Payments

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is among the world leaders pushing for a ban, and U.S. President Biden was grilled about the possibility during a press conference where he announced sanctions in response to Russia's military action in Ukraine.

Block, the digital payments firm run by Jack Dorsey, reported strong quarterly sales that were in line with expectations but failed to impress investors.

Billing is becoming part of faster payments, a development the bank contends makes paper-based B2B payments "unsustainable" for businesses facing equipment and staff shortages.

Marqeta COO Vidya Peters and Plaid COO Eric Sager discuss their plan to bypass the use of microdeposits — small transfers that are used to verify identity when linking accounts — to improve speed and security for consumers.

The activist investor ValueAct Capital Management has been awarded a seat on the board of Fiserv as part of a settlement with the financial technology and payments firm.

Paywallet CEO DK Sharma has raised about $14 million for a system that facilitates loans of up to $10,000, with installments coming out of borrowers' pay. It's meant to be an alternative to payday lenders.

Klarna Bank is adding the option for customers to pay immediately at checkout in nine new markets while expanding its rewards program, as it targets becoming a one-stop lender for consumers.

Investors are souring on BNPL companies despite strong consumer demand, as the business model for short-term installment loans faces fee pressure, heightened competition from banks and the specter of a regulatory crackdown.

The private-equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners, which agreed to pay $1.8 billion to acquire the money transmitter, is the latest in a long line of potential buyers.

Amazon has agreed to accept Visa cards across its global network, settling a feud that threatened to damage the financial giant’s business and disrupt e-commerce payments.