News

August, 2026

• 4 August

  The healthcare payments industry has a perception problem

  

  The real threat to healthcare ISOs isn’t competition; it’s irrelevance Lisa Brooks, Vice President, Healthcare Partnerships For years, merchant service providers (MSPs) and ISOs have approached healthcare as just another vertical. There’s a bit more compliance, a few integrations, and maybe a longer sales cycle. But beneath the surface, something …
• 4 August

  Eye on AI: Minty Makes Shopify Integration; Pie Merits AmEx Investment

  

  As more consumers consider how artificial-intelligence services can help with the shopping experience, payments and commerce providers are preparing. Minty, an AI shopping app, is now available to merchants on the Shopify Inc. platform. And, Pie Tech Inc. has received more funding, this time from Amex Ventures, to help merchants …
• 4 August

  Stablecoins Come to Money Transfers Via Western Union’s Stablecard

  

  The Western Union Co. and payments-technology developer Rain have launched a digital wallet and credit card that can enable money transfers using stablecoins from a card-linked account. Called Stablecard, the product works with the stablecoin USDPT, also introduced Tuesday. Stablecard is going live in 37 markets, according to Western Union, …
• 4 August

  Illinois Mandates Cash Acceptance and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 8/4/26

  

  Illinois merchants accepting in-store payments will have to accept cash payments in addition to other payment methods on transactions of less than $500 beginning Jan. 1, 2028, following Governor J.B. Pritzker’s signing of House Bill 4592. Priority Commerce said it completed an integration with ticketing provider SeatGeek that provides SeatGeek clients with the …
• 3 August

  Are Merchants Ready for the AI Shopping Shift? Maybe, Says WooCommerce

  

  Online merchants have built their e-commerce sites for human interaction, but the expected increase in artificial-intelligence shopping agents will require a new focus on data, says an IDC report commissioned by WooCommerce. Released Monday, the report forecasts that AI use will move $500 billion in digital spending to AI agents …
• 3 August

  Consumers Are Spending More, But There Are Fewer of Them, Fiserv Says

  

  The U.S. small-business economy is stuck in neutral, with any improvement coming from customers buying more rather than from a boost in foot traffic, according to a key performance index calculated by the big transaction processor Fiserv Inc. The company’s Small Business Index registered at 145.3 for July, up 1.6% …
• 3 August

  Visa To Acquire BioCatch and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 8/3/26

  

  Visa Inc. agreed to acquire BioCatch, a fraud-detection service, for $2.4 billion in cash. The deal is expected to close by the end of March 2027. More than 350 financial institutions use BioCatch technology, according to the company. Deluxe Corp. has closed on its $625-million acquisition of Celero Commerce. With the deal, which …

July, 2026

• 31 July

  Apps and Digital Wallets Outpace Other Payment Methods

  

  More evidence has emerged that consumers are wholeheartedly embracing payment apps and digital wallets as these two payment methods are used by most consumers, finds the WSFS Bank 2026 Money Trends Survey. Among the 1,022 respondents, 73% regularly use a payment app in 2026, up from 67% in 2023, and …
• 31 July

  Pressure Rises on Fiserv As an Activist Investor Chimes in

  

  Pressure on Fiserv Inc. has mounted in recent weeks, and now an activist investor is calling on the big Milwaukee-based processor to divest assets that lie well beyond its two debit networks. In an open letter to Fiserv’s board on Thursday, Jana Partners Management LP urges Fiserv’s board “to take …
• 31 July

  Western Union 2Q Revenue Flat and other Digital Transactions News briefs from 7/31/26

  

  The Western Union Co. reported June-quarter revenue of $1 billion, flat with the year-ago result. Net income of $76.7 million was down 37%. Revenue from consumer money transfers totaled $866.1 million, down 2%; for the first half of the year, consumer-transfer revenue fell 3% to $1.71 billion. Setomatic Systems, a provider …