Whether it’s prepaid card time or financial crime, the world of blockchain and Bitcoin is a lively one. This latest round-up features BitFlyer, Visa, Accuity, R3 and SIA. Tokyo-based Bitcoin exchange BitFlyer has unveiled a Visa prepaid card that can be charged with Bitcoin in yen and used throughout Japan. It can be charged via […]
In trying to balance its budget, the Illinois legislature has taken aim at the wallets of the poor. Two changes by the state government will make it harder for low-income people to manage their financial lives by reducing the usefulness of prepaid cards and increasing the expense of cashing a check.
Spafinder, a marketing, gifting, incentives and rewards brand owned by Blackhawk Network, has unveiled new gift card technology, expanded distribution and additional partner services to make giving the gift of spa and beauty experiences easier for consumers and businesses.
Pay Award-winning payments technology company Wirecard is expanding its mobile payment app boon with new features to make it an “all-embracing app in everyday life.”
On the heels of Equifax’s massive data breach that compromised 143 million identities, Mastercard today (Oct. 2) announced the launch of Early Detection System, which alerts banks to high-risk cards and accounts that are exposed in security incidents or data breaches.
Hawk Incentives, a Blackhawk Network business that provides rewards and incentive solutions, has unveiled a new open-loop Mastercard prepaid card that can be added to major mobile wallets.
Mastercard and Swarovski have teamed up to launch a virtual reality (VR) shopping app for the Atelier Swarovski home décor line. The app immerses consumers in a home where they can browse and purchase the pieces with Masterpass.
It’s a good thing Solana (“Sol”) Cozzo is high energy. When she’s not literally running or chasing after 3-year-old twins, she’s running Mastercard’s North American prepaid and inclusive growth business. It’s hard work when you consider that “the cardable opportunity is about seven times the current market,” she says.
EML Payments Limited announced that its wholly owned subsidiary EML Payments Europe Limited has entered into a multiyear agreement with Fortuna Entertainment Group to provide branded reloadable cards for customers to access their winnings or remit funds back into their gaming accounts.
There’s a new fintech challenger in town. Toronto-based STACK announced its partnership with Mastercard two weeks ahead of the beta launch of its mobile financial services app and companion prepaid card.
After his first few months at the helm of the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association, Brian Tate talks about prepaid’s role alongside fintech in the next generation of payments innovation.
The landscape of cross-currency (FX) payments is taking on a whole new look – creating challenges for corporate financial managers and the need for new banking solutions.
Several payments companies have announced efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana, including monetary donations, interchange fee waivers and m-POS equipment.
As some celebrate 10 years of contactless payments, Bastian Knoppers discusses why cards (not mobile wallets) are still king outside the U.S. and what it will take for the U.S. to catch up to the rest of the world on tap-and-go payments.
It’s been seen as the ultimate clash of cultures. The baseball cap and T-shirt versus the formal suit and tie; the young, quick-thinking fintech versus the risk-averse multinational corporate; David versus Goliath.
Two reports ranking U.S. consumer prepaid cards were released in August. Find out which cards made the lists and why.
Commonwealth Bank and Mastercard are working together to improve financial inclusion for Indonesian women with a focus on business owners.
GasBuddy, a smartphone app helping nearly 70 million drivers find the best gas prices, has unveiled Pay with GasBuddy, a new payment service in partnership with WEX that provides U.S. drivers with discounts.
Mastercard is bringing its contactless payments to Fitbit’s first smartwatch, Fitbit Ionic.
Prepaid cards and alias-based payments that rely on email or mobile phone numbers can offer students and colleges and universities significant benefits over traditional check disbursement of financial aid.
Get to know the SME lending specialist that’s challenging U.K. high street banks by providing zero percent interest when balances are paid in full within 37 days.
