In the push to get millions of cash-based micro- and small-business merchants to go digital, the two largest card networks are getting a boost from contactless payments' global surge.

JoomPay Europe S.A. is launching a person-to-person payment app throughout Europe that it says will give consumers an instant money transfer tool similar to what U.S. residents have in Venmo, Square Cash and Zelle.

By gathering pools of customer data ahead of the shopping surge, retailers can capitalize on the increase in shoppers by identifying the right customers and making every engagement count, says Tealium's Sav Khetan.

HSBC for the first time is offering customers a way to send funds instantly across borders to other HSBC customers via a mobile device.

Banks have made great strides in applying digital technology to the world of checks, but companies that receive checks still have to physically receive them in order to digitize them, says Santander's Greg Murray.

While digital pay innovation was once seen as a “nice-to-have” benefit, it's quickly becoming integral to business survival, says LendingFront's Jorge Sun.

In 2017 the creators adapted the technology into a touchless restaurant order-and-pay system that’s seen exponential demand during the pandemic, as dining establishments race to replace paper menus and card payment devices with contactless alternatives.

In addition to monitoring the spike in contactless payments because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Verizon Business has also cited the expected decrease in foot traffic at the largest malls in the U.S. through its mobile data metrics.

Software developers and ISOs must go into payment partnerships with a full understanding of what capabilities their merchants are seeking, including flexibility and choice, says NMI's Nick Starai.

The success of some fintechs in getting bank charters this year only underscores how onerous the process remains for many others. That’s unlikely to change unless policymakers reconsider what it means to be a bank.