Online payments

Amazon’s dominance is in no danger, but the e-commerce giant is looking over its shoulder as Walmart and other retail powerhouses close in. The fourth quarter could be a tipping point for Amazon, which recently lowered its holiday sales growth forecast.

Information about new account holders pulled from Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo contradicts the notion that the previously unbanked turn into costlier customers.

Retailers and restaurants have vigorously supported the ability to pay anywhere from any device, but that technology has not taken hold in more institutional businesses such as health care. It's not for lack of trying from developers.

Western Union and Amazon are collaborating to bring the e-commerce giant's services to consumers who may not currently have access to online shopping or those who prefer not to make digital payments.

Payday lenders scored a victory when the bureau committed to proposing changes next year, but they expressed disappointment that the revamp will not address a key payment-processing provision.

As the gift card market grows and becomes increasingly digital, so has the product's utility. Thus, many consumers are shifting their habits and buying gift cards for themselves either due to an incentive program or to help with budgeting.

Mastercard and Visa’s single online payment experience, which has angered some merchants and could shake up the e-commerce market from PayPal to Amazon, is progressing toward a 2019 launch.

DBS Bank is testing the Foodster bot for order-and-pay at restaurants through Facebook Messenger.

Shopify is no stranger to social media — it’s had a partnership with Facebook for three years — and it sees Venmo users' social sharing habits as the perfect means to expand its mobile commerce platform.

The hacks keep coming — most recently to Facebook and the federal government’s health insurance sites — and consumer trust in online security systems disintegrates along with them, according to a number of recent surveys.