The payments industry isn’t short on heavyweights, but North has just earned a spot near the very top. The U.S.-based fintech and payments solutions provider ranked #4 on The Financial Technology Report’s “Top 25 Payments Companies of 2025”—a list spotlighting firms shaping the future of money movement. Adding to the recognition, North’s CFO Kirk Haggarty landed at #11 on the companion list of “Top 25 Payments Executives.”

Why North Made the Cut

North’s recognition comes on the back of its $100+ billion in annual electronic transaction volume and its reputation for being “the easiest payment technology company to do business with.” That positioning has resonated across a wide customer base—from mom-and-pop businesses to global enterprises—thanks to scalable payment ecosystems designed to smooth operations rather than complicate them.

The Report highlighted a broader trend driving the rankings: payments are no longer just about infrastructure, but about strategy. Top firms are being rewarded not just for reliability and compliance, but for developer-friendly APIs, tech-driven innovation, and a push toward financial inclusion.

In that sense, North’s place at the table reflects how far the company has evolved from simply processing transactions to actively shaping the rails businesses run on.

The Human Factor

Recognition wasn’t just about platforms—it was about people. Enter Kirk Haggarty, North’s CFO, who plays a far larger role than the title suggests. Alongside his finance remit—capital formation, treasury, and M&A—Haggarty oversees human resources, sales, and several North subsidiaries including Point & Pay, Humboldt Merchant Services, Signature Payments, Inovio, Sekure Payment Experts, and PayProTec.

In other words, he’s as much an operator as he is a numbers guy.

“I’m deeply honored to be recognized as an individual, but we at North will always work together as one to build a better way of doing business,” Haggarty said. “The greatest accolade for North is the number of people and organizations who want to collaborate with us as we create the next generation of payments.”

Industry Context

North isn’t alone in riding the payments wave. Competitors from Stripe and Adyen to Block are chasing similar goals: simplified merchant onboarding, global reach, and embedded finance tools. What separates the leaders—at least in the eyes of The Financial Technology Report—is not just transaction throughput but how well platforms adapt to shifting regulatory and consumer demands.

The publication summed it up: “Infrastructure is no longer just a technical challenge but a strategic differentiator.” North’s mix of scale, simplicity, and people-first leadership appears to have earned it a prime slot in that narrative.

The Bottom Line

For North, the double recognition is both validation and motivation. As CHRO Kari Lawry put it: “This dual recognition is a powerful testament to our people power. We’ve built a team of the brightest minds and fostered a culture where everyone can thrive and excel.”

That cultural emphasis may sound like standard corporate speak, but in a payments industry defined by speed, scale, and fierce competition, having both technical credibility and leadership recognition can be a rare combination.

North’s next challenge? Staying ahead in a sector where the rails are rapidly maturing—and where being “easy to do business with” is just the entry ticket.