FDIC: Non-Malicious Hack Involved 44,000 Consumers
The federal agency talks down a data breach that stemmed from an employee inadvertently downloading information about bank customers onto a portable storage device.
Analysis
Infographics: Video banking – it’s on
Video banking has finally reached inflection point, according to Efma and Vidyo Inc. The two companies have carried out the research, “which uncovered massive support for video banking among financial organisations worldwide”. Nearly 80% of all banks surveyed plan to offer video-enabled banking services. Check out this nifty infographics (courtesy of Efma and Vidyo) on all […]
Delaware Unveils Blockchain Initiative
The Delaware Blockchain Initiative demonstrates the state’s commitment to ensuring this remains the case for the growing blockchain technology sector.
FTC Chair: More Security Needed for Internet of Things
Edith Ramirez says Congress will have to craft laws to protect all the data and activities that stem from Web-connected appliances, cars and other devices. She also urges the industry to better protect that data.
Industry Views: The Risky Business of Payments
With the threat of cybercrime growing considerably, we canvassed top payments providers and data security consultants to find out what they see as the biggest cyber-risks, and what steps companies should take to help keep consumer data—and the financial system—safe.
Viewpoint: What the Contactless EMV Push in the U.K. Means for the U.S.
As contactless EMV transactions become mainstream in the U.K., the trends could foreshadow what’s ahead for U.S. payments.
CFPB Reports on Complaints from Military Community, Prepaid Remains Low
The CFPB has released its annual report on complaints received by the agency from military servicemembers, veterans and their families. Prepaid comprised just 1 percent of complaints from the military community—mirroring the tiny fraction of prepaid complaints to the CFPB from the general public.
Fintechs, prepare for a wave of M&A
The financial services ecosystem is experiencing dramatic change, driven on the one hand by disruptive fintech models that are causing disintermediation of the financial incumbents, and on the other hand by rapid advances in technology that are disrupting the ancient, creaking core banking platforms. Fintechs, prepare for a wave of M&A, says FirstCapital’s CEO, Jason Purcell, as […]
Platformification: all together now
Platformification – what is it and why do banks need to know about it? Hans Tesselaar, executive director at Banking Industry Architecture Network (BIAN), explores the issue. When alternative fintech players first established themselves in the financial services industry, they raised their profile by collectively bashing the banks – positioning themselves as a more transparent, […]
Reference data management: utility is the future
So here is a major headache for the treasury and capital markets industry: the cost line remains dead flat but the revenue line has dropped off the cliff. Utility is the answer to the market woes, strongly believes Philippe Chambadal, CEO of SmartStream Technologies. He talks to Tanya Andreasyan about SmartStream’s initiative in this space. […]
Keeping up in a Faster Payments world
Faster payments is one of the more pervasive topics in almost any global payments conversation. And if you look at key countries like Singapore, the US, and Australia, it may seem to be more than just talking. Additionally, many countries are improving their infrastructure to clear payments in the same day or already have domestic […]
New competition or new regulation: which is the bigger challenge for banks?
One of the most talked about issues in retail banking today is the emergence of the new entrant, or “challenger”, bank. “New” banks are being spun off from existing institutions and more than twenty organisations having applied for, or received, a banking licence over the past twelve months or so. Banking is becoming an ever […]
Blockchain: why smart contracts need shrewder people
“I’ve forgotten – woe is me! What the magic word may be.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (1797) How smart is your code? So-called “smart contracts” are science fiction realised. Executable pieces of code stored on a mutual distributed ledger for future execution bind people and payments to actions and outcomes. Computer scientist […]
Online banking 2.0 with API
When you think of the new era in banking — let’s call it “Banking 2.0” — what do you see? Is there something revolutionary such as totally virtual branches or no paper money at all? It’s hard to tell how Banking 2.0 will exactly look like, especially with virtual reality (VR) sets going mainstream, but […]
IRS Releases New Data on ID Theft Fraud
As the IRS and industry continue to fight identity theft-related tax refund fraud, the agency’s Criminal Investigation Program initiated 776 investigations into ID theft fraud during the 2015 fiscal year, according to the IRS’s newly released 2015 Data Book.
IRS Issues Advice on Deferring Gift Card Income
The IRS has concluded that a company can defer the recognition of advance payment income received from the sale of unredeemed gift cards that are redeemable for goods or services for up to two years.
Fintech Could Get More U.S. Regulation
The OCC will release a paper to start discussions on new regulations for financial startups, which banks reportedly want.
DOJ Drops Case against Apple over iPhone Access
The U.S. Department of Justice has dropped its legal claim against Apple Inc. over the FBI’s request that the tech company help unlock the iPhone of one of the shooters in last year’s attacks in San Bernardino, Calif. According to a court filing, the FBI was able to access the device without Apple’s assistance.
