Merchant

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.

Unless security systems are implemented thoughtfully and provide a comprehensive view of an organization’s end-to-end security position they’re little more than a distraction, writes Luis Rojas, vice president of product management for cyber fraud and risk management at Bottomline Technologies.

The online lender said it is on track to hit its goal of becoming profitable by yearend. It also extended a partnership agreement with JPMorgan Chase.

Under PSD2, banks are expected to admit all vetted comers, but how they will connect to them is up to the individual parties, writes Raz Rafaeli, CEO of Secret Double Octopus.