Technology

Germany's state-owned development bank KfW, which gained publicity for erroneously transferring hundreds of millions of euros to Lehman Brothers the day the U.S. firm filed for bankruptcy, has done it again.

Technology never stands still, and even the most successful mobile wallets in the market need to keep pace with the needs of consumers and merchants. A few are making changes that position them for new markets and platforms in the near future.

Rent is one of the few payment types where automation has made very little headway, still relying heavily on mailed checks that the landlord deposits in person at a bank. One strategy to change that is to borrow a concept from the gig economy, in which the payment rides along with other services.

Esso gas stations in Canada have launched the Speedpass+ mobile payment app through Imperial Oil, giving motorists the option to pay for gas through their smartphones.

A faster network is letting the regional bank bring new technology into its branches and share data with fintech partners via APIs.

Starbucks customers will soon be able to send Starbucks gifts to other iOS device users via Apple Inc.’s iMessage platform with Apple Pay.

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

None of the initial steps banks can take to modernize business lending are cutting-edge innovation ideas, but they can still improve the borrowing experience, giving businesses fewer reasons to look elsewhere.

In the shift to online and mobile shopping, one group often left out is the 65 million Americans with poor or no credit. But as more retail categories like furniture move online, a growing number of e-commerce merchants is adding instant finance options for the subprime crowd.

Brave, founded by JavaScript creator and former Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich, intends to issue a cryptocurrency to fund the development of a new way to buy and view digital ads.