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A leading payments industry news source for more than 17 years. Glenbrook curates the news and keeps you abreast of the important daily headlines in payments.
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March 20, 2026
Top Post
Visa Launches ‘Agentic Ready’ Programme to Advance Agentic Commerce in Europe
Visa
"Visa announced the launch of Visa Agentic Ready, a new global programme, designed to support the payments ecosystem as it prepares for a new era of agentic commerce. Launching first in Europe, including the UK, this builds on Visa Intelligent Commerce. In its first phase, Visa Agentic Ready focuses on issuer readiness, providing issuing partners with a structured pathway to test and validate agent-initiated transactions, working in close partnership with Visa and selected merchants to explore how these transactions could operate securely, at scale, in controlled production environments."
On the web
Klarna Card Reaches 5 Million Active Customers
Klarna
"Klarna announced that the Klarna Card has reached 5 million active customers globally, underscoring rapid adoption as consumers shift towards new forms of payment which provide more control over day-to-day money management. The card draws from the customer's own funds for everyday spending, with the option to spread the cost of a specific purchase, like a large appliance or a flight, when it makes sense to do so. The result is a card that offers genuine spending control without the long-term debt obligations that come with traditional credit cards."
Education: Federal Reserve: Automated Clearing House Payments
Federal Reserve History
"Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments were first established in the 1970s by the Federal Reserve System and the banking industry. Up to that point, cash and checks had been the principal methods for retail payments in the United States. ACH payments, which are initiated electronically, were envisioned as a more-efficient payment method. In the late 1960s and 1970s, the Federal Reserve and the banking industry shared the common goal of moving beyond paper checks. Some contemporaries feared "that the check system was going to grind to a halt" because of growing volumes (Howard 1981)."
March 19, 2026
Top Post
Visa Launches Visa Intelligent Authorisation to Modernise Payment Processing in Europe
Visa
"Visa announced the launch of Visa Intelligent Authorisation (VIA) in Europe. This new capability on the Visa Acceptance Platform enables acquirers (banks and other financial institutions that process payments for merchants) to modernise their payment processing while strengthening operational resilience through a single API connection, helping eliminate the need for expensive, time‑consuming infrastructure rebuilds. In Europe, Visa is partnering with an initial group of acquirers including Comercia Global Payments, Elavon, Fiserv, UNICRE and Worldline to unlock VIA’s capabilities."
On the web
Ingenico and Visa Collaborate to Accelerate Unified Commerce Solutions Across Industries
Ingenico
"Ingenico has collaborated with Visa, a global leader in payments, to enhance and expand value with current and future clients. The solution combines Ingenico's Android-based AXIUM smart POS terminals with the Visa Acceptance Platform, including gateway and risk management services. By using Visa's extensive experience in e-commerce, this collaboration can grow Ingenico’s innovative payment options, seamless online transactions, and ability to deliver scalable omnichannel solutions designed to meet clients' diverse needs."
Apple Update Frees Families From Sharing Only 1 Payment Option
CNET
"With the latest OS updates, Apple users on Family Sharing will be able to select their own payment options for new purchases. Soon, Adult family members can be part of Family Sharing and use the individual payment methods they have saved, perhaps to their Apple Wallet, without needing any workarounds."
NCR Voyix to Sell Bank Technology Solutions Business in Japan
NCR Voyix
"NCR Voyix announced it has reached an agreement to sell its bank technology solutions business in Japan, operated by NCR Commerce Japan Ltd., to NTT DATA, a trusted global business and technology services leader headquartered in Tokyo. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026. The business has supported financial institution clients in Japan for many years, delivering specialized technology and mission‑critical services including foreign exchange, loan, call center, video teller and network solutions."
March 18, 2026
On the web
Mastercard and Google Team Up to Build Trust for AI-Powered Shopping
The Defiant
"Mastercard has unveiled Verifiable Intent, a new open, standards-based trust framework co-developed with Google, designed specifically for "agentic commerce" — a world where artificial intelligence (AI) systems don't just assist shoppers, but actively plan, decide, and complete purchases autonomously. The core problem Verifiable Intent aims to solve is visibility: when a consumer delegates a purchase to an AI agent, the clear “click buy” or "tap to pay" moment that traditionally signals intent disappears."
