Mastercard

Companies like Visa and Mastercard make decisions about security in secrecy, without enough input from banks and merchants.

Merchants have been challenging surcharge bans in numerous states on free-speech grounds. They have the wind at their backs following another court victory on Wednesday.

The recent explosion of activity around biometrics and other new forms of authentication should seem like a good thing for the development of connected commerce. But right now it's more of a wild west that needs to be tamed.

Companies like Visa and Mastercard make decisions about security in secrecy, without enough input from banks and merchants.

Nigeria’s ProvidusBank is the first in the region to launch a World Elite Mastercard, a credit card offering rewards and travel perks such as global concierge services.

Loot has been in development since 2014 and has raised a total of more than $7 million thus far.

As Mastercard, Discover and American Express all plan to drop signature authentication at the point of sale, Visa is largely mum on the topic. But does it really need to weigh in?

Assemble allows Mastercard partners or issuers to provide checking, budgeting and payment features, as well as additional money management.

American Express is falling in line with Mastercard and Discover in eliminating the signature requirement for authorization on all card transactions at the point of sale, starting in April of 2018.

Discover's shift starts in April 2018. Mastercard has also eliminated signatures for credit and debit card transactions.