Technology

If you are underbanked you probably have limited access to mainstream financial services normally offered by retail banks. Many fintech startups offer alternative ways to measure credit risk, and assert that their products can help extend financial services to consumers who have not been well-served by traditional banks.

This Leaders episode with PaymentsSource’s John Adams and Ripple’s Asheesh Birla, provides insight into the evolving blockchain landscape, examines how Ripple has navigated a shifting competitive environment, and takes a look at what lies ahead for RippleNet.

BBVA’s acquisition of Simple, the first neobank, was closely watched as a possible model for others in the industry. But the shutdown last week of Simple has again stirred a debate about whether upstarts and traditional players can ever fit together.

Consumers will continue to utilize new payments methods in the coming year, but are also likely to shift between credit and debit, the company said.

Citizens Financial Group has branded its point of sale lending software as Citizens Pay, saying it wants to more clearly define it as a merchant tool for "budget-friendly payment options" for customers who want a transparent and predictable way to finance purchases.

Careful due diligence is required when picking technology to expedite accounts payable automation, says Kofax's Michelle Trapani.

Silicon Valley's largest companies are rapidly distancing themselves from outgoing President Donald Trump, following last week's right wing domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol.

The widespread shift to e-commerce and touchless payments during the pandemic has escalated fraud risk in those channels, including the possibility of fraudsters combining altered photos with synthetic ID, Experian warns.

Thousands of U.S. merchants are weighing measures to freeze acceptance of Alipay and WeChat, two of the eight Chinese mobile payment apps that would be blocked if outgoing President Trump’s recent executive order goes into effect.

I look forward to seeing digital currencies brighten up our antiquated banking infrastructure and embrace the global move toward e-commerce. For now, though, I’m not holding my breath, says T1 Payments' Donald Kasdon.