The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web:
Ask the bank
Voice-assisted technology is advanced enough to perform financial transactions, though
Natwest is taking the temperature of voice-directed financial services, testing a system that allows users to directly ask Google Home smart speakers to perform banking tasks.
The initial services will be basic commands to find out balances, pending and latest transactions, though the bank's intent is to add transfers and payments by speaking to Google devices, reports
Makeover
MoneyGram has relaunched its website in an attempt to make it easier to find locations, send money online and check the status of pending transactions. The money transfer service is also making it easier to access and track incentive marketing programs such as loyalty perks and rewards.
The company is brushing up its web capabilities as it responds to fintech encroachment onto its traditional lines of business, pressure that's also being applied to its traditional rival, Western Union.
Both
Getting paid
New Zealand has legalized cryptocurrency salaries, which also opens crypto payroll to taxation.
The new
Salaries are a relatively new use case for cryptocurrency, but the flexible, decentralized nature of crypto is considered a natural fit for the
Deliveroo exits Germany
U.K.-based food delivery app Deliveroo plans to stop its service in Germany on August 16, and will focus on expansion in other markets.
The startup was already scaling back in Germany, cutting out most smaller cities,
Deliveroo recently drew an investment of about $575 million from
Outage in Mexico
Consumers weren't able to make card payments for several hours due to a data center outage on Saturday.
An electrical fault at payment processor Prosa's data center in Mexico City was behind the broader payment outage, reports
Bank customers were also unable to make online purchases using credit and debit cards. The outage was repaired by Saturday evening.
From the Web
CoinDesk | Mon August 12, 2019 - Korea Prepaid Card has made an investment in Singapore-based Bezant, becoming the blockchain developer’s second largest shareholder. Since April 2019, Bezant has been offering Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) using Hyperledger Fabric technology. It also has a cryptocurrency of its own, BZNT.
Fortune | Mon August 12, 2019 - Cross border remittance is big business in Southeast Asia. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development, over $65 billion is remitted into the region each year, with an additional $18 billion worth of annual transfers carried out locally too. Velo, a blockchain-based remittance service founded in Thailand, wants a piece of that market.
Yahoo Finance | Mon August 12, 2019 - - Ackroo Inc., a loyalty marketing and gift card technology and services provider, announced that they have launched AckrooPAY, Ackroo’s payment services product. As a soon to be registered ISO, Ackroo now offers in-store and online credit and debit transaction processing for their client list.
More from PaymentsSource
In recent years, the in-aisle payments and checkout-free stores have become increasingly common across the U.K. retail market, especially in the supermarket and grocery sector. Now High Street fashion outlets are coming under pressure to introduce faster and more convenient payment options to keep up with consumer demands.
India's potential cryptocurrency ban is pushing distributed ledger developers and banks into supply chain payments to stay compliant and competitive.
Developers have expanded availability of digital identity and biometrics, but traditional methods are holding strong.
Former Mastercard and veteran bank executive Colleen Taylor has joined Wells Fargo, where she will oversee the bank's merchant services strategy.
