The fusion of CashStar’s digital capabilities into Blackhawk Network is a logical progression given shifting consumer trends in shopping and gifting.

In a market seemingly dominated by "Pays" from smartphone makers, a few companies are taking a much different approach to mobile payments. Here are some of the more extreme examples.

PayPal is among the top non-bank financial brands, though that may soon change as other challengers gain ground, writes Hannu Verkasalo, founder and CEO of Verto Analytics.

When retailers run tests in which coupon offers are delivered directly to the Apple Pay or Android Pay mobile wallet, rather than as a simple text notification, the redemption potential skyrockets 300%.

The card brand will run tests in Poland, which has a high penetration of contactless cards but many small merchants concerned about the technology's cost.

Between Brexit, Dodd-Frank uncertainty and the mobile revolution, issuers and financial services companies must combine past performance data and forward-looking information to gain insight, writes Henri Wajsblat, director and head of financial services at Anaplan.

Mobile wallet adoption in the U.S. is slow, and the payments industry has only itself to blame.

In a blending of online and offline strengths, Blackhawk Network Inc. has acquired CashStar Inc. for approximately $175 million in cash.

By eliminating the friction of a cardless ATM, the utility value of the mobile wallet has just increased by an order of magnitude, writes Dan McKinney, co-founder and chief marketing officer at Finxact.

Ask any consumer what their most-used mobile wallet is, and you'll get one answer. Ask an issuer or a merchant, and the answer could be vastly different. Here's why.

A data-driven approach to money laundering prevention can help increase profits and improve regulatory compliance, writes Edmund Tribue, risk and regulatory practice leader at NTT Data Services.

LevelUp is working with LuvJo, a New York-based firm that specializes in online ordering technology for small restaurants, to support order-ahead capabilities for thousands of coffee shops, juice bars and food trucks across the U.S.

Millennial purchases are fueled by convenience, efficiency and value, and with the recent announcement of Instant Pick Up, Amazon has taken another step in the right direction, writes Gil Don, CEO of Splitit.

A situation brewing in movie theaters that hinges on card network rules could have broad implications for the entertainment industry.

This latest instance of Trickbot is a good time to remind consumers not to trust third-party sites even when directed by an email that seems legitimate, writes Lisa Baergen, director of marketing at NuData Security.

Among consumers who currently use at least one mobile payment app regularly, 29% say they have used Apple Pay in the past month, but other wallets are close behind.

Arguably the most recognized name in wearable fitness trackers, Fitbit launched the Fitbit Ionic smartwatch with support from Mastercard, Visa and Amex. But you'd be forgiven if you didn't know about the card brands' involvement.

Consumers who either are tiring of the password overload, or those who understand that passwords are antiquated security, are driving the fair amount of biometric adoption, writes Michael Lynch, chief strategy officer at InAuth.

Financial institutions need to take notice of this phenomenon and ramp up their payments infrastructure to support these developments, writes Chet Kamat, senior vice president of Oracle Financial Services.

Passwords are widely distrusted for verifying identity and have been blamed for more than 80% of data breaches, but with biometrics and other approaches not yet ready for broad adoption, many innovators are rushing in to fill the gap.