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June 7, 2023
Top Post
Payments Post #4: Glenbrook’s May Roundup
"Welcome to the May installment of Payments Post, where we’re highlighting the news that got Glenbrook talking. The common thread that emerged in May was the American consumer."
On the web
Amazon Pay Adds Affirm, Providing Customers and Merchants with Another Flexible Payment Option
Yahoo Finance
"Amazon and Affirm, announced today that eligible U.S. merchants offering Amazon Pay can now seamlessly add Affirm’s Adaptive Checkout™ as a payment option at checkout. This brings Affirm’s pay-over-time technology, used by millions of customers on Amazon.com and the Amazon mobile app, to Amazon Pay’s simple and secure payment solution."
Zilch Opens Its Revolutionary ASPN to Third Parties Across the Globe – Advancing a Multi-Trillion-Dollar Payments and Advertising Marketplace
Zilch
"Zilch, the pioneering direct-to-consumer (D2C) payments technology and advertising platform, is today announcing the official rollout of its Ad-Subsidised-Payments-Network (ASPN) to third parties through open APIs. The proprietary ad-sales platform has demonstrated unprecedented performance, delivering outstanding results for retailer partners and, more importantly, providing customers with over $160 million in savings via cashback, rewards and interest-free credit."
Spreedly Launches New Advanced Vault Solution
Spreedly
"Spreedly, the provider of the leading Payments Orchestration platform, today announced it has launched the first of its kind, complete vaulting solution for payments teams. Spreedly's Advanced Vault optimizes payment methods by combining modern lifecycle features and network tokenization with active management."
Swift and Chainlink Partner with Financial Institutions in Order to Connect Their Systems to Blockchain
The Cryptonomist
"According to the latest news, it appears that Swift and Chainlink are collaborating with major financial institutions to deploy the use of CCIP in order to connect their systems with any blockchain network."
Banks, Fintechs Back Australian Payments Overhaul
iTnews
"Banks and fintechs have lent their support to a new strategic plan for Australia’s payments system that was unveiled by the government on Wednesday."
American Express and Bluechain Announce Partnership to Streamline SME Payment Processes
Fintech Finance
"American Express today announces a new partnership with Request to Pay-focused fintech startup, Bluechain to help streamline the supplier payment process for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)."
OnlineCheckWriter.com Offers Businesses with Various Payment Choices
EIN News
"OnlineCheckWriter.com, the prominent b2b payments platform, offers various payment methods to help businesses manage their finances. The platform provides ACH, Pay by Credit Card, Payroll by Credit Card, Wire Transfer, Wallet to Wallet Transfer, QR Code Payment, Checks, and Get Paid Links."
On the wires
UK's Payments Regulator Lays Down Mandatory Reimbursements in APP Fraud Victims
Reuters
"Britain's Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) said on Wednesday it has made it mandatory for banks and payment firms to reimburse victims of online bank fraud within five days, in cases where users at a business send money to a bank account controlled by fraudsters."
Exclusive: Barclays Reviews Options for Payments Business –Sources
Reuters
"Barclays is studying options for its global payments activities as a part of broader review into how it allocates resources, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters."
RS2 and Rubean Announce Strategic Partnership to Deliver a Global SoftPOS Solution
PR Newswire
"RS2, the global payment processing and technology leader behind leading fintechs, acquirers and banks and Rubean AG, Munich, (ISIN: DE0005120802, WKN: 512080), a payment-focused fintech, today announced a strategic partnership to introduce Rubean's SoftPOS solution on the RS2 global payment platform."
June 6, 2023
On the web
NCBA Eyes Safaricom Deal for Ethiopia Digital Banking Launch
Nation
"NCBA Group is in talks with Safaricom and other groups to set up operations in Ethiopia as part of a race to expand its digital banking services in the African region."
Challenges Facing Paze: Jostling for Position in a Crowded Digital Wallet Space
Tearsheet
"EWS unveiled its digital wallet service called Paze earlier this year in a move to capture value in a space where fintechs like PayPal and Apple have the upper hand. EWS is also the operator of Zelle, the money transfer system."
Ripple Begins Work on Cross-Border Network for Digital Assets
CryptoSaurus
"Ripple’s digital currency platform is built on blockchain technology which supports the XRP token. Already tackling cross-border transfers through its blockchain technology, Ripple is looking for ways to partner with each other to make its mark on dozens of digital currency projects To this end, Ripple recently released the CBDC Platform, a product that enables central banks, governments, and financial institutions to issue their own central bank digital currencies and stablecoins."
On the wires
Marqeta Study: Consumer Confidence in Embedded Finance and Digital Banking Providers on the Rise for Majority of Americans
Business Wire
"The age of embedded finance and digital financial services has reached an inflection point, with new payments and shopping solutions now commonplace in the US alongside legacy systems, according to a new survey from Marqeta (NASDAQ: MQ), the global modern card issuing platform."
