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January 24, 2025
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Visa Completes Acquisition of Pismo
Pismo
"Visa announced it has completed its acquisition of Pismo – a cloud-native issuer processing and core banking platform. The combination will provide clients with core banking and card-issuer processing capabilities via cloud native APIs. Pismo’s platform also enables Visa to provide connectivity for payment schemes and RTP networks for financial institution clients."
On the web
Corporate One Enables Immediate Payments With Data Orchestration Hub
CIO
"By giving access to the industry’s new payment rails, members of the credit union can make immediate payments easier and faster."
Privacy-Enhancing Technologies for Digital Payments: Mapping the Landscape
BIS
"The increasing use of digital payments, smartphones and data-driven technologies makes privacy a critical issue in the public policy discussion of digital money. The paper explores how technology can address these concerns, offering a comprehensive evaluation of privacy-enhancing technologies for large-scale payment systems."
Nuvei Expands Omnichannel Capabilities to the UK Gaming Industry
Nuvei
"Nuvei's Omnichannel architecture offers a unified platform for all retail and digital transactions, simplifying operations and enhancing customer experience"
Can Alipay’s NFC Push With “Tap!” Disrupt QR Code Payments?
KrASIA
"With its market share shrinking, Alipay is banking on the tap-to-pay feature to reignite growth."
January 23, 2025
On the web
Fiserv Appoints Michael P. Lyons as President and CEO-Elect
Fiserv
"Fiserv, Inc. announced the appointment of Michael P. Lyons as President and CEO-elect of Fiserv, effective January 27, 2025."
African Fintech Moniepoint Gets Visa Backing, Plans to Work on Contactless Payments
TechCrunch
Visa has joined African fintech Moniepoint as a new investor. The business banking and payments platform confirmed to TechCrunch that it received a “strategic investment” from the global payments giant as both companies look to drive financial inclusion and support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa.
HSBC to Close International Payments App Zing a Year After Launch
Financial News
"Zing, the international payments app launched by HSBC just last year, is set to close down in the bank’s latest fintech flop, Financial News can reveal. The bank developed Zing to compete with fintechs Wise and Revolut."
HSBC Touts 50% Increase in Suspicious Transactions Intercepted in Past Year
South China Morning Post
"HSBC said it is stepping up its efforts to stop scammers and increasing its spending on anti-fraud technology, as the lender unveiled a new alert system that aims to protect online banking users."
UK to Launch Independent Firm to Boost Variable Recurring Payments
Reuters
"British regulators are setting up an independent company that will advance variable recurring payments, allowing third-party financial service providers to access banking information and initiate payments on behalf of consumers or businesses."
Apple and Google Hit by UK Probe Into Mobile Dominance
Bloomberg
"Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc. were hit with UK antitrust investigations over concerns their dominance in mobile services is distorting the market and putting up barriers to entry for competitors."
January 22, 2025
On the web
Ally and CardWorks Reach Agreement on Sale of Ally's Credit Card Business
PR Newswire
"Ally Financial Inc. and CardWorks, Inc. announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for CardWorks, and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Merrick Bank, to acquire Ally's credit card business, including a portfolio of $2.3 billion in credit card receivables with 1.3 million active cardholders as of Dec. 31, 2024."
Amazon to Acquire Indian Digital Lending Firm Axio to Expand Credit Solutions
Crowdfund Insider
"Amazon has signed an agreement to acquire Axio, a Bengaluru-based digital lending firm that provides credit access to underserved individuals and households across India. The acquisition, which awaits regulatory approval, is expected to bolster Amazon’s footprint in digital lending and strengthen its efforts to offer affordable credit solutions."
Owner of Multibanco Suing Bank of Portugal
The Portugal News
"SIBS, the owner of Multibanco and MB Way, has filed an administrative action against Banco de Portugal. At issue is the different understanding that the regulator and the supervised company have of a European regulation that aims to ensure, on the one hand, that the operations carried out by SIBS are covered by EU legislation — given that there were transactions from Multibanco network services, such as payments for services or transfers, which were not covered — and, on the other hand, the separation between payment and processing systems."
Google Hit With $12.6m Fine in Indonesia for Monopolistic Practices in Payment System
TechCrunch
"Indonesia’s antitrust agency KPPU fined Google 202.5 billion Rupiahs, equivalent to $12.6 million, on Wednesday for antitrust violation related to its payment system services for the Google Play Store."
