Payments


Google to bring Android Pay to UK

Google is bringing Android Pay to the UK market – with Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA and Nationwide Building Society the first to support it. This latest move follows Android Pay’s launch in the US in September 2015, and it should be available in the UK “in the […]

Sberbank Kazakhstan opens way to cardless cash withdrawals

Sberbank Kazakhstan and OpenWay have launched a cardless cash withdrawal service on the Way4 platform. The bank’s customers can now get cash at more than 900 ATMs without a card. Instead, a “secret” code is entered at the ATM. The new “cash by code” functionality was developed by OpenWay together with an unnamed third party […]

Payments shake-up in the UK: the baby and the bathwater

Since the introduction of the Faster Payments Service (FPS) the best part of a decade ago the UK has been rather proud of its payments system – industry body Payments UK uses the phrase “world class payments” in its development plans, and successive politicians have trumpeted the country’s prowess in this field, much as their […]

APEX Panel Offers Insights on ‘Expanding the Tent’ of Prepaid

While prepaid cards long have been positioned as transactional tools to help the underbanked make electronic purchases, the future of the sector lies in expanding the definition of prepaid to serve multiple money management needs for a variety of customers—including those who also have a traditional bank account.

Myth-Busting on Expanding into Europe

Craig James, CEO of London-based compliance consultancy Neopay, delivered a talk at the All Payments Expo in New Orleans on March 22 to help companies eyeing Europe as an international expansion market.

Mobile Wallets Need More Than a Payment Button

Mobile wallets command serious buzz in the payment and retail worlds, but at the All Payments Expo Tuesday in New Orleans, experts pointed out that the technology has yet to gain global traction and consumers will need more from such programs than the ability to make purchases.

Swift launches global reference data platform for SEPA IBAN in UK

Swiftref, Swift’s global reference data utility, has delivered the IBAN/BIC reference platform for the UK community under the guidance of Payments UK. The project was initiated in early 2015, with Swift commissioned to design and build the platform. Swift says this new Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) International Bank Account Number (IBAN) Only (Sepaio) central […]

APEX Keynote: Blackhawk’s Roche on Payments as Engagement

As retailers and brands seek to deepen connections with their customers, emerging payment technologies represent a key opportunity for meaningful engagement with consumers, according to Talbott Roche, president and CEO, Blackhawk Network. Delivering a keynote address on the opening day of the All Payments Expo in New Orleans on Monday, Roche explained how the growing ubiquity of mobile devices and the rise of the connected consumer have created myriad new channels for messaging and engagement.

Federal Agencies Issue Guidance on Prepaid CIP

Federal financial institution regulatory agencies on March 21 issued guidance clarifying the applicability of the Customer Identification Program (CIP) rule to prepaid cards issued by banks.

APEX: The Gift Card Opportunity

Experts at the All Payments Expo talk up gift cards, and give advice on how to sell programs to superiors. They also set their sights on digital gift cards.

Neat trick as Hong Kong start-up uses selfies to verify payments

Hong Kong start-up Neat is setting its sights on the millennials’ market and will let customers open a payment account with a selfie. Neat founder David Rosa, a former MD at Citi, says the app and payment card will use facial recognition technology to confirm the holder’s Hong Kong identification card is correct. It’s not […]

Polymer notes pose £45m problem for UK cash machines

High street banks in the UK will need to replace or upgrade thousands of cash machines at a cost of £45 million because they cannot grip the new “slippery” plastic notes, according to Bloomberg. Polymer notes are to be brought into circulation this year by the Bank of England, and the banknotes stay cleaner, are […]

All Payments Expo Kicks off in New Orleans 

The All Payments Expo kicks off today in New Orleans! If you’re at the show, the exhibit hall opens at 10 a.m. Be sure to stop by and see Paybefore at Booth 201 and visit our 2016 Awards Winners Showcase to learn more about this year’s Pay Awards winners. Then, join us to celebrate the 10th annual Pay Awards at 6:15 p.m. to find out who will win top honors.

BPC’s SmartVista powers Warehouse Money cards, vendor’s largest retail project

BPC Banking Technologies says New Zealand’s largest retail chain – Warehouse Group – has chosen the SmartVista payments suite for its financial services business. The initiative is called “Warehouse Money” and offers the retailer’s consumers the chance to save 5% on purchases via a new Visa card or earn “purple dollars” via the Purple card. […]

Chase Bank Kenya migrates card portfolio to OpenWay’s Way4 platform

Chase Bank Kenya has migrated its full card portfolio to the Way4 payment software platform from Electra Card System. The solution is developed by Belgium-based OpenWay and Way4 will support the issuance of prepaid, debit and credit cards — under the MasterCard and Visa brands. Chase Bank Kenya is looking to grow its cards business […]

