Payment processing

The national debit network Interac is working with Payments Canada, which oversees the country's payment system, on an instant payment rail while demand from local shoppers and a need for faster supply chain finance grow more pronounced.

Banks and businesses want a connected system that "just works," regardless of which rail the senders and recipients use. But there is no consensus on how to make that happen.

Shoppers surveyed in the U.S., U.K. and Australia cited concerns about debt and fees, along with a general lack of knowledge about how installment loans work, as reasons for their skepticism.

The fintech company Wise rose in its debut following a direct listing on the London Stock Exchange, in the largest such deal ever, bolstering Brexit Britain’s capital-market hopes.

Building on renewed consumer interest in digital payments, companies such as linked2pay and Pax are making it easier for retailers to add options like ACH and to import shopper data into back-office systems.

The payments and digital commerce provider Payoneer and the special-purpose acquisition company FTAC Olympus Acquisition Corp. have completed their merger, allowing Payoneer to begin trading on the Nasdaq stock market.

Low card penetration and sparse borrower information in the region make it hard to determine an applicant's identity and ability to pay. Buy now/pay later lenders instead focus on factors such purchase activity, social media presence and even the speed at which users type their personal information.

The bank is working with DailyPay and The Clearing House's RTP network to bring a smidge more speed — and certainty — to earned-wage access payments.

Under federal health plans, categories like dental still have steep out-of-pocket costs, creating opportunities for companies like Sunbit and Ally Lending to provide options at the point of care.

The fintech, which is going public through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company, has updated its logo and messaging to emphasize its capabilities in e-commerce and digital marketing. It's part of a trend of traditional payments such as TransferWise, Fattmerchant and even Mastercard repositioning themselves to win over investors.

Beauty shops must handle transactions for multiple employees and contractors operating under one roof. Tech companies are customizing software and transaction processing services for this niche.

A growing number of companies like Klarna, Sezzle and Circle let consumers split large purchases into smaller transactions paid over time. But they say they need to offer more than one product to set themselves apart and build customer loyalty.

By 2023, the Federal Reserve expects to launch a service that would allow businesses and consumers to complete payments in real time. But a digital currency it's now studying could have similar benefits — while potentially removing the need for bank intermediaries.

The company's Drop-In Components allow developers to verify important data without extensive coding.

Southern Bancorp's CEO said money from Square would help his bank continue serving underserved communities.

Companies like Cloudbeds, Uplift and Guesty offer technology that streamlines payment processing for suddenly busier hotels and offers new financing options for people eager to hit the road.

The company's payment processing platform supports the likes of Uber and Square in their ambitions to create all-in-one offerings that bundle financial and other services.

The deal for the Salt Lake City-based home improvement lender, which Home Depot tried to acquire more than a decade ago, is part of a larger effort by Regions Financial to diversify its home lending business.

Billers have long had the edge in handling users' bill payments. Fiserv says it can change that through faster transactions, but it faces fresh competition from fintechs.

Allied Payment Network is linking to the digital banking platform of Tyfone for community banks and small businesses.