Payments

Much of the shift towards digital shopping and payments is likely to outlast the coronavirus pandemic, giving Starbucks an extra reason to open its incentive marketing to broader payment methods.

Payment technology provider Patientco has agreed to provide billing communication and payment tools to nonprofit health care organization network BJC Healthcare.

The growth in remittance providers' digital customer sign-ups accelerated as the U.S. went into a nationwide lockdown in the middle of March, and has continued through the summer despite store reopenings that could pull customers back to their old habits of paying in person.

Businesses affected by the pandemic are accepting online and touchless in-person payments from consumers with the help of technologies developed originally for B2B invoicing and payments.

The coronavirus pandemic has generated more interest in pay-at-the-pump apps, a growing segment of the payments industry that may not have grown fast enough to be ready for the sudden surge of interest in contactless payments.

New analysis from PSCU and CO-OP Financial Services shows continued improvements in consumer buying patterns but the travel sector could take longer to recover.

Suppliers that still need to receive physical checks should still be able to do so. Even if they do, the process remains electronic on the accounts payable side, says AP side so that customers can issue check payments in the same batch as other electronic payments, says Nvoicepay's Angela Anastasakis.

Traditionally, consumers take summer vacations to recharge from the hustle and bustle of daily life, as well as to reconnect with families and friends, before moving on to the next phase of their lives such as the restart of schools or going back to work – but not this year.

Viewing it as a way to help businesses emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, Ingenico is targeting digital merchants with expanded services addressing cross border, recurring and subscription payments.

Fueling its market expansion, U.K. earned wage access startup Wagestream has raised £20 million (about $25 million) in a Series B fundraiser from several VC firms.