Fintech

Shopkick is being acquired by SK Planet (SKP), and aims to replicate success of its Seoul-based buyer, which serves three-quarters of South Korea's population of 50 million.

Wal-Mart is both a powerhouse in retail and a pioneer in financial services. The company has championed numerous initiatives in prepaid and mobile payments, and it has also been quick to push back on technologies it does not like.

Even though the U.S. has suffered a flood of retail data breaches, the payments industry has to take a global view of any security measures it adopts.

The prepaid card company Blackhawk Network has agreed to acquire Parago, a customer engagement firm, for approximately $290 million.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s deal to distribute Green Dot Corp.'s mobile checking account, GoBank, signals a fundamental change in how both companies approach their audience.

Fifth Third Bancorp has combined several business divisions into a new unit focused on payments, as the Cincinnati company continues its gradual exit from its former payments unit, Vantiv.

MasterCard has launched Pay with Rewards, a mobile app that allows MasterCard credit card holders to use their reward points for purchases by swiping their card at the point of sale.

SpendSmart Networks has purchased the e-commerce solutions division of TechXpress and plans to integrate the company's online and mobile services with its existing loyalty program offerings.

The Swedish mobile payments company Seamless has agreed to acquire Ingram Mobile Mobility's prepaid mobile operations in Sweden and Denmark.

State tolling agencies are increasingly adopting prepaid cards in their efforts to eliminate cash and coins at toll booths.