Technology

The uncertainty from the pandemic has made costs unpredictable, says Ally Lending's Hans Zandhuis.

A Federal Reserve-issued digital dollar could speed up payments, expand financial access and reduce financial crime. But it also brings trade-offs that policymakers are only just beginning to consider.

Some customer fraud and a lack of cooperation from partners Huntington Bank and Dwolla prevented Beam Financial from returning funds to savers, says Aaron Du, the fintech's CEO. He says he’s trying to make things right, but Huntington and Dwolla are taking the dispute to court.

One area of certainty in the 2020 election is the momentum for legalizing cannabis, as a string of ballot box victories makes it harder for banks to avoid working with dispensaries and other legal marijuana businesses.

Consumers will still prefer minimizing physical contact, while relying on digital payments and looking forward to adopting smarter methods that are secure, convenient, and less time-consuming, says Global Market Insights' Vinisha Joshi.

Despite tougher privacy regulations, further safeguards are needed that require consumers' clear consent before personal information is exchanged.

The new initiative is aimed at boosting credit union innovation through investments in fintech and other areas.

As the presidential voting count waged deep into the night on Tuesday, the fate of fintech, financial services and payments regulation hung in the balance.

Control of Congress was still in play late Tuesday, as the Democrats retained control of the House of Representatives while neither party gained the necessary seats to control the Senate.

It is a frustrating reality during a time of national crisis that emergency payment options for vulnerable populations remain such a complex and inefficient landscape, says Flourish Ventures' Sarah Morgenstern.