Partnership Unites Suns with the Arizona Roots of Early Warning, the Company Behind
Zelle® – Which Has Become a Vital Part of Everyday Financial Life for Millions of
Americans
PHOENIX, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Phoenix Suns and Early Warning Services, LLC, the Arizona-based employer behind Paze® and Zelle®, today announced that Paze will succeed PayPal as the team's Official Jersey Patch Partner. Beginning with the 2026-27 NBA season, the multi-year partnership will bring the Paze logo to the upper left side of all Suns uniforms.
"We had a lot of interest in our patch; it was a very competitive process," said Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein. "Early Warning stood out because of its long history of innovation in payments, from Zelle to Paze, its deep roots in Arizona and the opportunity to build an innovative partnership that goes well beyond the jersey. Paze will have a meaningful presence across our business and with our fans and members, from ticketing and online checkout to opportunities to enhance the fan experience at our arena. It's an honor to have a hometown partner on our jerseys."
For nearly four decades, Early Warning has helped power payments innovation across the United States banking sector from its home in Arizona, where it employs more than 900 people. The company enables financial access, advances reliable and fast payments for consumers and small businesses, and helps banks and credit unions protect the people and businesses they serve. Through its broader portfolio of products, the company supports many Arizona-based banks and credit unions.
The partnership connects that national role and longstanding Arizona presence with the cultural and economic reach of the Suns, whose games and downtown arena generate activity for workers and businesses throughout Phoenix and the broader region.
Bringing Paze to Suns Fans
Paze is an online checkout solution offered by participating financial institutions. Consumers can use eligible cards from financial institutions they already know and use, without creating another payment account. And because actual card numbers are not shared with merchants during transactions, Paze provides a streamlined checkout experience with added security.
"The Paze patch will be seen wherever the Suns play, but this partnership begins at home in Arizona," said Serge Elkiner, general manager of Paze. "Early Warning has grown here for nearly four decades, and more than 900 of our employees live and work in the state. Having Paze succeed PayPal in one of the most visible positions in sports is an important marker of our momentum, and we're proud to introduce Paze to one of sports' most passionate fan bases while supporting the team and communities they call home."
The partnership extends beyond the jersey. Paze will serve as the Suns' Official Online Checkout Partner and Official Digital Wallet and become the entitlement partner of the team's season ticket membership program. Through these platforms, Paze and the Suns will create new opportunities to connect with fans, local businesses, and communities throughout the Valley.
To celebrate the partnership, the Suns and Paze will host promotional activations throughout the season. From Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, fans can get 50% off merchandise at the Suns online team shop at shop.suns.com when they checkout with Paze using promo code PAZE50.
In New York City, where Early Warning is rapidly growing and employs nearly 250 people, the company is the first Founding Partner of Etihad Park, the future home of New York City FC. Etihad Park anchors the broader Willets Point redevelopment in Queens, which is expected to generate $6.1 billion in economic activity over 30 years, create thousands of jobs and deliver 2,500 affordable homes, a public school, hotel, retail and open space.
Together, the Phoenix and New York relationships demonstrate how sports can generate impact far beyond the court or field. For Early Warning, these partnerships create a national platform to connect with fans while supporting places that bring people together, expand economic opportunity, and contribute to the long-term vitality of their communities.
The Suns long-term partnership builds on Early Warning's growing presence in professional basketball, joining the Atlanta Hawks as one of two NBA teams to feature Paze on team uniforms.
Fans can learn more about Paze and how to activate their credit and debit cards in the Paze wallet by visiting www.paze.com.
About Paze
Paze is a reimagined online checkout solution that banks and credit unions offer to consumers and participating merchants, combining eligible U.S. debit and credit cards into a single wallet and eliminating manual card entry. Designed to help solve long-standing challenges in e-commerce, Paze delivers a streamlined experience for both consumers and businesses. More than 220 million credit and debit cards have been added to the Paze checkout solution. To learn more, visit www.paze.com.
– Suns.com –
SOURCE Early Warning Services, LLC
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