Payments


Qatar International Islamic Bank recommits to Misys

Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB), a long-standing customer of Misys, is implementing the new version of the vendor’s core system for Islamic banks, FusionBanking Essence Islamic, front-to-back office.

The Monday mindset: 30 January 2017

Fintech zeitgeist! Welcome to the third in a new series of brief reports. Every Monday, we might look back at last week; look ahead to this week; share a few thoughts (our own or others); or discuss anything that catches our eye. This week we welcome the views of guest writer Soumik Roy. Last week, […]

Barclaycard trials contactless donations to tap into £80m shortfall

Barclaycard is trialling contactless donations as it says charities may be missing out on more than £80 million each year by only accepting cash donations. According to its research, four in ten (42%) Brits say they carry less cash now than they did three years ago. While, one in seven (15%) people admit to walking […]

Understanding the role of virtual card provider

Your organisation’s satisfaction with its virtual card provider is the single most important factor determining the return you will receive on your investment. So when you choose a supplier, set your expectations high.

Ant Financial buys MoneyGram for $880 million

Alibaba’s affiliate Ant Financial is splashing out $880 million for money transfer operator MoneyGram International. This is Ant Financial’s first acquisition of a US-listed company.

Viewpoint: The Wider Appeal of Blockchain

The technology that underpins bitcoin has received increased attention in recent months from corporate heavyweights. Here’s how blockchain can further revolutionize payments and related industries.

TSYS Talks FTC Negotiations, NetSpend’s New Products

TSYS-owned NetSpend is negotiating with the Federal Trade Commission over the agency’s allegations that the prepaid provider deceived cardholders and denied or delayed their access to funds, TSYS Chairman and CEO Troy Woods told analysts this week in a fourth-quarter earnings call. TSYS also announced that NetSpend is working on diversification, including the launch of a demand deposit account later this year.

Target Aims for Its Own Mobile Payment System

Add Target to the retailers stepping up their mobile payments game: The retail chain plans to improve at least one of its mobile apps by enabling in-store payments through it. What that means is that consumers could use their smartphones and Target app to pay for purchases inside the chain’s stores instead of relying on Apple Pay, Android Pay or other providers’ digital payment systems.

White House Reg Freeze Raises Questions for CFPB, Prepaid Industry

Prepaid providers—along with P2P and mobile wallet providers that fall under the CFPB’s final prepaid accounts rule—might have cheered to learn that President Donald J. Trump issued a freeze on forthcoming regulations on Jan. 20. Further examination of the White House memo detailing the freeze, however, suggests that it may not delay the Oct. 1 effective date for the final rule on prepaid accounts. But, it’s implications for the CFPB and some of its other regulations are unclear.

Wirecard’s Newest Service Enables Mobile Money Transfers from Migrants

In an attempt to take its share of the exploding cross-border payments market, which hit about $600 billion last year according to some estimates, Wirecard is launching a new mobile money remittance service in Europe, targeting consumers including unbanked migrants sending funds home.

Carmakers Are Showing Love to Payments, but How Far Can this Trend Go?

Not content with simply getting people from points A to B anymore, carmakers recently have been diving into mobile wallets and parking and payment apps, not only through partnerships but through acquisitions. The trend seems likely to gain speed in the coming year but there remain questions about how far automotive firms can go with payments, and what constitutes the best path.

UK Post Office becomes a bunch of bankers

The UK’s Post Office has entered the banking market as a new industry-wide agreement with the nation’s banks comes into effect. From today (24 January), 99% of UK personal bank customers and over 75% of business customers can do their day-to-day banking at the Post Office – described as the “biggest expansion in face-to-face banking […]

Innovators’ Spotlight: ClassWallet

As companies fight for wallet share, ClassWallet’s focus on bringing efficiency to K-12 education expense management has helped the startup launch a successful digital wallet, prepaid card and online marketplace that could be a springboard to other niche markets.

U.K. Post Offices Become De Facto Bank Branches

The U.K.’s Post Office, which has a long history of providing financial services, including prepaid cards, has entered the banking market in a new way with an industry-wide agreement with the nation’s banks going into effect today. From Jan. 24, 99 percent of U.K. personal bank customers and more than 75 percent of business customers can do their day-to-day banking at the Post Office—described as the “biggest expansion in face-to-face banking access in a generation.”

Deutsche Börse goes blockchain for cash transfers

Deutsche Börse has developed a concept for the “riskless” transfer of commercial bank money via an infrastructure based on distributed ledger technology (DLT)/blockchain. By combining blockchain with its post-trade infrastructure, Deutsche Börse says the same as everyone else – such as it will “achieve efficiencies” and will investigate “possible new business opportunities”. Via collateralisation at […]

Western Union Settles with DOJ, FTC on Fraud and Money Laundering Violations

Western Union will pay $586 million in customer refunds and beef up its money laundering and fraud protections. after admitting to criminally violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act and federal anti-fraud regulations, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The settlement also involves the Federal Trade Commission and covers conduct that took place between 2004 and 2012.

ANZ’s Card Replacement Program Could Spur M-Wallet Adoption

A new service launched to mitigate customers’ inconvenience if their payment cards are lost or stolen might lead to greater adoption of mobile wallets and be a model for other banks. ANZ, one of the largest banks in Australia, has introduced a service that automatically uploads replacement card details as virtual cards to customers’ m-wallets, while halting activity on the missing physical cards.

Starling Bank first digital challenger to join Faster Payments

UK-based Starling Bank has become the “first of the digital-only challengers” to join Faster Payments this week. It is the 13th direct participant of the Faster Payments Scheme, and Starling says its customers will be able to see where their money is flowing and when in real-time, 24/7. Joining the board of Faster Payments, Julian […]

Starling Bank First Digital Challenger to Join Faster Payments

U.K.-based Starling Bank has become the “first of the digital-only challengers” to join Faster Payments this week. The 13th direct participant of the Faster Payments Scheme, Starling says its customers will be able to see where their money is flowing and when in real-time, 24/7.

Mastercard Moves Closer to Finalizing VocaLink Deal

A lone concern by the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding Mastercard buying VocaLink appears to be nearing resolution, thus paving the way for the card network’s acquisition of the U.K. transaction processor.

Blackhawk Provides ‘Upside’ for Companies, Business Travelers

Blackhawk Network’s expansion into the incentives industry continues to bear fruit. In its latest partnership, business travel site Upside will be offering its customers incentives, including gift cards from the more than 50 merchants in Blackhawk’s network.

FIS and Verifone Help Consumers Redeem Loyalty Points

2016 Pay Award winners FIS and Verifone are working together to make it easier (and instantaneous) for consumers to redeem loyalty points, some $16 billion of which are left on the table annually in the U.S., the companies said.

Carmakers Continue Payments Push: Daimler to Roll out Mercedes Pay

Banks and retailers aren’t the only companies getting into the digital wallet game. Daimler Financial Services, which operates under the same corporate umbrella as the Mercedes luxury car brand, plans to build an electronic payments service via its acquisition of Luxembourg-based PayCash Europe.

Daimler Financial Services buys PayCash Europe

Daimler Financial Services is acquiring e-payments services provider PayCash Europe, based in Luxembourg. This will enable Daimler to launch its own e-payments service under the Mercedes Pay brand.

AnaCap to acquire German payments provider Heidelpay

Private equity firm AnaCap Financial Partners is taking over a controlling stake in Heidelpay, an online payment service provider (PSP) in Germany. Heidelpay’s co-founders and existing management will retain a minority stake in the business.