David Heun

For three years, the Fast Identity Online Alliance has focused on replacing static passwords through stronger device authentication technology, with a long-term goal of translating those advancements into payment security as well.

MasterCard has taken a broad view of the "smart cities" concept, working with multiple organizations toward a common goal.

Amazon's Prime Day event is marketed as a summertime version of the Black Friday shopping holiday, but it also serves as a proving ground for the retailer's most experimental ways of selling its products.

Developers of smartwatches deliver numerous capabilities and features on those devices that consumers typically use on a smartphone, including payments. But a consumer in the U.K. no longer needs an expensive smartwatch simply to move money from their timepieces.

Seven months after revealing its branded mobile payment app, Walmart is making Walmart Pay available in more than 4,600 of its stores throughout the U.S., with early figures indicating consumers approve of its "connected" app model.

Payments technology provider Kash Corp. has hired SmartFi founder Johnie Lee, a former senior Google employee who worked on Google Wallet and Android Pay Hands Free engineering.

When surveyed, consumers will say security is far more important than convenience when making a payment — until they reach the checkout. Then convenience feels pretty good.

PayPal is continuing its advance through Europe's mobile payments landscape with partner Vodafone, ending any notion the e-commerce payments giant isn't interested in having a presence through Near Field Communication technology at the point of sale.

While mobile snapshots are becoming a popular way to authenticate consumers, Citrus Pay is turning the idea toward merchants by developing a mobile app that will allow users to create an online store with the snap of a photo.

Merchants have long sought to change how the card networks charge fees, and are getting a new chance after more than a decade of court squabbles.

Grocery chain Aldi, which manages overhead by requiring consumers to bag their own groceries, is a late adopter--but it is starting to add new payment types.

Visa Inc. has thrown its counterpunch at Walmart, saying the retailer had previously agreed to accept signature debit transactions in addition to chip-and-PIN transactions at its point of sale terminals.

First Data has secured a partnership with Silicon Valley Bank, giving the payments technology provider and processor a front seat to take notes on all of the technology development taking place among the bank's clients.

Consumers making payments to the federal government will be able to do so through the Amazon Payments digital wallet.

First Data has secured a partnership with Silicon Valley Bank, giving the payments technology provider and processor a front seat to take notes on all of the technology development taking place among the bank's clients.

Building on industry initiatives to ease the user experience for chip cards and increase use of contactless technology, Oberthur Technologies has developed a dual interface card in the U.S. market that combines new Visa and MasterCard specs and 'tap and go.'

The major card networks are losing value along with the rest of the stock market in the wake of Britain's historic vote to leave the European Union, but Visa and MasterCard may not face the type of doom and gloom that others endure in the current shaky political and financial situation in the U.K.

Visa has had a major sponsorship role at past summer Olympics, using the setting to test new technology. This type of "global lab experiment" lets the card brand view the four years between this major athletic event as a gauge for payments advancements.

Facing more payments because of high-deductible insurance plans, 72% of consumers say they prefer to use electronic payment methods such as payment cards, Automated Clearing House or digital wallets to cover health care costs.

Battling a sea of technology companies and major incumbents like Western Union and Travelex for a share of the international payments and currency exchange pie may seem like an uphill climb for a smaller company with less of a track record.