Digital Transactions Authoritative, insightful and timely information for payments professionals
In response to erroneous reports about funds availability, The Clearing House Payments Co., Nacha, and seven other banking and payments groups said Tuesday that Economic Impact Payments from the federal government will start to become available to recipients Wednesday morning. A statement from the nine groups, plus a separate statement …
March, 2021
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16 March
The Economy Got Suddenly Closer to Cashless Commerce in the Past Year, a Square Study Shows
Three years’ worth of movement away from cash in the United States has taken place in just 12 months as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to estimates in a report released Tuesday by Square Inc. “It’s not to say we’re ditching cash entirely any time soon, but the …
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16 March
Card Brands Delay Interchange Updates and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 3/16/21
Responding to pressure from Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and other critics, Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. are delaying planned adjustments to their credit card interchange rates until April next year, Bloomberg News reported. The rate adjustments had been set for next month and involved an estimated net $889 million in increased fee income for …
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15 March
Debit Use And Contactless Payments Are up After a Year of Covid, PSCU Notes
Debit is the most preferred payment option among consumers and contactless payments have doubled in the year since the declaration of the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s the assessment from the “Tracking Transaction Trends” report for the week ending March 7 from PSCU, a credit union service organization. Debit card spend for …
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15 March
COMMENTARY: To the New Congress: Beware of the Durbin Amendment’s Failures
With the Covid-19 pandemic still imposing a huge financial weight on the nation’s small businesses and families, many legislators are understandably eager to pursue policies they feel will ease that burden. But lawmakers must be careful that they are looking at policies that really will help. Unfortunately, some sectors—in this …
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15 March
ParkMobile Expands in Memphis and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 3/15/21
Parking-app provider ParkMobile LLC announced an agreement with the city government in Memphis, Tenn., and with parking-lot manager Premium Parking to offer mobile payments for parking on several city blocks in commercial districts, expanding ParkMobile’s presence in the city. Earlier this month, European parking-technology firm EasyPark Group announced its plan to acquire …
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12 March
A Deal for Vend Helps an Acquisitive Lightspeed Bulk up As Covid Restrictions Ease
Canadian processor Lightspeed POS Inc. announced Friday it has entered into an agreement to acquire Vend Ltd., a New Zealand-based provider of cloud-based retail management software. The cash and stock deal is valued at $350 million. Lightspeed will pay $192.5 million in cash and issue subordinate voting shares in the …
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12 March
Flywire Tenders SEC Filing for Possible IPO and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 3/12/21
Payments provider Flywire Corp. has submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 to the Securities and Exchange Commission in support of a proposed initial public offering.The Children of Restaurant Employees nonprofit is meeting pandemic claims from displaced restaurant workers via grant disbursements on gift cards from Blackhawk Network. Prepaid and gift card …
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11 March
The Architect of Debit Price Caps Attacks Visa And Mastercard for Planned Credit Card Hikes
The U.S. Senator who gave his name nearly a decade ago to a law that caps debit card interchange made it plain Thursday he now has the rates merchants pay for credit card acceptance squarely in his sights. Commenting during a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he heads, …
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11 March
A Rollout in Brazil Is Part of MagicCube’s Push for Card Acceptance on Ordinary Phones
As part of its drive to turn off-the-shelf mobile devices into secure point-of-sale terminals using software as opposed to a dongle, MagicCube Inc. announced Thursday that its i-Accept application has expanded to Brazil. Acquiring banks and financial-technology service providers in Brazil can now enable merchants and retailers to accept contactless …