Payments

While it’s inevitable that fraudsters will continue to hone and change their methods, businesses must continually monitor the factors that affect fraud — from changing consumer behaviors to major economic trends — and the actions they can take to safeguard against them.

Wirecard AG’s former chief executive officer was detained by Munich prosecutors after 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) went missing from the digital-payment company, in a scandal that has rattled Germany’s financial industry.

The spending and account management capabilities of corporate prepaid cards have been given new purpose in a pandemic-struck world dependent on government and charity aid.

Micro-investing apps that can enable payments, savings management and investment all in one place will gain favorable consideration from investors and consumers alike, says Naples Technology Ventures' Tom Hogan.

With Americans traveling less due to the pandemic, the card, issued by Synchrony, is tailoring rewards to everyday purchases, such as groceries. It also has a contactless feature that could appeal to shoppers fearful of touching terminals.

Consumer spending has improved as state lockdown orders are lifted but many continue to hold off on taking trips and entertainment activities.

American Express has named Glenda McNeal, honored by PaymentsSource last year as one of the Most Influential Women in Payments, to its executive committee, marking the first time a Black woman has held that role.

Decentralizing staff makes strong internal controls even more important, Josh Cyphers and Derek Halpern of Nvoicepay write.

James Freis took charge of Wirecard AG on Friday and the question he faces on Monday is what, if anything, he will be able to salvage of the payment company.

Big banks will need to show how well they can withstand three different scenarios before they can pay dividends; the German payments company is still looking for $2 billion of missing funds.

Consumers are parking their funds at financial institutions as lending slows and interest rates remain near zero, making it difficult for credit unions to deploy these deposits.

China has a huge market and entrenched payment firms, but a record of digital adoption that makes it a prime market, says PPRO's Steve Villegas.

The Biblical narrative of the Tower of Babel was meant to explain why people throughout the world speak different languages, but in the modern-day payments version it apparently applies to the complex and problem-ridden transaction chargeback process.

The coronavirus has spawned a fear over handling cash, creating a problem for the common practice at restaurants of using a card to pay while leaving cash for the tip. Given the challenges and restrictions tied to reopening, it's a conundrum eateries can ill afford.

Though mobile payments adoption hasn’t surged like contactless cards as consumers look for ways to minimize coronavirus spread, U.S. Bank is ditching plastic completely with its newest corporate card.

Loan forbearances are wreaking havoc with firms that normally clean up during recessions; the Fed’s latest rescue plan is off to a rocky start as few banks show interest in making the loans.

The move to digital providers could mean cheaper cash transfers for a demographic that has been hard hit by this pandemic, with both senders and receivers being financially affected.

Fully decentralized digital currencies have far greater protection against total mismanagement and corruption of capital. Blockchain technology makes it practical for even state-controlled blockchains to make inflationary measures fair, says Nash's Fabio Canesin.

By adding direct debit from bank accounts as a payment option, YayPay feels it is in a far better position to help the accounts receivable departments of U.S. businesses expand international growth.

Firms won’t have to repay their loans even if they don’t rehire all their laid off workers; Fed chair confirms the shortage is due to the coronavirus but is easing as the economy reopen.