ACI Universal Payment

In 1975, in Omaha, Nebraska, the world of computing was changing, and three founders, James Cody, Dave Willadsen, and Dennis Gates, saw an opportunity. They started Applied Communications Inc. (ACI) to build software for the incredibly reliable Tandem Computers, which were becoming popular with banks. Their initial projects focused on the emerging world of ATMs, leading to the creation of their first major product in 1982: BASE24, a system designed for 24/7 transaction processing. The company operated privately for two decades, even having periods of ownership by US West and Tandem Computers. A pivotal moment arrived in 1995 when ACI, then known as Transaction Systems Architects, went public on the NASDAQ. This marked a new chapter, allowing the company to expand its reach and capabilities. The company officially became ACI Worldwide in 2007, unifying its brand to reflect its global presence. ACI's growth strategy heavily involved acquisitions. A series of key purchases expanded its services from banking and ATM software to online banking, bill payments, and fraud detection. One of its most significant acquisitions was in 2019, when it bought Speedpay from Western Union for $750 million, dramatically increasing its footprint in the U.S. bill pay market. Today, ACI Worldwide stands as a foundational, yet often unseen, player in the global economy, processing trillions of dollars in payments annually for thousands of organizations worldwide.