Cypress Boosts Efficiency with Input 1 Integrated Payments

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. – January 14, 2026 – In a move reflecting a significant trend toward unified technology platforms in the insurance industry, Cypress Premium Funding announced today it has expanded its longstanding partnership with Input 1 by adopting its integrated payments solution. The Southern California-based premium finance company will embed Input 1 Payments directly into the SaaS platform it already uses, replacing its previous credit card processor to streamline operations and enhance customer payment options.

This strategic integration marks a deeper collaboration between the two firms. Cypress, a long-time client utilizing Input 1's Premium Billing System (PBS) for its core operations, will now manage its entire payment lifecycle within a single, secure environment. The move is designed to eliminate operational silos and provide a seamless experience for both Cypress's internal team and its network of over 1,500 insurance brokers and their policyholders.

"Our goal is to make it easier for customers to do business with us, without creating extra work for our team," said John Ratliff, Owner and CEO of Cypress Premium Funding. "Moving payments into the same platform we already use helps us stay consistent and efficient while giving customers more flexibility in how they pay."

Unifying Operations for a Competitive Edge

The decision to consolidate payment processing within the core Input 1 platform addresses a common challenge in the financial services sector: the inefficiency of disjointed systems. Previously, like many companies in the industry, Cypress's operations likely involved separate platforms for premium finance management and payment processing. Such a setup often requires manual data entry, complex reconciliation processes, and increased potential for errors, creating a significant administrative burden.

By integrating Input 1 Payments, Cypress is poised to realize substantial operational gains. The unified system automates the flow of information from payment capture to final reconciliation, reducing the manual steps required to manage transactions. This not only boosts internal efficiency but also ensures greater consistency and accuracy in financial reporting. For a company that provides financing to over 10,000 commercial businesses annually, these improvements in speed and reliability are critical for maintaining a competitive advantage.

This shift is emblematic of a broader digital transformation in the insurance industry. As policyholders' expectations for seamless digital experiences grow, providers are under pressure to modernize their back-end infrastructure. Integrated platforms that combine billing, payments, and core administrative functions are becoming the industry standard, allowing companies to deliver a superior customer experience while simultaneously lowering operational costs.

Prioritizing Security and Modern Payment Flexibility

Beyond efficiency, the partnership places a strong emphasis on security and modern payment convenience—two non-negotiable elements in today's digital economy. The integration brings Cypress's payment environment under Input 1's PCI DSS Level 1 compliant umbrella. This is the highest level of certification from the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, signifying a rigorous commitment to protecting sensitive cardholder data.

By leveraging Input 1's certified infrastructure, Cypress effectively mitigates the significant risks and costs associated with managing payment security and compliance in-house. In an era of escalating cyber threats, offloading this responsibility to a specialized provider allows the company to focus on its core business with greater peace of mind.

The integration also dramatically expands the payment options available to Cypress's clients. Policyholders can now make one-time or recurring payments not only with traditional credit cards but also through popular digital wallets, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. This move aligns with powerful consumer trends; recent studies show that nearly 92% of US consumers use digital payments, and digital wallets are the fastest-growing payment method. Offering these modern, convenient options is no longer a luxury but a key factor in customer satisfaction and retention.

A Blueprint for Strategic Insurtech Growth

The expanded relationship between Cypress and Input 1 serves as a compelling case study in strategic vendor partnerships. Rather than a simple transactional relationship, this evolution represents a deep-seated collaboration aimed at mutual growth and future-proofing operations. For Input 1, which manages over $16 billion in annual insurance premiums across its platforms, deepening its integration with a long-term client like Cypress validates its ecosystem-based strategy.

"Cypress has been a trusted client for many years, so expanding our relationship in this way was a natural progression," said Chris Farfaras, EVP and CSO at Input 1. "By embedding payments directly into the platform they already rely on, we're helping strengthen the payment infrastructure they depend on every day and move forward with greater confidence as expectations continue to rise."

This approach of building out services within an existing client base creates "stickiness," fostering loyalty and making the integrated platform indispensable to the client's daily operations. It also provides a powerful proof point that can be used to attract new business in a competitive insurtech market populated by players like ePayPolicy and One Inc.

For Cypress, the partnership provides a stable and scalable foundation for future growth. As the premium finance landscape continues to evolve, having a flexible and robust digital payment infrastructure is essential for adapting to new technologies and rising customer demands. This shared focus on building a reliable, interconnected payment operation ensures that both companies are well-positioned not only for today's challenges but also for the opportunities that lie ahead in the rapidly changing world of financial technology.