Merchant

Usernames, passwords, device authentication and even biometrics have vulnerabilities. Behavioral identity is much harder for crooks to crack, writes Robert Capps, a vice president at NuData Security.

The cashless ATM is meant to make it easier for legal dispensaries and other high-risk stores to accept card payments. But for Alden Linn, owner of World of Weed, it became a hassle.

For issuers, higher online and mobile conversion rates should translate to increased payment volume transacted on their cards, but it opens up a new avenue for intense jockeying over top of wallet status, writes Michael Jabbara, director of digital development markets for Visa.

The ransomware threat is likely to get a lot worse before it gets better — if it ever does. And small merchants and ATMs may be the most at risk.

The largest banks are approving small-business loan applications at the fastest rate since the recession, a sign that that they are willing to assume more risk and taking seriously the threat of competition from online lenders.

With close to 900 million monthly active users, WeChat is the most popular social app in China, supporting real-time messaging, social networking, e-wallet and many other functions, writes Franklin Chu, managing director for Azoya USA.

Vantiv, the largest U.S. merchant acquirer, agreed to buy the e-commerce payments company Worldpay Group for about £8 billion ($10.4 billion).

Companies and staff should not spend time doing manual work tied to T&E , writes Sunny Manivannan, general manager of Coupa Expenses.

As banks press for deregulation, the debate over whether high bank capital standards are inhibiting loan growth has taken center stage.

Young businesses often prefer banks, especially community banks, over online lenders. However, traditional lenders need to make quicker decisions, simplify the application process and make other improvements, these customers say.