouts and rewards, along with the technology to deliver these products in seamless, integrated ways. BHN's network spans the globe with more than 400,000 consumer touchpoints. BHN's direct-to-consumer gift card marketplace, Giftcards.com, is America's highest-rated online gift card destination, with more than 45,000 verified reviews and more than $2 billion in gift card sales. SOURCE Payactiv

Payactiv and UKG bring Earned Wage Access into the flow of work through UKG's Frontline Worker Network. * Press Releases * October 8, 2026 Payactiv, the creator of Earned Wage Access (EWA) and a certified B Corp, today announced that UKG Wallet, powered by Payactiv, is now available as part of UKG's Frontline Worker Network. The embedded experience was officially launched on May 11, 2026, bringing access to earned wages and financial wellness tools into the flow of frontline work - within the UKG Workforce Operating Platform employees already use to manage their workday. Payactiv and UKG began working together in 2019. Since then, the companies have delivered the first EWA transaction through UKG Wallet, introduced the UKG Wallet Visa(R) Card, and expanded UKG Wallet to Canada and Australia. Through the partnership, Payactiv and UKG have settled over $5 billion for frontline workers. The latest evolution makes EWA part of a broader, connected frontline worker experience rather than a separate financial benefit employees must seek out. Frontline workers routinely move between schedules, timekeeping, pay, communications, and other essential tasks throughout the workday. By delivering UKG Wallet through the Frontline Worker Network, UKG and Payactiv make access to earned wages available in that same flow for employees of participating employers - without requiring a separate app or login. Within UKG Wallet, eligible employees can also access a debit card, budgeting tools, goal-based saving, and other financial wellness capabilities. Bringing these services into the UKG experience makes them easier to discover and use through a platform employees already know and trust. Powering EWA through the Frontline Worker Network UKG owns and orchestrates the frontline worker experience through its Frontline Worker Network, while Payactiv provides the infrastructure that powers earned wage access and related financial capabilities behind the scenes. Together, the companies connect workforce data, payroll, payments, funding, compliance, and settlement to deliver an integrated experience for employers and their workers. This model advances UKG Wallet from a standalone destination to a capability delivered in the flow of work. It demonstrates how the Frontline Worker Network can connect trusted partners and services to the UKG experience, helping employers meet more workforce needs without introducing another disconnected app or login. "At UKG, we've spent years listening to frontline employees and understanding the support they need to thrive at work and in life. Our longstanding partnership with Payactiv has helped us bring earned wage access and innovative financial wellness tools to millions of workers, and embedding UKG Wallet directly into the UKG Workforce Operating Platform is the next step in that journey," said Richard Liang, Vice President of Product Management at UKG. "Together, we're making it easier for employees to access trusted financial support within the app they use every day." Through Payactiv's APIs, companies can select and embed capabilities including: * Earned Wage Access: Access to wages employees have already earned. * Off-Cycle and Termination Pay: Timely delivery of final wages, payroll corrections, and other off-cycle payments. * Same-day, cashless Tips and Mileage: Electronic distribution of tips and mileage reimbursements without cash handling. * Card Programs: Payroll and debit card infrastructure supporting how people receive and use earned money. Payactiv manages the infrastructure behind these capabilities, including funding, risk management, compliance, card processing, and settlement. This gives companies a faster path to market and helps them deliver experiences that work within the systems people and businesses already trust. "UKG Wallet has been built through years of collaboration, not a single integration," said Sohail Aslam, Co-Founder and CTO of Payactiv. "Together, we have evolved UKG Wallet from a standalone app into a capability delivered through UKG's Frontline Worker Network and directly within UKG Pro. That evolution makes access to earned money simpler, more connected, and more relevant to the everyday experience of frontline workers." Developers can explore Payactiv's API documentation and begin building customized experiences at payactiv.com/developers. About Payactiv Payactiv is the infrastructure that makes access to earned money possible. As the creator of Earned Wage Access, Payactiv brings more than a decade of experience across work, wages, payroll, payments, and financial services to help businesses deliver trusted, connected experiences at scale. Serving more than 60,000 businesses and millions of workers, Payactiv provides the technology, operations, funding, compliance, and payment capabilities behind EWA, workforce payments, card programs, and other earned money experiences. Whether delivered through Payactiv or embedded within another platform, every solution is built around a shared belief: access should work for people, businesses, and the systems that connect them. Payactiv is a certified B Corp and has received the 2024 Stevie Award for Excellence in Financial Technology, along with honors from HR Tech and the California Excellence HR Awards. Share the Post:

Payactiv and UKG have integrated UKG Wallet into UKG's Frontline Worker Network, allowing workers to access earned wages and financial tools within the platform they already use. The integration, officially launched on 11 May 2026, eliminates the need for a separate app. The companies began working together in 2019 and have settled over $5 billion for frontline workers. UKG Wallet offers earned wage access, debit cards, budgeting tools and goal-based saving. Payactiv provides the underlying infrastructure, including funding, risk management, compliance and settlement, whilst UKG orchestrates the frontline worker experience. The integration demonstrates how the Frontline Worker Network can connect services without introducing disconnected applications. Payactiv serves more than 60,000 businesses and millions of workers, and is a certified B Corp.