Merchant

Passwords are often restrictive, undynanmic and draw attention from fraudsters. And there's also the risk of repeated cybercrime linked to old authentication.

The business-to-business payments market is one of the laggards in transaction automation, and a reason often given is the lack of customization options. Businesses are using consumer-style technology for business purposes, and the fit isn't right.

Community banks, big commercial banks and Wall Street investment houses are finding common ground in small-business loan funds that help Main Street, minimize potential losses on credit extended to young companies and sometimes lead to new business prospects.

Large merchants are re-energized in their conflict with Visa and Mastercard on the issue of swipe-fee costs, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to reinstate a class-action settlement that deeply divided many of the plaintiffs.

Financial technology provider Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) has entered an agreement that will help create the "ballpark of the future" with Minor League Baseball.

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to revive a $5.7 billion settlement of retailer claims that Visa and Mastercard improperly fixed credit card swipe fees, in a rebuff that could mean years of additional litigation.

As trends in payments technology take hold or taper off, it's safe to say that one is firmly entrenched: The shift to mobile and integrated point of sale devices.

Ann Marie Mehlum, who has joined a lending platform called SmartBiz Loans after stints as a community banker and an SBA official, says the combination of fintech and old-fashioned banking could bring back small-business loans under $100,000.

Amazon's Go concept store has caused concern among payment companies and retailers, though there are mobile-driven options that can replicate the experience.

Accenture has agreed to acquire First Annapolis Consulting in an effort to add payments expertise in several international markets.