Priceless? Not this time. MasterCard is facing a £19 billion lawsuit (which now has been reduced to £14 billion and filed, as of 8 September 2016) – the biggest in UK legal history – in a collective action over card charges that were passed on to shoppers. The claim is headed by ex-financial services ombudsman […]
Time flies, so we’ve devised a quick fix. Here’s a round-up of key events in the payments space. In China, Qilong and Shenzhen Qianhai Exce-card Technology (SQEC) have formed a strategic agreement to co-ordinate with banks to issue China Union Pay audio bank cards. The latter make sounds when the buttons on the cards are […]
One of Russia’s major banking players, MDM Bank, has rolled out a single-tap Mastercard Contactless mobile payments option. The service is underpinned by the WAY4 Host Card Emulation (HCE) technology from OpenWay. MDM Bank’s customers can now pay from their Mastercard account with no need to enter a password or PIN code or even activate […]
Brevity is the goal of this. Here’s a round-up of events in the payments space to save you time. Let’s start off small… as in Small World FS. The London-based payment service provider reached a milestone with 50 million transactions processed on behalf of its customers. The firm’s been around for ten tears and says […]
Canada-based Windsor Family Credit Union (WFCU) has unveiled its new line of everyday accounts – Eva – for “unlimited” daily banking. WFCU says Eva provides “unlimited” deposits, withdrawals, transfers, electronic and cheque debits, point-of-sale transactions, ATM transactions worldwide and “unlimited” bill payments online, by phone, in-branch or at an ATM. Account access through online, mobile […]
If you’re curious, then it’s been fast and furious. Spending on UK contactless cards in the first half of 2016 has already outstripped contactless spending for the whole of 2015, according to the UK Cards Association. Some £9.27 billion was spent using contactless methods between January and June of this year, more than the total […]
Banking technology vendor Misys – currently residing in the hands of US-based Vista Equity Partners – is understood to be gearing up for an IPO on the London Stock Exchange. According to City AM, Misys is planning a £5.5 billion float and has appointed investment advisory firm Moelis to oversee it. In its current form, […]
Myanmar-based Yoma Bank has gone live with Misys’ core banking system, FusionBanking Essence. Yoma Bank, one of the country’s largest commercial banks, has been in tech modernisation mode since 2014. In-mid 2014, it issued an RFI for new core banking software, with the financial support from International Finance Corporation (IFC; a subsidiary of the World […]
The proposed sale of Vocalink to MasterCard, threatens to “kill innovation” in UK payments. This is the damning verdict of AccessPay CEO, Anish Kapoor, who is calling on payments experts to come together to voice their opinions and thoughts, before a final decision is reached. In the time it takes you to read this blog […]
It’s probably not farfetched to say you’re time-stretched. To save time here’s a round-up of some events in the (Asian) world of payments. Payments firm Mozido has revealed that 14 banks within the Taiwan Mobile Payment Co (TWMP) consortium have adopted its HCE technology. The remaining 12 banks will launch later this year. Mozido says […]
They said it. We read it. We edit. Here’s a round-up of events in the payments space to save you time. Payments platform Payza has expanded the availability of its Payza Prepaid Card to the majority of its account holders worldwide. It was initially launched to a “limited group” in December 2015, but Firoz Patel, […]
Union Bank of India has launched Ucontrol, a solution which lets customers control credit card usage with a mobile application. The solution is powered by payments provider Worldline, and Union Bank cardholders can manage usage of all their Union Bank of India credit cards from a single mobile application. Shri Arun Tiwari, chairman and managing […]
Visa says more banks and companies in the US have chosen Visa Direct to expand their real-time payment services, including PayPal, Fiserv and Square. Visa Direct is a payments platform designed to allow financial institutions, developers and partners to offer real-time person-to-person (P2P) payments and business disbursements such as insurance claims payments, contractor payments, tax […]
ING Bank Romania has launched a new mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) service, underpinned by MasterCard and specialist vendor GoSwiff. ING mPOS is aimed at local merchants of all sizes. It enables them to accept card payments through mobile devices, smartphones and tablets, connected to a card reader. It also supports other added-value services, such as consumer […]
MasterCard says 80% of its US consumer credit cards have chips, an 88% increase in their adoption since the 1 October 2015 liability shift started to bring EMV-secured payments to the country. The company has had to do this due to the change in law. It says it also sees 1.7 million chip-active merchant locations […]
Years of friction could be over as PayPal is talking to MasterCard on a potential strategic alliance, according to the Financial Times. PayPal, with its network of 188 million active users, has been expanding at MasterCard’s and Visa’s expense. One example was its recent partnership with Mexican telecommunications giant América Móvil for growth in Latin […]
Elo, the “first” 100% Brazilian card brand, conducted its first international transaction in the US on the Discover Global Network. This transaction marks the official acceptance of the Elo Global Card in the US. The cards are issued by Banco do Brasil, Bradesco and Caixa Econômica Federal, and will be used for international purchases and […]
Axis Bank has partnered with OT (Oberthur Technologies) to pilot the “first” open loop EMV contactless smart cards to be used in public transportation in Bengaluru, India. OT, a provider of security software products and services, says the cards allow people to tap and pay instead of buying a ticket each time they use transportation […]
Absa has launched a MasterCard-powered digital wallet and ChatBanking for Facebook Messenger. ChatBanking will let customers conduct banking without having to leave the social media platform; and follows on from the recent introduction of Absa ChatBanking on Twitter in May. Ashley Veasey, group CIO and chief digital officer at Barclays Africa (Absa is majority owned […]
MasterCard plans to become a payment service provider in China, according to Reuters. It is still pondering whether to do so alone or with a partner, it is understood. Ann Cairns, president of international markets at MasterCard, told Reuters that China is “pretty crucial” to MasterCard’s future, but the company is still “trying to understand […]
