Michael Moeser

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way many industries conduct business — and that's especially true of the legal cannabis industry, which was already struggling in the U.S. to find the best way to handle noncash payments.

The global coronavirus outbreak has up-ended daily life for many consumers, including where they shop and how they pay for things. The U.K. is no exception, as issues of health and hygiene have now been introduced as important factors when it comes to both planned and impulse shopping.

Digital fraud protection provider Kount will be offering real-time fraud screening using adaptive artificial intelligence and machine learning to help Barclaycard’s business clients prepare for Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirements, which are part of Europe’s PSD2 directive.

American financial institutions have surpassed 1 billion EMV chip cards in force to take second place in total EMV cards deployed, behind only the global leader, Asia Pacific.

Starling Bank has raised £40 million (about $49 million) in its latest fundraiser as it steps up its support for small businesses, bringing its 2020 total to £100 million (about $123 million).

People who order groceries for delivery may be using digital payments or a plastic card to pay for their food, but the person picking up the groceries may be making a separate payment at the point of pickup — and in the process, influencing the global shift toward contactless payments.

About 78% of Mastercard’s European transactions are now contactless, and the company expects the shift in payment choice will be permanent.

Money transfer agent Remitly has launched a cash deposit service for its digital bank account holders on the Green Dot retailer network.

The coronavirus pandemic is driving a rapid increase in NatWest’s U.K. small-business merchant acquiring unit, with many being first-time card acceptors.

Mastercard and Judopay have teamed up to enable mobile payments through The Pharmacy Centre.