U.K.

After tests with several banks that established Swift's ability to connect its Global Payments Initiative faster payments rail to domestic networks, the financial and messaging standards organization is activating the service in the U.K.

For years, business models based around micropayments have been touted as an alternative to advertising, offering a new form of revenue for all kinds of content creators, enabling users to pay for the exact quantity of services they consume. They have even been suggested as a way to create alternative insurance products, for example forms of car insurance where drivers pay per journey.

Viva Wallet is offering London’s 20,000 black taxis a Mastercard-branded business debit card whose cashback is meant to be offset against card acceptance fees at the acquirer’s in-taxi terminals.

Many countries are positioning themselves as a destination for fintechs seeking EU-wide licenses as the U.K. leaves the EU. Following Brexit, U.K. electronic money and payments institution licenses across the EU won’t be passportable across the EU.

My Digital is working with Modulr to deliver automated payroll services for U.K. contract workers.

U.K. fintech Currensea has launched its first open banking-based debit card for British small businesses trading internationally. The card, which links to users’ existing high street bank accounts, builds on the pre-open banking concept of a decoupled debit card.

Less than a year after Curve launched its cross-border P2P service to solidify its mobile banking app, the London-based company says it is expanding into Lithuania to establish a post-Brexit European base.

With the U.K. careening toward a no-deal Brexit in the midst of a health crisis and economic downturn, the government is suggesting a breakup with the EU could defray the costs of cash usage and access.

PayPal has launched a new buy now, pay later (BNPL) product in the U.K. called “Pay in 3” to take on rivals Afterpay, Klarna and others ahead of the winter holiday shopping season.

Payments provider B4B Payments has been authorized to become an e-money institution in the U.K., and is seeking a license in Lithuania so the company can advance its prepaid card business throughout Europe.

With travel spending still largely sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic, Amazon is looking to harness more of the spending that small and medium-sized businesses are focused on for recovery.

Emerging market payments and foreign exchange provider Crown Agents Bank Ltd. is partnering with MTFX Group, a similar company based in Canada, to expand digital payments access across Africa.

Retailers that provide customers with their preferred way to pay — visible or invisible — will be the ones who prosper in today’s competitive marketplace, says PPRO's Matt Jackson.

Credit and debit cards, merchant apps and loyalty programs are being linked through a platform from U.K-based Fidel to provide real-time rewards, business expense management, digital receipts, and charity donations.

American Express Co. began reopening offices in New York and London this week even as it told employees that they can continue working from home through June 2021 if they wish.

When the U.K. went into a coronavirus-induced lockdown on March 23 as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced school, office and retail closures, it caused a ripple effect on the U.K. e-commerce market.

The first wave of grants was intended to provide payments equating to 80% of average trading profits over the course of three months. However, some far exceeded this amount.

Brisbane, Australia-based EML has partnered with the New Zealand buy now, pay later fintech Laybuy to leverage digital cards for in-store and online retail purchases.

Wirecard, which is trying to sell pieces of its embattled company while rivals pick up its clients, has struck a deal to sell its U.K. division, Wirecard Card Solutions, to Railsbank, an open banking and payments technology firm.

U.K. consumer spending jumped the most since 2016 last month, led by a surge in Internet purchases as bars and restaurants continued to suffer.