P-to-P payments

Square burst on the payments scene nine years ago with a card reader that allowed small merchants to accept plastic card payments through their mobile devices. Its Square Cash app received considerably less fanfare — until now.

The Federal Trade Commission contends Venmo misled consumers on funds availability and security disclosures
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In Zelle’s national advertising campaign, the bank-run P-to-P network spotlights consumers paying a personal trainer, a babysitter and a neighbor. It sets an expectation that Zelle can be used like a credit card, and scammers have figured out how to exploit this trust.

Google launched its Google Pay app for Android devices Tuesday, probably confusing millions of people globally who already used Android Pay. But the change is more than just in the branding.

The rudimentary email pre-orders at Grossman's stores were helpful, but limiting in that it still focused on a one-on-one interaction with the customer. Grossman has since implemented technology that allows multiple customers to submit a single order.

R&D capabilities at Interac got a boost last month when Interac Corp. was created by merging Interac Association and Acxys Corp. It brought together a payments network handling nearly 5.7 billion debit transactions annually with a company specializing in payments development, management and consultation.

The banks behind the Zelle network had more in mind than P-to-P payments between consumers, and BNY Mellon is beginning the network's evolution by targeting the business payments market.

Parents with children on youth sports teams have a lot to keep track of, not the least of which is payments for the fees associated with competitions.

For financial institutions to match Venmo and Apple Cash's power, they need an embedded, mobile and social payment strategy, write Richard Crone and Heidi Liebenguth of Crone Consulting.

While Zelle is working hard to become the Venmo for grown-ups, it is also pushing into retail payments, particularly in opportunities for displacement of cash and check and where funds are needed in minutes rather than days or weeks.