Payment processing

In recent months, several payments industry players have expanded north into Canada, benefiting from the country's similar financial landscape and largely absent language barrier, but sometimes slowed by differences in regulation and technology.

As Isis launched its long-awaited mobile wallet test in Salt Lake City and Austin, Texas, many people flocked to try it out — and quickly reported their impressions over Twitter.

Paul Whitmore was direct and blunt in his assessment of the state of payments in the U.S. when he spoke at this week's Chicago Payments Symposium at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago: "I've been sitting here for two days, wondering how did you get yourself into this mess?"

Dwolla now allows users to make payments in batches, a feature designed to elevate the service beyond person-to-person payments and turn it into a viable tool for business.

Longtime banker Charlie Scharf seems like the safe choice to lead Visa. But for the world’s largest payments network, safe is usually smart.

Square, which has been promising to expand internationally since it received a $25 million investment from Starbucks, said today it is making its mobile-pay product available in Canada.

The processor Total System Services Inc. has been through lot in its nearly three decades of existence, but nothing compares to the state of the payments industry today.

Total System Services Inc. reported transaction and sales volume rose during the third quarter, contributing to increases in net income and revenue.

Square, which plans to double its workforce by the end of next year, is moving its headquarters to San Francisco’s Central Market neighborhood, joining an expanding group of technology companies in the area.

Visa, delivering on its promise of greater issuer support for its V.me digital wallet, announced U.S. Bank as its latest partner.

In a payments industry in which traditional players fear less cooperation as competition heats up, the Federal Reserve Banks say they stand ready to work with anyone and everyone in the payments ecosystem.

Total System Systems, or TSYS, is reselling a new loyalty scheme that uses consumer-behavior data to shape individualized rewards.

Issuer and merchant processors alike acknowledge the high speed of technological change is the new pace car in payments, forcing traditional industry players to hop on board or be left behind.

Elavon and Banco Santander have expanded their existing relationship by agreeing to establish a payment services joint venture together in Spain.

Is tiny the next big thing for independent sales organizations? That’s the dilemma ISOs have been facing ever since Square Inc. came on the scene two years ago, promoting card acceptance to babysitters, gardeners and yard-sale entrepreneurs.

Clear2Pay and TestPlant are partnering to create a product that allows app vendors and wireless carriers to test the security and interoperability of their mobile payment products before they enter the marketplace.

For the past two years, the word "Isis" has meant a few different things for the payments industry. Its meaning will come into focus Oct. 22, when the joint venture will begin its much-publicized launch in Salt Lake City and Austin, Texas.

Retailers’ mobile-pay apps are gaining popularity, and many merchants hope their customers will spread their brand affinity by using the apps to send virtual gift cards to a friend or family member’s device.

SignaPay, a Dallas-based independent sales organization, has acquired Equity Commerce LP, creating a combined entity with enhanced financial strength, multiple processing platforms and a number of sponsor banks.

Giving merchants technical support whenever they need it — as opposed to a technology-based tool — is a lesson that’s taken on greater significance as FrontStream develops its product to compete with Square.