Payment processing

In immediate, unrestricted availability of funds, the only true providers are those networks operated by banks or other financial institutions, writes Jack Baldwin, CEO of Baldwin Hackett & Meeks.

Finix, a startup offering tools for businesses to develop their own payments technology, has raised $17.5 million in Series A funding from investors that include Bain Capital and Visa.

The bank is taking a concept that has worked for years in the credit card world — artificial-intelligence-based fraud detection — and applying it to corporate customers' transactions.

Indian consumers and businesses would be best served if New Delhi confined itself to discrete interventions to reduce structural barriers to payments competition, rather than imposing price controls, dispensing subsidies and promoting national favorites, says Eric Grover, a principal at Intrepid Ventures.

The argument that only the federal government is up to the task is misguided.

The fintech rush into point of sale financing is partly a play on younger consumers’ migration away from traditional credit cards. This, in turn, has prompted a counterplay from Citizens Bank.

From data rights to common security measures, organizations that provide clarity on how companies handle financial data and access can pave the way to more fruitful relationships, writes Steve Smith, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Fincity.

The SEC is paying close attention to cryptocurrency, though its efforts may be counter to its priority to foster innovation and capital formation in the U.S., contends Bill Martin, a lawyer in the New York office of O'Melveny & Myers.

Often overlooked as prospects by financial services institutions who have increasingly focused on the wealthy, hourly workers represent a massive pool of underserved consumers with distinct financial needs.

Interchange rates on payments in the fuel and energy sectors can be so complicated that energy marketers can lose thousands of dollars a year because of mistakes they make in coding their authorized credit card transactions.

Chief financial officers have to wear many hats to help new payment and fintech companies respond to a fast-evolving market, says Brex's Michael Tannenbaum.

As the urban mobility trend of scooter rentals continues to grow, PayPal's Hyperwallet will have a role in handling outbound payments from rental platform Lime to its network of freelancers who recharge the fleet of scooters.

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.

Amazon is moving into new markets armed with local storage lockers and partnerships, while many traditional retailers still lack the proper online capabilities, claims Arik Shtilman, CEO and co-founder of Rapyd.

Sensing a profitable opportunity in an underserved market, a variety of companies — ranging from traditional banks to fintech startups and even Amazon — are rushing into selling secured credit cards and other products designed for consumers with poor or thin credit.

U.K.-based small business lender Capital on Tap has partnered with small business software provider Receipt Bank to launch a new credit card with access to credit lines.

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.

Platforms like Ethereum’s IPFS enable immutable document access, so token issuers and purchasers can provide all necessary financial documents, audits and inspections directly to those who own the token.

Once a dataset’s data and lifecycle events are in a known state with lineage, new and exciting opportunities are possible, writes David Levine, head of data product strategy for PeerNova.

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.