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place! BBA records dramatic increase in mobile banking usage Digital banking is in a “consumer-led revolution”. MasterCard buys VocaLink for $920 million Current owners Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and RBS will receive a handy windfall. Cidel Bank implementing ERI’S Olympic […]
MasterCard has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 92.4% of VocaLink for $920 million. As Banking Technology reported in March and April, MasterCard was in “exclusive” talks with VocaLink over the acquisition. VocaLink’s existing shareholders have the potential for an earn-out of up to an additional $220 million, if performance targets are met. This […]
Apple Pay is now available in France – with Visa debit and credit cardholders from Banque Populaire et Caisse d’Epargne (BPCE group) getting immediate access. Apple Pay can be used to touch and pay wherever Visa contactless payment is accepted. Visa says France already has over 400,000 merchant locations live with contactless payment today (19 […]
According to new research from Visa, consumers across Europe are interested in using biometrics when making a payment – especially when integrated with other security measures. About 73% of the 14,000 European consumers surveyed see two-factor authentication, where a biometric is used in conjunction with a payment device, as a secure way to confirm an […]
Why are the next generation of virtual cards the key to commercial card adoption? Alex Mifsud, CEO of Ixaris, explores the issue. Commercial cards are relatively commonplace in the business world, with companies using these cards to buy a raft of business related items, including client lunches, airline tickets & office supplies. Commercial cards come in […]
One million Visa cardholders in Switzerland now have access to the newly launched Apple Pay. Wirecard is now providing its clients with Apple Pay support too (see below for details). Cornèrcard and Bonuscard.ch customers will be able to use Apple Pay, which can be used at any of the over 100,000 contactless point-of-sale terminals in […]
Finnish fintech start-up Holvi has launched a debit card, Holvi Business MasterCard. It is available to customers in Germany, Austria and Finland. This follows on from the launch of a mobile banking app for iOS and Android last summer. Holvi, which was founded in 2011, provides entrepreneurs and SMEs with a range of financial and […]
UniCredit Bank, MasterCard and platform provider GoSwiff have launched mobile payments for Allianz-Tiriac Asigurari insurance agents in Romania. The partnership will enable Allianz-Tiriac agents to start accepting card payments with mobile point of sale (mPOS) for the insurance policies issued by the company. The firms say Allianz-Tiriac becomes the “first insurance company in Romania” to […]
Wirecard has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Citi Prepaid Card Services – giving it an expansion into North America. The firm says Citi Prepaid card services have launched over 2,500 client programmes, associated with global companies and brands, but primarily in North America. Subject to the usual regulatory approvals, the deal is expected to […]
Hundreds of UK-based jobs at Visa are in danger following the fallout from Brexit, according to Sky News. Sky News says it “has learnt that an agreement in the recent £17.5 billion takeover of Visa’s European operations by its American sister company included a stipulation that data from Visa card transactions should not leave Europe”. […]
American Express is partnering with Facebook to provide an Amex bot for its card members in Messenger. The concept will allow Amex card members to sign up to receive real-time notifications about their purchases, and information about card benefits and services related to those purchases. For example, if a member purchases an airline ticket, the […]
Banco CTT, a new bank recently launched by CTT Correios de Portugal, the Portuguese post office, has developed a new customer onboarding platform. The platform promises to complete the opening of a new account at Banco CTT in just 20 minutes online. It has been developed together with a local software specialist, Novabase. It is […]
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place! Visa Inc completes acquisition of Visa Europe Together again. Virgin Money UK in new banking software search Another one of Branson’s ventures. BIL embarks on major technology overhaul with Temenos Second time lucky? MoneyConf 2016: Woe to the […]
Visa Inc and Visa Europe are united again. The combined company provides digital payment products, services and processing to about 17,100 financial institution clients and partners, 40+ million merchant outlets, and three billion Visa accounts worldwide. The company says its branded cards and payment products amount to approximately $6.8 trillion in global payments volume annually. […]
US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and MasterCard are calling on US start-ups to apply for their Commerce.Innovated accelerator programme. The application process closes on 10th July, and the programme will run September to December. Commerce.Innovated is a four-month, bi-annual virtual accelerator, and this will be the fifth time it is held. Its organisers say it […]
Travelex has launched Supercard, a MasterCard and mobile app combo for UK travellers to avoid debit/credit card roaming fees and charges when spending abroad. Supercard will be chip and PIN protected. The security aspect will be taken care of by a payments firm Wirecard. Following a successful pilot, Supercard is now offered to the UK […]
Fintech start-up Neema has issued the MasterCard debit card for migrant workers from the Philippines, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka – which promises to drastically reduce the cost migrant workers pay to send money home. Neema says there are no transfer or foreign currency exchange fees. “One of the biggest expenses for migrant workers is […]
China will let foreign payment card firms operate in the country under rules issued on 7 June, according to Reuters. The announcement gives Visa and MasterCard the opportunity to tap into a CNY 55 trillion ($8.4 trillion) card payment market. Both companies have been lobbying for more than ten years for direct access to China’s […]
The European Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of Visa Europe by Visa Inc. This concludes all regulatory approvals required for this deal to go ahead, as the Jersey and the Turkish competition authorities have already given their stamps of approval. The transaction is expected to close in Visa Inc’s fiscal Q3 2016. The takeover […]
Italian payments firm SIA has teamed with Raphaels Bank to develop and launch payment solutions in the UK and across Europe. As part of the agreement, UK-based Raphaels and SIA will offer SEPA payments services to clients through the bank’s “indirect participation” in the SEPA Credit Transfer and SEPA Direct Debit schemes. Cristina Astore, head […]
