Merchant

Square Inc. has long hinted it plans to expand to Europe and new clues suggest its base camp will be in the U.K. for an ambitious push into several countries. But its rivals got there first, and have had years to build their defenses.

Mastercard and Visa have now each entered a détente with PayPal, agreeing that a highly competitive stance is not of much use if it makes it too hard for consumers to pay for things.

With the first chip card deadline for ATMs coming up in a few weeks, banks need to quickly gain an upper hand on potential risks. This starts with a more complete understanding of the complex changes at the ATM terminal.

Appetize will soon install its point-of-sale platform into more major sports and entertainment venues in California through a partnership with Legends.

As merchants and app developers seek to emulate disruptors like Uber or Airbnb by embedding payments in the user experience, the pressure will mount to be one of the few apps that consumers regularly use.

The mobile wallet is transforming from a standalone app into just a feature of a bigger commerce system. Here are a few companies that have done away with the wallet concept.

Despite being limited to 20 – 25 characters (including spaces), the purchase descriptor in a card statement is the best means by which an issuing bank and merchant can convince a cardholder that he or she has actually made the purchase and reduce chargebacks. In a world where many of us are challenged to communicate in 140 characters or less, 20-25 presents a true test.

Mobile can make in-store payments easier and add dimensions to marketing, but consumers will drive the shopping experience, placing unprepared merchants at a disadvantage.

Verifone Systems Inc., one of the world’s largest makers of payment-terminal hardware, tumbled in late trading after cutting its full-year profit and sales forecasts for a second straight quarter.

Some financial companies are leery of betting on an early-stage technology such as artificial intelligence for important jobs like combating account thefts, but PayPal says it works – especially in rooting out false alarms.