Paysign and Spentra Announce Integration and Payroll Card Program
Business Wire
"Paysign, Inc., a leading provider of prepaid card programs, comprehensive patient affordability offerings, digital banking services and integrated payment processing, today announced their partnership with Spentra, a fintech company specializing in pay access solutions for employers and employees."
Discover® Global Network Study Finds 93% of Global Fintechs Increased Reliance on Payment Networks Given the Current Economic Environment
Business Wire
"Today, Discover shared a portion of the third annual Fintech State of the Union, the most comprehensive study of its kind in the industry, providing global perspectives from consumers, fintech vendors, and venture capitalists."
Flutterwave and Token.io Team Up to Provide Pay By Bank Transfer to Users in UK and EU
PR Newswire
"This collaboration enables Flutterwave to give its African e-commerce merchants enhanced access to UK and EU customers, while Token.io leverages Flutterwave's presence in Africa to enable a Pay By Bank method for businesses in the continent."
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Removes International Money Transfer Fee
Reuters
"Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the country's biggest lender, said on Tuesday it was removing transaction fees for its domestic retail and business banking customers sending money outside of the country using one of its digital platforms."
June 5, 2023
On the web
MUFG to Facilitate Japanese Bank-Backed Stablecoins via Progmat Coin Platform
Cointelegraph
"Megabank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) has announced its stablecoin issuance platform “Progmat Coin” will soon be used by banks in Japan to launch Japanese yen-pegged stablecoins on several public blockchains."
JPMorgan Uses Blockchain for 24/7 Dollar Transfers with Indian Banks
Cointelegraph
"Global financial services company JPMorgan continues exploring the benefits of blockchain, deploying the technology to eliminate some restraints of traditional finance. The banking giant has partnered with six major Indian banks to introduce a blockchain-based platform enabling interbank settlement of U.S. dollar transactions, Bloomberg reported on June 5."
Project Leap: Quantum-Proofing the Financial System
BIS
"Quantum computers, should they reach sufficient size and power, may be able to break the cryptographic encryption schemes used to ensure secure financial transactions and data."
RIBBIT Acquires ValidiFI, Bolstering Data, Products and Market Presence
RIBBIT
"RIBBIT, Inc., the authority on alternative bank and payment data, today announces its acquisition of ValidiFI Ò, a leading provider of fraud, compliance, and risk mitigation solutions."
June 2, 2023
On the web
Japan’s New Stablecoin Framework Could Spur US To Act
Blockworks
"As Japanese banks get set to issue stablecoins under new legislation, the US’ lack of regulatory clarity in the segment is one hurdle blocking institutions in the country from doing the same."
FIDO Alliance Publishes Research-backed Guidelines for Optimizing User Sign-in Experience with Passkeys
FIDO Alliance
"The FIDO Alliance released new user experience (UX) guidelines to help accelerate deployment and adoption of passkeys. The FIDO Alliance UX Guidelines for Passkey Creation and Sign-ins aim to help online service providers design a better, more consistent user experience when signing in with passkeys."
Deutsche Bank to Use Recycled Plastic for Cards
Fintech Finance
" In the future, Deutsche Bank will only use payment cards made from recycled plastic. From mid-2023, it will gradually switch the production of the cards to recycled material. By the end of 2024, 99 percent of all new cards issued by the bank will be produced using so-called rPVC (recycled PVC), by which time old, non-recyclable stock will be used up."
China Is Doubling Down on its Digital Currency
Foreign Policy Research Institute
"China’s central bank continues to take aggressive steps toward assimilating the digital yuan within its domestic financial system. Despite these efforts, less than a fifth of the Chinese population have utilized it."
Shopify’s Shop App Introduces a New ‘Shop Cash’ Rewards Program
TechCrunch
"Shopify’s Shop app is introducing a new rewards program called Shop Cash, the e-commerce platform announced on Friday. The new program is funded by Shopify and earns shoppers 1% back on purchases made using its Shop Pay online checkout service."
Fintech Giant Stripe is Getting into the Credit Game
TechCrunch
"Stripe wants to make it easier for businesses to access credit. The private financial infrastructure giant announced a new charge card program today from Stripe Issuing , its commercial card issuing product, Denise Ho, head of product for BaaS at Stripe, told TechCrunch exclusively."
First Real-World, Cross-Border Settlement Using Australian CBDC Completed Through NexPay and Monoova
The Fintech Times
"The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), in collaboration with the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC), held an invitation-only conference in Sydney for participants in the Australian Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot project. In a live demonstration, Monoova’s CTO Nicholas Tan, successfully completed the first real-world, cross-border settlement using the pilot CBDC."
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