DNB’s P2P mobile payments app is Norway’s No 1

DNB’s “first” peer-to-peer (P2P) mobile payment solution in Norway has become the number one downloaded app in the country. Dubbed “Vipps”, and launched six months ago with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), it is now used by 25% of Norway’s population. The app is available for use on all mobile devices and it allows short chat […]

Top fintech stories this week – 18 March 2016

Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place! Deutsche Börse and LSE to merge Two hearts beat as one. D+H Corporation joins US real-time payments rush Catches up with rivals FIS and Jack Henry. Deutsche Bank and Bank of China partner for cash management Becomes first […]

D+H Corporation joins US real-time payments rush

US-based banking and payments software vendor D+H has joined its rivals FIS and Jack Henry in partnering with The Clearing House (TCH) for real-time payments. D+H will provide US banks and financial institutions with access to TCH’s domestic instant payments system. The system is currently being built, with the “plumbing” provided by VocaLink. The vendor’s […]

Mondo signs with Thames Card Technology for debit cards; has problems with mobile app

A UK-based challenger bank, Mondo, has partnered with Thames Card Technology for debit card production and personalisation. Beta test cards will be issued to consumers this year. Mondo, which positions itself as a “mobile first” bank, will be offering a contactless debit card paired with a mobile banking app to its customers. The mobile app’s […]

The United Bank of Egypt upgrades core software with Misys

A long-standing user of a host of Misys’ products, The United Bank of Egypt has committed to upgrade to the latest version of software. The project is penned for completion later this year. The bank will upgrade to FusionBanking Equation (core system), FusionBanking Trade Innovation (trade finance) and FusionCapital Opics (treasury and capital markets). It […]

Viewpoint: A Modern Magnifying Glass for IVR Performance

If you’re not analyzing your cardholders’ IVR interactions, you’re missing an opportunity to improve their experiences and engender loyalty. IVR design based on insights from previous interactions is crucial, particularly in prepaid where cardholders rely heavily on customer service.

Pay Magazine – Spring 2016

Limitless: Next-Gen Commerce Has No Boundaries; Fighting Fraud: Mobile, EMV, Tax Refunds; Securing Mobile Payments; Former CFPB Lawyer: Coping with the Complaint Database; Record-Breaking IPOs, IoT and More

Industry: Report on Tax Refund Delays Misses Mark

A recent report claiming that heightened anti-tax fraud efforts have led to taxpayers suffering delays in receiving refunds via prepaid cards mischaracterizes the situation, industry observers say.

Survey: Banks Fear Fintech Effect

Banking executives worry the rise of fintech could spell trouble for their institutions, a new report reveals. Conducted by PwC, the survey of 544 CEOs, CIOs and other top managers at financial services providers in 46 countries found that 83 percent of respondents from traditional firms feared disruption caused by new standalone fintech companies could result in the loss of business.

Japanese Bitcoin Case Will Remain in U.S.

A proposed class-action lawsuit regarding the alleged mishandling of bitcoin accounts in Japan will remain in the U.S., according to a federal court ruling in Chicago this week.

Cash is still king but “uneasy lies the head that wears a crown!”

Even as I am prepping for my next industry event, observations from the last conference I attended continue to permeate my thoughts. The ATMIA US Conference that was held in New Orleans only recently and yet, three items continue to have me thinking about the durability, indeed longevity, of some of the points raised. In […]

M&A Update: Payoneer Buys Armor; FinTech Studios Acquires iUbble

M&A activity continues apace with cross-border B2B payments firm Payoneer completing its acquisition of escrow services provider Armor Payments. Meanwhile, FinTech Studios, which sells fintech software, has bought iUbble, a 2-year-old company whose own software includes a browser for Web and mobile apps.

CFPB Supervisory Highlights Focus on Remittances, Restitution

The CFPB’s latest Supervisory Highlights report is the first to detail the bureau’s examinations of remittance providers since the agency’s rules governing international money transfers went into effect more than two years ago. Next up, Director Richard Cordray’s semi-annual report to Congress.

Payoneer acquires Armor Payments to create global alternative to LCs

US-based Payoneer has acquired Armor Payments as it looks to create a “global alternative” to letters of credit (LCs). Armor Payments, co-founded by former PayPal Director, Scott Reynolds, is the “only licensed B2B payments provider offering Escrow-as-a-Service (EaaS)”. Through the acquisition, the new integrated Armor Payments Payoneer Escrow solution will allow B2B buyers and suppliers […]

AribaPay launches in Canada

SAP Ariba and Discover Financial Services have rolled out their B2B payments service, AribaPay, in Canada. Last month AribaPay was launched in the US (also with the help of Discover). And earlier this year, SAP partnered with First Data for a rollout across Europe and Latin America. SAP Ariba says Canadian businesses and consumers pass […]