Our Story
About NPI
The National Payments Institute was founded with a simple belief: the payments industry needs a community where experience is valued, conversations are real, and membership means something.
Our Mission
The community we wished existed
We set out to build the community we wished existed when we started our careers in payments. Too many industry groups optimize for member count over member quality. Too many events are vendor pitches disguised as thought leadership.
NPI is different by design. We review every application. We cap our events. We separate Professional and Student tracks so that everyone gets value at their level. And we're rooted in the real work of payments—not the buzzwords.
Curated Membership
Every application reviewed by our team
Real Practitioners
2+ years payments experience required
Student Pipeline
Dedicated track for emerging talent
Atlanta Roots
Built for the U.S. payments ecosystem
Quality First
Our standard for membership
The strength of any professional community comes from the quality of its members. We review every application, look for real experience, and maintain a clear distinction between Professional and Student tracks.
Selective by Design
We don’t optimize for maximum members. We optimize for the right mix.
Honest About Levels
Student members are clearly marked. No one is misrepresented.
Community First
Members share, mentor, and contribute—not just consume.
Leadership
Meet the founders
NPI was founded by practitioners who saw the gap between existing industry groups and what payments professionals actually need.
Salvador Santos
Co-Founder
Senior Payments & Product Leader at Visa, where he leads B2B product development for acceptance solutions. 10+ years building fintech and payments products managing $40B+ in payment volume across 100,000+ merchants.
Also founded DisruptivePM, an AI-powered product management mentorship platform, and serves as Atlanta Chapter Director for Techqueria, a community of 2,000+ Latino professionals in tech.
Robert Velarde
Co-Founder
Operations & Partnerships Executive at Kennesaw State University, leading strategic partnerships that fuel research, workforce development, and innovation within KSU's Digital Financial Technologies Program.
Over a decade of experience spanning higher education, federal contracting, and management consulting. Co-founder of CMSV Consulting, advising public and private clients on data-driven decision-making and operational excellence. Previously managed $20B+ defense and aerospace program budgets.
Visa Product Leadership
Built and shipped payments products used by millions at enterprise scale.
KSU FinTech Partnership
Deep ties to Kennesaw State’s #1-ranked FinTech program.
Rooted in Atlanta
Building from the epicenter of U.S. payments processing.
Our commitment to veterans
Veterans bring discipline, leadership, and adaptability—exactly the traits that make great payments professionals.
Free Veterans Payments Cohorts
Each quarter, we run a free, structured cohort for U.S. military veterans and transitioning service members. Small cohorts of 15–20 veterans ensure real mentorship and hands-on learning.
Quarterly Veterans Networking Night
Dedicated networking dinners where veterans connect face-to-face with payments professionals. No awkward panels—just intimate dinner where real relationships form. Completely free for veteran attendees.
Roadmap
What's coming next
We're building NPI in phases. Here's what's on the roadmap.
Membership & Events
- •Application-based membership
- •Curated in-person events
- •Community discussions
Courses
- •Cohort-based payments courses
- •Taught by industry practitioners
- •Certificate of completion
Certification
- •Payments mastery exam
- •Industry-recognized credential
- •Continuing education units
Be part of something selective
If you're serious about payments and want to join a community that values quality over quantity, we'd love to hear from you.