Payments

Lease-to-own fintech Acima has launched a virtual Mastercard payment card to allow underbanked consumers to lease eligible products and eliminate risk for merchants as Acima purchases the goods for rental.

There's a wide range of uses for decentralized finance and related blockchain tech, says Wirex's Yves Renno.

The fintechs Nymbus and Segmint teamed up to translate the gibberish on bank statements into actionable data.

The fintechs Nymbus and Segmint teamed up to translate the gibberish on bank statements into actionable data.

The nine-year-old service predates the payments-oriented fintechs that have become popular in recent years.

The location will replace traditional menus with self-serve kiosks and feature order-ahead pickup cubbies, allowing customers to walk in, grab their food and go.

Gap and Synchrony Financial are parting ways after they couldn’t reach an agreement to renew their longstanding card partnership.

Invoiced is working with with the Mastercard Track Business Payment Service, the open-loop network that supports a vast network and business directory of buyers and suppliers.

While U.S. regulators pressure Visa and Mastercard, there's ample choice, particularly when compared to the national debit rails that exist in most of the world, says Intrepid Ventures' Eric Grover.

CMSPI estimates that retailers lost about $30 billion in potential online sales last year from e-commerce transactions that were declined for a variety of reasons including fraud, insufficient funds, technical problems and errors.

Trustly Group AB’s plan to raise almost $1 billion through an initial public offering in Stockholm may be followed by a second listing in New York, according to its chief executive.

Circle Internet Financial Inc., a developer of the USD Coin digital token, has hired an executive from the Facebook Inc.-backed Diem Association to spearhead strategy and policy efforts.

User experience and efficiency matter. Consumers aren't going to do something more difficult just for the technology, says Computop's Jed Danbury.

Walmart, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Google are just a few of the non-financial companies that are using scale and innovation to compete in financial services.

The Baltimore community bank is experimenting with fee-based checking accounts that bundle cellphone protection, roadside assistance and other perks with an app that makes such services easier to use. Early returns are promising.

Other fintechs’ rush to become banks is being driven by investors seeking “crazy returns," says CEO Dan Price. But he acknowledged that at some point Gravity may need a charter of its own to remain competitive.

As competition becomes more about countering fintechs than beating other banks, alternative payment methods and broader services will be key, says Icon Solutions' Simon Wilson.

The industry’s most effective relationships come when providers serve as collaborators and an extension of their clients to serve customers and work in tandem to address a range of challenges and grow their businesses together, says Paya's Chris Scappa.