cVRP: a new standard for recurring payments in the UK

Commercial Variable Recurring Payments (cVRP) are emerging as a significant development in the UK's payment landscape, offering consumers and businesses a secure, efficient alternative to traditional recurring payment methods like direct debit. In 2025, open banking payments in the UK surged, with VRP transactions increasing by 98% year on year, demonstrating the growing acceptance and utility of this payment mechanism. cVRP extends the capabilities of VRP by allowing businesses in regulated sectors such as financial services, utilities, telecoms, rail, charities, and government to engage in seamless, consumer-controlled transactions with instant settlement and strong customer authentication at the consent stage. This new standard promises enhanced security and reduced fraud risk, as payments are authenticated directly through the payer's bank, eliminating the need for sharing card details. With Plaid leading the charge since 2022, integrating cVRP into existing systems is straightforward, leveraging Plaid's extensive network and technology to provide a comprehensive solution from identity verification to payment initiation. As the market for cVRP expands, it is expected to transform how recurring payments are conducted across high-trust sectors in the UK, offering a scalable and consumer-centric approach.