Infographics: global fintech landscape
Want to see the global fintech landscape summed up in an easy on the eye and effortless to digest infographics? You have come to the right place – this excellent infographics has it all, from the hottest start-ups today and those to watch in 2016 to the most supportive countries and governments as well as top investors. […]
Appeals Court Upholds Texas ‘No Surcharge’ Law
Merchants have been challenging state surcharge laws, but the courts stand firm.
Judge Rules that Radio Shack Gift Card Holder Won’t Get Legal Fees Paid
A Radio Shack gift card holder’s motion to get his legal fees and expenses paid first in the electronics retailer’s Chapter 11 case has been denied. Consumers with Radio Shack gift cards may file a claim by Dec. 2, 2016and if the claim is judged to be valid, claimants will receive 100 percent of the card balance, according to the Website.
Smartphones? Credit cards are the most mobile payment method!
The world has been talking about “mobile payments” for years, but the phrase means different things to different people. So what exactly are mobile payments? And how much more mobile than cash or cards can payments actually get, asks Philipp Nieland, co-founder and CTO of PPRO Group. Some people believe that mobile payments are those […]
FTC Investigates PCI Audits
Legal experts suggest that the investigation could provide insight on how the FTC might seek to influence the audit process going forward.
APEX: How to Win the Hearts of Regulators
A U.S. Treasury Department lawyer gives tips about how to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to regulatory rulemaking.
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.
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.
Infographics: the most exciting thing about bitcoin isn’t bitcoin
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, but the blockchain protocol behind it can be used for a variety of non-currency purposes. People are using the blockchain to develop everything from ride-sharing services to voting applications to cloud storage. This nifty infographics sums up how the blockchain protocol works and how it’s being used. Source: Who is hosting this?
Storming the banks
Traditional banking has taken quite a beating in recent years as more and more customers prefer to handle their banking needs digitally rather than be bogged down by paperwork or wait in lines at a physical bank. In a bid to meet developing customer expectations, many banks have begun offering web-related services such as e-deposits, […]
Dear banks, social media doesn’t have to be scary
Dear Banks, how’s it going? If you’re reading this, you must be on social media, or you’re at least checking the internet. That’s great. I’ve been meaning to write this letter for a long time. The first thing you should know is that I think you’re really important. Sure, I might like to joke about […]
Do banks need IT expertise at the board level?
Technology is the most important agent of change today; hardly any industry is immune to both its value-creating and disruptive potential. However, in an April 2011 survey of corporate directors by McKinsey Quarterly, more than half said their boards had only one technology-related discussion a year, or none at all. Since then, the situation has […]
Viewpoint: Virtual Reality
The rise of m-wallets, smartphones and online shopping could be a boon to virtual incentives.
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.
Viewpoint: Don’t Wait around for NFC
Smaller banks bent on taking market share from larger rivals can appeal to mobile consumers without going all-in on NFC, at least for now.
Peering into peer-to-peer: lack of understanding affecting post-IPO prices
Mike Lobanov, partner at Target Global, takes a look at the recent fluctuations in Lending Club’s share price to assess the impact on the peer-to-peer (P2P) industries. The P2P lending platform Lending Club is proudly the largest platform of its kind in the US. Founded in 2007, it successfully raised in excess of $390 million […]
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.
Cordray Testifies before House; Rep. Hensarling Plans for Regulatory Reform
The hearing followed an announcement from Committee Chairman Reb. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) of Republican committee members’ plans to reform financial reform in Washington, including demanding that regulatory agencies undergo a cost-benefit analysis of every regulation.
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 […]
Fundamental Review of the Trading Book: impact on capital requirements and risk architecture
The introduction of the Fundamental Review of the Trading Book (FRTB) requires a rethink when it comes to risk architecture and data requirements. Xavier Dubois, Wolters Kluwer’s senior risk and finance specialist for EMEA, outlines the key points. There is an area of complete agreement when it comes to examining the potential impact of FRTB – […]
Watch out EBA, Swift and Visa – here comes Masterlink!
MasterCard’s planned acquisition of VocaLink has the potential to create a new payments powerhouse in Europe and beyond. Tom Hay, head of payments, Icon Solutions, explores the possibilities. The news of the planned acquisition broke a few days after the Payment Systems Regulator’s (PSR) recommendation that banks divest their ownership of the company. I’m sure […]
Labs’ labour lost: forget fin, forget tech, focus on the client
Not a day seems to go by without another innovation of fintech announcement from a bank. While most have now dabbled in an incubator, accelerator or a lab here, and a fintech investment there, they all have one thing in common, argues Leda Glyptis, director at Sapient Global Markets. And that is a lack of tangible […]
