Amazon

Amazon.com Inc. has looked at the possibility of expanding its retail footprint by acquiring some locations from bankrupt Toys “R” Us Inc., according to people with knowledge of the situation.

The main problem is that Amazon's Alexa, Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant can’t yet verify a person’s identity. But there are already workarounds for that issue — and the tech giants may solve it soon.

Banks need to figure out how to provide more value to customers or nonbank financial services companies could displace them.

The e-commerce giant is muscling its way into a number of businesses that banks have long dominated.

The online giant has succeeded in disrupting every area of retail, but in banking it faces a high barrier to entry and fierce determination from banks like Citizens Financial and Bank of the West to keep upping their games.

Amazon.com is planning to offer a credit card to U.S. small-business customers, furthering its push to supply companies with everything from reams of paper to factory parts, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Democratic infighting over a bill to curb the reach of the Dodd-Frank Act dominated discussion this past week, but Amazon still made waves in its disruptor role. Also: Our 'Best Fintechs to Work For' debuted.

The tech giant is reportedly in talks with JP Morgan Chase and Capital One about creating a checking account product, and two analysts say that could create major challenges for credit unions.

With a foray into financial services, Amazon.com could disrupt the decades-old card payments system, a move that some say could save the retailer $250 million a year in swipe fees.

Readers opine on the possibility of an Amazon-JPMorgan Chase checking partnership, weigh in on the Crapo bill, applaud plans that would make the CFPB more of a backup regulator and more.