Payactiv and UKG Bring Earned Wage Access into the Flow of Work through UKG's Frontline Worker Network

UKG Wallet, powered by Payactiv, gives frontline workers access to earned wages and financial wellness tools within the UKG experience they already use

SILICON VALLEY, Calif. , Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 ^® 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.

Learn more at payactiv.com. Follow Payactiv on X and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Payactiv