Merchant

American Express spend a record amount of marketing and promotions in 2016, following Costco's departure.

Payment companies and other financial institutions were victimized less than health care, educational institutions and government agencies.

Rather than killing off the plastic card, smartphones are strengthening it. Many issuers' card accounts are more valuable than ever, with perks made possible only through the development of smartphone apps.

Quarterly profit fell at SunTrust Banks in Atlanta as noninterest expense rose 8.4% and its loan-loss provision increased.

Loyalty programs can be a mixed blessing. When they work as advertised, they can lock in consumers and build relationships; when they fail, they vex shoppers and sour relationships.

Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., reported a sharp increase in profits on an 11% increase in noninterest income and on lower credit costs.

Fourth-quarter profits at Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., climbed 54% to $54.6 million from a year earlier, helped largely by acquisitions and increases in mortgage banking and other fee income.

Tipalti is building a presence at the intersection of electronic media and advertising, where a different kind of 'faster payment' movement is taking hold.

The $143 billion-asset company has agreed to buy the Retirement Corporation of America, an advisory firm based in Fifth Third’s headquarters city that focuses on the needs of retirees.

European mobile point of sale provider iZettle has added UnionPay cards to the menu of credit and debit cards its merchants can accept.