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Quick service restaurant and other small business owners are warming up to new technology, giving Verifone and Paysafe a chance to sell their collaborative payment products.

By adding direct deposit for payroll, Square is diversifying the Cash App as it competes in the P-to-P space with Venmo and Zelle.

Even if most consumers aren't leaving their plastic cards at home in favor of mobile wallets, the very idea of using a mobile wallet is no longer cutting-edge. But a few companies go the extra mile.

Square burst on the payments scene nine years ago with a card reader that allowed small merchants to accept plastic card payments through their mobile devices. Its Square Cash app received considerably less fanfare — until now.

The company’s shares have more than doubled in the past year, as investors have become more positive about its earnings potential in targeting bigger businesses.

A decision by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. — soon to be under new management — on Square’s ILC application could foreshadow how other fintech firms seek banking powers.

Square Inc. shares climbed after Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey said the company is introducing Bitcoin trading for almost all users of its cash payments app, signaling support for the volatile cryptocurrency.

Tightening its connections to restaurants with a brisk delivery business, Square has acquired a longstanding Dallas-based local food delivery service to add to its Caviar food-ordering platform.

Financial services organizations increasingly need an unwavering commitment to customer experience in order to compete, or the competitor down the street will do it first, writes Chris Millner, a principal of financial technology and a payments consultant at North Highland.

Some are in new roles or replacing legends, others are embracing new strategies or eyeing big deals and at least one is currently out of banking — but could soon resurface. Here are the industry executives to keep an eye on in 2018.

On his last day at the agency, Keith Noreika called for scaling back the Bank Holding Company Act, arguing that it burdens banks with duplicative regulation and restricts their economic potential.

CFPB director’s departure gives President Trump the chance to revamp the agency; the bank regulator is reverting to its industry-friendly ways.

It may seem odd at first that Square is using the Cash app as a testbed for bitcoin, but if Square Cash is ever to distinguish itself from the bigger options in P-to-p, it needs to take risks that Square can't afford with its primary customer base.

The influx of mobile point of sale systems created an odd situation for retailers that now had to turn their screens around or hand over their smartphones to consumers. More manufacturers are addressing this awkwardness by giving shoppers their own screen — but innovation comes at a price.

Over the years, Square has evolved from a supplier of simple card readers to a provider of diverse omnichannel services. But the consumer market has always eluded it.

Barros has no answer for Senate committee on encryption; a bitcoin network split won’t happen … for now.

Square Inc. reported earnings that exceeded analysts’ expectations and raised its full-year forecast, bolstered by larger merchants that are increasingly using its platform for payment transactions and buying business software services.

Square has integrated several pieces of hardware and software to sell a point of sale system that goes beyond its single-screen design, incorporating many of the company's moves to attract a wider range of merchants.

Square has been adding myriad services as it seeks to become a full-service merchant gateway.

The Independent Community Bankers of America is formally opposing a bank charter application by payments processor Square, accusing it of trying to “avoid” certain “legal prohibitions and restrictions.”