Worldwide


The Rise of Instant Payments

In this age of tablets and smartphones, customers expect instantaneous access to information and services. Emails, tweets, shopping: everything is now real time or forget about it. As a result, instant payment is upon us, writes David Andrieux. Benefits of instant payments aren’t hard to see. For the economy, they allow consumers and businesses to […]

Green Dot to Expand GoBank, Launch GoBusiness and MoneyPak Plus (Nov. 6, 2015)

Green Dot is pressing the gas pedal when it comes to expanding GoBank, with new distribution plans for next year, including a new distribution partner and a GoBusiness account rolling out to serve at least one company’s large base of 1099 workers. During last week’s earnings call with investors, Green Dot CEO Steve Streit also discussed plans for new prepaid products, along with MoneyPak Plus—a reload product to replace its discontinued MoneyPak.

Apple Pay Adds Walgreens as First Loyalty Partner (Nov. 9, 2015)

Five months after announcing support for retailer loyalty programs, Apple Pay has landed its first merchant loyalty partner. Members of Walgreens’ Balance Rewards loyalty program now are able to integrate their rewards accounts into Apple Pay, using a mobile device to earn and redeem points when making purchases at the pharmacy giant.

Why the ‘World Class Payments in the UK’ report is of global significance

The UK’s payments system infrastructure is widely recognised as market-leading. However, evolving customer expectations and innovation in the fintech sector dictate that now is no time to rest on laurels. Work must begin today to develop the payments experience that will be taken for granted in 20 years.

HSBC payments head to take the helm at CHAPS

Tim Fitzpatrick has been appointed as the new chief executive of CHAPS, the UK’s same day high-value payment system. Currently HSBC’s Global Payments and Cash Management chief operating officer and group head of payment services.

Addressing technology debt in the wake of regulation

Recent years have seen unprecedented changes to the technical infrastructure of financial institutions. Many of these changes have been driven by regulatory mandates drawn up in response to the financial crisis of 2007/8. As the Global Systematically Important Banks battle to comply with the January 2016 deadline of the Basel III Directive BCBS239, it is […]

Non-bank competitors prompt banks to invest, finds survey

The threat of competition from technology companies, startups and non-banks is causing serious worry to nearly three-quarters of retail banks, causing four-fifths of them to invest in so-called ‘disruptive’ technologies, according to a new study by Infosys and non-profit organisation Efma.

Study: CMOs Predict Modest Increase in Holiday Sales

Chief marketing officers at 100 U.S. retailers are expecting a 4.2 percent increase in holiday season total store sales this year, which is in line with last year’s 4.1 percent increase, according to a the 10th annual survey from BDO USA, a professional services firm and consultancy.

Mobetize, Global Service Solutions Partner for Mobile Wallet (Nov. 4, 2015)

Mobile payments technology provider Mobetize Corp. has formed a strategic partnership with prepaid wireless company Global Service Solutions Inc. and under the new brand Gotwallet, the companies “successfully” will bridge the gap between the prepaid wireless end user and mobile payments, according to a Global Services Solution executive.

Viewpoint: Virtual Currency State Roundup

Legislators and regulators are grappling with how to apply existing money transmitter laws to an emerging industry. Read about the challenges and latest developments across the U.S.

Standard Chartered focuses IT on retail and risk as Winter’s axe falls

Standard Chartered is to invest $3 billion in “strategic opportunities” and its technology infrastructure as part of a wholesale reorganisation of the bank in the wake of a $139 million third-quarter loss. The restructuring will see 15,000 jobs – 17% of its workforce – go over the next three years.

FSB targets ‘too big to fail’ dilemma

Global regulatory body the Financial Stability Board has released two guidance papers which aim to solve the “too big to fail” scenario and prevent a re-run of the financial crisis by promoting the resolvability of systemically important financial institutions.

Visa Inc. to Buy Visa Europe for Up to €21.2 Billion (Nov. 2, 2015)

Visa Inc. has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Visa Europe for up to €21.2 billion (US$23.4 billion), bringing Visa’s global networks under the same roof for the first time since 2007. The long-anticipated deal earned the unanimous support of both companies’ boards of directors and is expected to close in Visa’s fiscal third quarter of 2016, pending regulatory approval.

RushCard Making Good after Service Disruption (Nov. 2, 2015)

RushCard will reimburse RushCard customers who experienced financial losses as a result of a temporary service disruption during a technology conversion last month. The company’s systems now are fully restored, the company said Thursday.

IT vendors may hamper blockchain adoption warns survey

Major global IT vendors – including hardware, systems software, ecommerce, big data, cloud, network, telco and systems integrator companies – have little wisdom, advice or vision to offer their customers and prospects when it comes to blockchain technology, according to a survey just conducted by enterprise IT specialist consulting firm Lighthouse Partners.

CFSI Report: Designing High-Quality, Small-Dollar Credit Products

With many American consumers lacking access to affordable, high-quality credit, the Center for Financial Services Innovation has released a new report outlining eight strategies to help financial service providers design small-dollar loans that offer value to consumers and providers.