Mastercard Pilots Tap to Pay for Ecommerce and In-App Payments [Brazil & Hong Kong]
NFCW
"Mastercard is testing a new service that enables cardholders to simply tap their contactless bank card to their NFC smartphone in order to complete an ecommerce or other card-not-present transaction. The new Tap to Pay service is being piloted by Ingresse in Brazil and also by food and beverage (F&B) platform OpenRice in Hong Kong and It forms part of a new ‘Tap to More’ service suite."
P2P Selects Mbanq to Simplify Banking for Brazilians in the United States
Business Wire
"Mbanq, a globally leading provider of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and financial technology solutions, partners with P2P, a digital financial platform dedicated to serving the Brazilian immigrant community in the United States."
Marqeta Powers Trading 212’s Expansion into Continental Europe
Business Wire
"Marqeta’s scalable, global platform is enabling leading investing app Trading 212 to enter 20 new European markets in six months through its card program."
IDEMIA Launches New Smartphone Enrollment for Biometric Payment Cards
Nocash
"The improved fingerprint enrollment solution makes onboarding faster and more user-friendly. The new solution uses a battery-less USB-C dongle in tandem with a user’s smartphone—compatible with both iOS or Android."
January 21, 2025
On the web
JetBlue Says 'Just Venmo Us!' as It Becomes First Airline to Accept Popular Payment Platform for Online Bookings
Business Wire
"JetBlue announced it is the first airline to accept Venmo, offering customers an easy and secure payment option when booking flights directly with JetBlue online."
Pix Transactions Exceed 6 Billion Monthly
Business Wire
"Matera has released its latest Pix by the Numbers report, showcasing the remarkable growth of Brazil’s Pix payment system and its innovative developments for 2025."
European Payments Council Selects Swift for the EPC Directory Service
European Payments Council
"The European Payments Council (EPC) announced the start of the delivery project for the EPC Directory Service (EDS), after selecting Swift as supplier for the development and operations of the EDS and after signing an agreement at the end of 2024. Swift has been selected as EDS provider after a Request for Proposal (RFP) process running in the second and third quarters of 2024 and the subsequent approval by the EPC Board in September 2024."
Worldline and Wix Partner to Expand Commerce & Payments Solutions Online for Businesses in Europe and Asia Pacific
Worldline
"This partnership combines Wix’s intuitive platform to create and manage an online presence and extensive commerce tools with Worldline’s integrated payment acceptance powered by localised acquiring capabilities to offer merchants an all-in-one solution."
Inside CBK's New Payment System to Shake UP Bank-Mobile Money Transfer
Kenyans.co.ke
"The government has fast-tracked the creation of a mobile payment system that will allow Kenyans to send and receive money instantly, irrespective of the type of bank a customer belongs to."
Visa and The Walt Disney Company EMEA Form Strategic Alliance
Visa
"The Walt Disney Company and Visa announced a strategic alliance that will bring a host of benefits and offers to millions of Disney fans across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The multi-year relationship will make Visa the Official Payment Partner of Disneyland Paris, as well as Disney Store and Disney Theatrical Group in EMEA."
January 20, 2025
On the web
Chase on Track to Retain Acquiring Crown With Annual Volume Well North of $2 Trillion
Digital Transactions
"New data from JPMorgan Chase & Co. signals the leading U.S. banking company is on track to retain its title as the nation’s largest merchant acquirer, with volume well in excess of $2.5 trillion flowing through its pipes."
Safaricom’s M-Pesa to Join Pesalink as Central Bank Plans New Payment System
TechCabal
"Safaricom’s M-Pesa is set to join the Pesalink network, which could significantly reshape Kenya’s digital payments landscape. In a proposal submitted jointly with the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Safaricom wants to integrate M-Pesa, Kenya’s largest mobile money platform, into the national interbank payment system, Pesalink, which already connects 39 banks across the country."
Banking Circle Signs Deal to Buy Australian Settlements Limited
MSN
"Luxembourg-based payment bank Banking Circle has agreed to acquire Australian Settlements Limited (ASL) for an undisclosed sum. The move is aimed at supporting Banking Circle’s vision to set up a global hub for real-time clearing and settlement, expediting its Australian expansion."
January 17, 2025
On the web
ISO 20022 in Bytes for Payments: Maintaining the Momentum in 2025
Swift
Adopting the new global standard for payments is more important than ever. As the financial industry moves closer to the CBPR+ November 2025 deadline, see what’s new.
TENCENT Verifying Suspicion of WeChat Pay Users Being Charged for Face Scan Payment in Different Location
AASTOCKS.COM
"TENCENT's WeChat Pay has been found to have a vulnerability, according to Hong Kong China News Agency, with a user recently being charged for a successful “face scan payment from a different location”."
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