Hot on the heels of the round-up on 18 August, here’s another blockchain and Bitcoin report. Featuring D+H Corporation (now Finastra), Visa, BTCS and Blockchain Global. A patent filing frenzy seems to be occurring at present. Following on from Bank of America filing three new patents using blockchain earlier this month, we now have D+H […]
Plagued by delays, threatened by Congressional repeal and finally opened to further comment and changes, the CFPB’s final rule on prepaid accounts now has consumer groups calling for the bureau to “strengthen” consumer protections while a credit union trade group wants the rule rescinded.
Global payments service provider eMerchantPay has received authorization from the Financial Conduct Authority as an e-money institution, which means it can issue products including payouts, e-wallets and prepaid cards, and has joined the Prepaid International Forum.
Digiliti Money may be able to breathe a bit easier with a new acquisition offer on the table after a tumultuous few weeks.
The most popular digital wallet in Singapore has rolled out the first virtual Visa card in the country thanks to a partnership between global technology group and 2017 Pay Awards Change Agent of the Year Wirecard and Singtel.
Former financial ombudsman Walter Merricks is appealing the U.K.’s Competition Appeal Tribunal’s decision not to certify his claim in a proposed £14 billion (US$18.2 billion) class action lawsuit against Mastercard over interchange.
Home improvement chain Lowe’s has a new payments tool in its toolbox to help small businesses, contractors and construction professionals—a prepaid card and companion mobile app to manage business expenses.
Ben Jackson, who previously led Mercator Advisory Group’s prepaid advisory service, has joined the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association as chief operating officer.
Green Dot Corp. reported strong numbers for the quarter ended June 30, 2017, including a 140 percent increase in GAAP net income to $19.3 million, up from $8.0 million over Q2 2016.
Prepaid issuers should look to certain banked consumers, P2P and mobile wallet users to gain top-of-wallet status with a whole new set of customers.
Several major payments companies have released Q2 earnings, including The Bancorp, Discover, Mastercard and PayPal. Overall, payments volume is on the rise and partnerships are proving particularly important for PayPal, which has been on tear with recent strategic announcements.
Visa and Marqeta, the open API payment card issuing platform, have formed a multiyear, global partnership to “drive further innovations in commercial and consumer payments”. What’s more, Visa has made a strategic investment in Marqeta to support the company’s domestic and international growth. Initially, the partnership will involve expanding opportunities for virtual, physical and tokenised […]
It was a busy week for second- and fiscal third-quarter earnings reports, with American Express, Bank of America and Visa all beating Wall Street expectations, and Blackhawk Network, which also beat analyst predictions, talking international growth, double-digit digital gift card sales and new partner Target set to roll out in Q3.
Mastercard can breathe a sigh of relief as the £14 billion (US$18.15 billion) lawsuit—a collective action over card charges that were passed on to shoppers—has been stopped by the U.K.’s Competition Appeals Tribunal.
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place!
Less than two months following the initial announcement from partners Netspend, a TSYS Company, and United Airlines, the prepaid industry’s first air miles rewards card is now available online. Paybefore readers believe more prepaid providers will follow suit with air miles rewards of their own.
Mastercard has entered into an agreement to acquire Brighterion, a software company specialising in artificial intelligence (AI), reports Banking Technology‘s sister publication Paybefore. This acquisition follows Mastercard’s March acquisition of NuData Security and will further expand Mastercard’s capabilities to “deliver an enhanced customer experience and security”. Brighterion’s portfolio of AI and machine learning technologies provide real-time […]
The UK’s HM Treasury is banning surcharges on credit and debit card payments. For prepaid card providers, the new rules put significant fee income related to card-loading at risk, according to Polymath Consulting. Banking Technology‘s sister publication Paybefore reports that the HM Treasury is putting an end to “rip-off” fees related to paying with a […]
Mastercard has entered into an agreement to acquire Brighterion Inc., a software company specializing in artificial intelligence. This acquisition follows Masterdard’s March acquisition of NuData Security and will further expand Mastercard’s capabilities to “deliver an enhanced customer experience and security.”
