About Us

Mission Statement

The mission of the Pacific Payments Alliance (“PacPay”) is to promote the safe, secure, and efficient use of the electronic payment systems that serve our members in the State of Hawaii and the communities they operate in. This mission will be accomplished through a program that seeks to:

• Educate members on the safe and secure use of electronic payment systems.
• Advocate on behalf of our members in the development of payment system rules and legislation.
• Negotiate for our members to obtain regional processing that meets the special needs of Hawaii financial institutions.
• Serve as a unified voice for the Hawaii financial institutions.

We Stand Resolute as Your Steadfast and Trustworthy Partners

PacPay and PaymentsFirst are working closely together, fostering a robust partnership that benefits all our members.

PacPay-PaymentsFirst Help Desk

Hours: 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. HST
Phone: 800-453-1843
Email: info@paymentsfirst.org

PacPay History

The founding of Pacific Payments Alliance dates back to 1981, when at the request of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the Hawaii Bankers Association, the Hawaii Credit Union League, the Hawaii League of Savings Institutions and the California Automated Clearinghouse Association (“CACHA”) undertook a cooperative effort to establish the Hawaii Electronic Funds Transfer Association, or HEFTA.

In February 1981, HEFTA was named advisor to the board of CACHA to represent Hawaii members.

HEFTA was later incorporated as a non-profit institution in 1984 under the laws of the State of Hawaii. In that same year, HEFTA established a private sector automated clearinghouse, known as the Hawaii Regional Processing Center, specifically designed to meet the needs of Hawaii financial institutions.

In 1994, CACHA was renamed the Western Payments Alliance (“Wespay”), merged with the Bankers Clearing House (completed 2001), sold the check portion of the business to The Clearing House (TCH) in 2004, and returned at that point to an ACH-centric payments association (but with an eye to points of overlap and shared interests with other payment systems). HEFTA changed its name to the Pacific Payments Alliance (“PacPay”) to better reflect the expanding role of its members in the Pacific Rim.

In January of 2018, PaymentsFirst, previously named Macha, began servicing the PacPay membership. PaymentsFirst provides a Help Desk from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. HST (800-453-1843), updates, training, and events that strengthen the knowledge of payments professionals.

Membership in PacPay (Regular or Associate) is available to qualifying applicants.