Ensuring a good experience for buyers not only gives companies an edge over their competition, but it has practically become a requirement for company growth. With the increasing popularity of information-sharing websites and apps like Facebook or Yelp, reputations can expand or shatter within moments, writes Nvoicepay’s Alyssa Callahan.

Installment payments are catching on quickly with merchants and their customers, creating a fierce competition among rivals who are building competing technology and business models to approach the new market.

The bank will reduce its footprint to its German roots; U.S. banks are offering cash bonuses to keep customers from fleeing to higher-yielding accounts.

Much as the fintech wave has sparked investments and deal-making among legacy bank technology vendors and payment processors, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax are entering partnerships and making investments.

The president says he’ll nominate Judy Shelton, Christopher Waller for Fed; the bank reportedly in talks to sell parts of its “once prized” equities business.

Alexander Lopatine, who founded Nymbus and has joined Mbanq, says alternative providers are gaining the confidence of more banks. However, questions remain about their staying power in the fight with traditional vendors.

Breaking from its playbook as a conservative lender, Provident Financial in New Jersey is working with a fintech to offer unsecured loans online.

Facebook’s plan to launch a cryptocurrency has raised concerns that state banking regulators may not be equipped to oversee large, international companies.

The Bank for International Settlements is setting up shop to help officials who may need to speed up developing their own digital currency.

CaixaBank, Global Payments and terminal maker Ingenico are investing 5 million euros to establish an international innovation program designed to identify and aid promising fintech startups.