Rusiru Gunasena gets top post in US Clearing House

Rusiru Gunasena joins the Clearing House to lead the real-time payment network in the USA. He is the first Sri Lankan to achieve this highest level of responsibility and it is a proud moment for Sri Lanka.

Rusiru Gunasena

Rusiru, payments and fintech leader with over 20 years of experience across multiple industries, joins TCH from Jack Henry, where he was Managing Director of JHA PayCentre, the faster payments hub that provides financial institutions with seamless connections to the RTP network. 

As leader of Jack Henry’s faster payments strategy, Rusiru oversaw the onboarding of over 170 banks and credit unions to the RTP network, more than any other third-party banking service provider.

In his role at TCH, Gunasena will oversee the ongoing growth of the RTP network, a modern platform for domestic real-time payments, complete with rich data capabilities and immediate payment confirmation. The RTP network currently reaches 61% of US demand deposit accounts and more than 260 financial institutions are live on the network.

RTP network is expanding to cross border payments to enable global commerce. His knowledge and leadership will benefit Sri Lanka’s payment echo system and fuel international trade with real-time settlement of funds.

Rusiru’s humble beginnings from Nalanda College Colombo to the United Kingdom, and then to the United States of America keeps him well rooted in his values. He holds an MBA from the USA and a bachelors’ degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom, where he was an honours recipient. He was a born leader who led the troop of 180 prefects at the young age of 18 as the Head Prefect of his school.

“I’m extremely grateful to everyone who trusted in me, gave me opportunities, taught me valuable lessons, and did the hard work to make things happen,” said Gunasena who truly appreciates everyone who makes a difference in his life. From his parents to family and friends at work and around the world means a lot to him.

Rusiru is a strong advocate in digital payment innovation and influences the US Payment Ecosystem by participating in various industry associations, workgroups, and committees. Recently he was elected to the Faster Payments Council Board of Directors where he also served as the Secretary/Treasurer.

The Clearing House operates US-based payments networks that clear and settle more than $ 2 trillion each day through wire, ACH, check image, and real-time payments. It is the nation’s most experienced payments company, with a long track record of providing secure and reliable systems, payments innovation, and strategic thought leadership to financial institutions. 

In 2017, the Clearing House revolutionised US payments by introducing the RTP network, which supports the immediate clearing and settlement of payments, along with the ability to exchange related payment information across the same secure channel. These RTP capabilities enable all financial institutions to offer safer, faster, and smarter digital transaction services for their corporate and retail customers.