Bank technology

Executives at processor Total System Services can't predict which of the many existing mobile payments technologies will dominate the payments landscape of the future, but they plan to aggressively go after the processing business that follows.

Just three months after acquiring digital banking startup Simple, BBVA Compass is continuing its digital self-improvement journey with the hire of two high-profile executives.

Manilla was a hit with technology critics and had a loyal base of customers, but what it really needed to gain widespread acceptance was a bank partner.

BitPay, an Atlanta-based company that processes payments in the digital currency bitcoin, said it secured $30 million in venture capital funding.

Connecticut's top banking regulator on Monday warned investors about the dangers of bitcoin.

FIS has launched a cloud-based, instant issuance system for EMV-chip cards.

Vantiv Inc., a provider of payment-processing services to retailers and financial institutions, is near a deal to acquire Mercury Payment Systems Inc. for about $1.65 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said.

SunTrust (STI) has opened a downtown Atlanta branch to test new bank technology concepts that could be used in other SunTrust branches nationwide.

FICO has added Solution Stack, cloud and on-premises software, to its Decision Management Platform.

A look at four financial technology startups reveals major trends in the industry. Mobile applications, digital currencies, small data and alternative lending are all heating up.

It's no longer enough to choose a vendor because it's a market leader. Regulators are now requiring banks to grade vendors based on the perceived risk to the bank if a vendor goes bust or can't do the job.

On Wednesday, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council announced plans for cybersecurity risk assessments of banks during a webinar.

The Utah-based payments processing company eGlobal has acquired the assets of The Best There Is Inc., a provider of ATM services in Boca Raton, Fla.

Three key crisis response concepts can help bank leadership teams avoid the fate of Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel, who resigned this week in the aftermath of the company's holiday season cyberattack.

Alternative lenders, once considered competitive threats, are becoming allies for some banks. BBVA Compass now pitches its clients on OnDeck loans in the hopes of better retaining small-business customers.

A man accused of fraudulent use of credit cards at a Target Corp. store in Texas isn't believed to be responsible for initiating a breach at the retail chain in December involving the theft of card data from 40 million customers, according to police in Georgetown, Texas.

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council announced today that it will conduct cybersecurity assessments later this year.

The $44.5 million purchase comes as financial tech companies continue to enhance online and mobile offerings.

In a first, the state's financial firms will be required to undergo regular cybersecurity assessments to ensure that they are appropriately protecting customers' data. Banks support the effort — even if it forces them to boost IT spending.

Industry boosters say the sky's the limit, as a flood of capital enables the rapid growth of peer-to-peer lending. But some skeptics are urging caution.