Wednesday , March 18, 2026

Competitive Strategies

As Faster Payments Draw Near, the Fed Disbands Its Secure Payments Task Force

The Federal Reserve announced Thursday it is shutting down its Secure Payments Task Force this month. The Fed invited its more than 200 members, made up of payments executives from across the financial-services industry, to work with its FedPayments Improvement Community. Members may also participate in “new collaborative industry work …

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More Equifax Disclosures and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 3/2/18

Equifax Inc. said it expects costs from its massive 2017 data breach to hit $275 million this year, offset by $75 million in insurance proceeds, Reuters reported. The credit-reporting agency also disclosed that another 2.4 million people were affected by the cyber attack in addition to the more than 145 …

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SignaPay Announces New Products and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 3/1/18

Point-of-sale equipment maker Ingenico Group announced a PIN-on-glass product suite that includes a secure card reader and a back-end verification service. Payments provider SignaPay Ltd. announced two new products, the PayHub Plus Payment Gateway and the PayLo Mynt POS System, which offers a variety of customized point-of-sale software packages. In …

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With a Fleetcor Pilot, Ripple Gains More Momentum As the SEC Shines a Spotlight on ICOs

Interest among mainstream financial institutions and payments providers in the potential for cryptocurrency is heating up just as the top U.S. financial regulator is reportedly eyeing a crackdown on so-called initial coin offerings, or token sales used by digital-currency startups to raise capital. In the latest sign that processors and …

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Eye on E-Commerce: Klarna Racks up Gains; PayPal Shuts Down Early In-Store Gambits

Sweden’s Klarna Bank AB enjoyed a good year in 2017, as documented by results the privately held online-checkout and financing specialist released on Wednesday. The firm, which was founded in 2005 and has operated a U.S. unit, Klarna Inc., since 2015, had already achieved distinction by ranking third among so-called …

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Integration Tasks Emerge Now that the Vantiv-Worldpay Merger Is Official

The merger of payment processors Vantiv Inc. and London-based Worldpay Group plc was completed Jan. 16, and up next for leaders of the combined company is integration of operational platforms, selling products to a wider customer base, and achieving their goal of $200 million in cost savings in three years. …

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Apple Pay Cash Use at 3% for Younger Users and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 2/28/18

ZipfWorks Inc., owner of online coupon code site Dealspotr.com, released the results of a mobile-payments survey that found that 15% of consumers between 18 and 35 years old used Apple Pay while shopping online. Ten percent of this age group used Apple Pay in a store. It also found that …

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Merchants Eye Checkout, Financing, and Mobile Investments in 2018, Says Vyze

Many merchants—98%—are looking to make investments in their checkout systems this year, finds the Merchant Credit Survey from Vyze Inc., a consumer financing provider. Investing in financing programs ranked high, with 97% saying they anticipate focusing on financing and credit options. Most merchants—92%—plan to make mobile app and mobile Web …

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Blackhawk’s Proposed $3.5 Billion Buyout Headed Toward Mid-Year Close

No other bidders emerged during a so-called go-shop period that expired earlier this month, so Blackhawk Network Holdings Inc. reported Tuesday that its planned $3.5 billion buyout by two investment firms remains on track to close at mid-year. The Pleasanton, Calif.-based provider of gift cards and other prepaid card services …

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Ingenico Launches POS Device for SMBs and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 2/27/18

Liberal members of the U.S. Supreme Court sharply questioned American Express Co.’s lawyer during oral arguments Monday for a major case involving a challenge to AmEx’s anti-steering rules for its merchants, Reuters reported. A group of 11 states led by Ohio alleges the rules violate antitrust laws and is challenging …

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Digital Transactions