Kate Fitzgerald

The new product will help Barclays' U.S. bank reach customers who may not want — or qualify for — its cobranded cards. It's part of a strategy to reach more consumers after card balances declined last year.

The new service was designed to lower costs for community banks while adding security features and providing customers with access to Venmo and other peer-to-peer payment systems.

American Express predicts travel will account for just 20% of its spending for the foreseeable future, compared with 30% before the pandemic, as younger consumers spend more on merchandise.

A new service speeds payments by using artificial intelligence to predict which buyers are most likely to pay.

The issuer says it can offer installment loans without jeopardizing the kind of growth in credit card volume that it reported for the fourth quarter.

The startup PointCard's new charge card ignores applicants' credit scores, instead weighing their cryptocurrency holdings and other investments to determine ability to repay.

Goldman's second consumer credit card borrows many features of its three-year-old Apple Card, such as instant issuance through a mobile app and an emphasis on virtual account numbers.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's investigation calls some installment lenders' collection practices into question, but also highlights the ease of access that has made their loans so popular.

During the pandemic, consumers have become more willing to do their food shopping remotely. Companies like LG and Blue Apron are building on that interest through the addition of networked technology, mobile apps or card rewards.

Alliance Data Systems, which saw key clients like Pier 1 Imports shuttered during the pandemic, has diversified into buy now/pay later loans and other credit products it offers to consumers directly and through merchants.

Card networks are poised to connect to nonfungible tokens, issuers are revamping rewards, and regulators are taking greater interest in installment loans. These developments and more bear watching in the year ahead.

Alloy Labs Alliance, a consortium of community banks, is working with the fintech Payrailz on a project called "Chuck" that would route peer-to-peer payments over different networks, based on which is least expensive for each transaction.

The charity has added digital and contactless options to its traditional cash collections.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has ordered Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, PayPal and Zip to provide information about the potential risks their products pose.

The issuer will help Skipify develop technology that recognizes returning customers at e-commerce sites, pre-fill payment details and provide access to loyalty programs.

Its new widget allows consumers to initiate a payment from their phone's home screen instead of opening an app to potentially reveal their full banking details to prying eyes.

The company says that marketing its deposit products could help build deeper customer relationships, particularly with student loan borrowers. “We're not just a credit card issuer,” CEO Roger Hochschild told analysts.

Purchases by adults between the ages of 25 and 40 have risen 50% over 2019, and the same group accounts for 75% of sign-ups for American Express’s pricier new cards.

Immigrants from Brazil, Nigeria and Kenya will be able to get scores based on their home country credit histories under a partnership between American Express and Nova Credit.

The fintech is working with Discover, Ally and Alliance Data to offer a wider range of products on top of interest-free installment loans.