PayTech


i2c, CPS Launch Corporate Rewards Card Down Under (Jan. 6, 2015)

Payment processor i2c Inc., and Melbourne, Australia-based program manager Corporate Prepaid Solutions (CPS) have launched the Visa-branded uChoose corporate rewards gift card in Australia, setting the stage for global collaboration on additional corporate prepaid programs.

The need for a resilient global network of FMIs

By facilitating payments, and clearing and settling transactions in the securities and derivatives markets, financial market infrastructures are essential nodes in a complex and ever more integrated international network of capital flows. The consequent inter-dependencies between financial market infrastructures will create new resiliency challenges

EU VAT Law Aimed at Leveling Playing Field Goes into Effect (Jan. 5, 2015)

The start of a New Year also brings a new EU law into effect that’s intended to stop companies from undercutting their competition by setting up in low-tax countries. However, the law also could increase the tax on purchases of digital content like mobile applications, music downloads and e-books.

SafeCharge Enters New Verticals with 3V Acquisition (Jan. 2, 2015)

Dublin-based 3V Transaction Services Ltd., which specializes in issuing, processing and management of prepaid card programs, will be the foundation of a new issuing division of SafeCharge, which acquired the technology provider for €14.5 million (US$17.4 million).

The Biggest Payments Stories of 2014

As you get back to business in 2015, bookmark this catalog of the biggest stories from the past 12 months as well as insights into the future of payments in the New Year.

SVS: 92% of Shoppers to Spend Same or More on Gift Cards (Dec. 23, 2014)

Seven of every 10 shoppers plan to buy gift cards this holiday season and, among them, 92 percent of shoppers plan to spend either the same amount or more on gift cards than they spent last year, according to an interim holiday spending report by Stored Value Solutions (SVS).

Alibaba, SoftBank Discuss Collaboration in India (Dec. 23, 2014)

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and Japanese telecom and Internet firm Softbank are in the midst of preliminary talks to work together, instead of compete, to capture a sizable chunk of India’s consumer Internet market, according to a report.

EU Officials Agree to Cap Interchange Fees (Dec. 18, 2014)

Members of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and European Union Council negotiators yesterday agreed to cap the interchange fees on cross-border and domestic card-based payments, ensuring uniform rules across the EU.

Fingerprint authentication for mobile finance moves closer with FIDO

Widespread use of fingerprint authentication for financial transactions on mobile devices could start taking off from early next year as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Google, Samsung, Lenovo, Microsoft, Alipay and others adopt a new authentication standard through their joint project, the FIDO Alliance, which has just published its specifications and launched its first server.

Fiserv: Millions of Consumers Want Mobile Bill Pay, Options (Dec. 15, 2014)

The growth in consumer popularity of mobile bill pay features continues unabated as 27 million U.S. households with access to the Internet are paying at least one bill from their phones, an increase of nearly 70 percent compared with 2013, according to The Seventh Annual Billing Household Survey from Fiserv.