Visa’s Jack Forestell Calls the Agentic Web the Biggest Payments Opportunity in Two Decades
Crypto News
"Visa’s Chief Product and Strategy Officer just said the quiet part loud. Jack Forestell told attendees at the Wolfe Research FinTech Forum last week that “the agentic web is the biggest opportunity that I’ve seen in my 20-plus years in payment technology.” That’s not a throwaway line from a mid-level product manager. It’s the strategic thesis of a $592 billion company that processes roughly $16.7 trillion in payment volume annually. When Visa says something is the next big thing, the payments industry tends to pay attention — or scramble to catch up."
Square's 2026 Local Economy Report Reveals the Neighborhood Network Effect
Block
"Square published its 2026 Local Economy Report report, a first-of-its-kind analysis revealing how "regulars" and the neighborhood networks they create are the backbone of thriving local economies. The report reveals that regular customers drive 6x more revenue for local businesses and unpacks the patterns and trends in their spending. This includes regulars making predictable purchases, tipping more generously, and prioritizing in-person experiences, which ultimately creates the steady demand businesses rely on during periods of economic uncertainty."
JPMorgan Partners With Mastercard to Launch Virtual B2B Card in Europe
Retail Systems
"JPMorgan Chase’s payments arm has partnered with Mastercard to launch its virtual card in Europe. JPMorgan Payments plans to tap into Europe’s position as the world’s second-largest payments market after rolling out the virtual card in the US. By adopting the JPMorgan Payments virtual card, businesses in sectors such as insurance, healthcare, travel and commercial real estate can digitise accounts payable and receivable."
Capital One Launches Capital One Travel App
Capital One
"Capital One announced a strategic evolution of its travel business and award-winning travel portal, as well as the launch of the Capital One Travel App. Capital One is taking a step forward in its goal to build a fully integrated travel franchise, bringing the technology, talent, and supplier relationships underpinning Capital One Travel in-house. The Capital One Travel App is the ultimate expression of this evolution—a unified ecosystem that leverages award-winning technology to help cardholders travel smarter and with greater confidence."
Klarna Smashes 1 Million Merchants Milestone
Klarna
"Klarna has surpassed 1 million merchants globally. Klarna has grown the number of merchants offering its payment methods by 47% in the past year, adding 285,000 merchants in 2025, and more than 115,000 in the final quarter alone. The growth is being driven by Klarna's expanding agreements with the world's leading payment service providers, giving merchants around the world easier access to Klarna at checkout."
American Express Now Offers Virtual Cards in Concur Expense to Simplify Expense Management
American Express
"American Express announced the integration of American Express Virtual Cards into Concur® Expense, expanding its partnership with SAP® Concur to deliver integrated spend management solutions to enterprise clients. Employees can use Virtual Cards for business spending while administrators maintain control through built-in spending limits, get added security through uniquely generated Card numbers, and can review, manage and reconcile expenses all in one place."
March 17, 2026
On the web
PayPal Eyes 70-Country PYUSD Expansion With Rewards For Its Stablecoin, Despite CLARITY Act Limbo
CoinDesk
"The expansion comes as the CLARITY Act remains stalled in the Senate due to disagreement over stablecoin rewards. As per the last proposal, PayPal would not be able to offer rewards on stablecoin holdings since it is not the issuer of PYUSD. Regulatory uncertainty could force PayPal to revise its rewards model or international strategy."
PPro Integrates Cash App Pay, Connecting Merchants With Millions of Gen Z and Millennial Consumers
PPRO
"PPRO announced that Cash App Pay is now available on its platform to merchants and PSPs operating in the U.S. This partnership enables businesses in PPRO’s network to offer a fast, mobile-first payment method that meets the expectations of digitally native American consumers and helps merchants connect with Cash App’s engaged customer base. Cash App Pay allows customers to pay directly from their Cash App balance*, linked bank account, or debit card, without needing to use a physical card."
Early Warning Services Expands Paze® Online Checkout to Citi
Early Warning
"Early Warning Services, the company behind Zelle, announced that Citi will offer Paze, the bank-offered online checkout solution, expanding access to millions of customers through one of the largest U.S. credit card issuers. Eligible Citi cardmembers will be able to activate Paze through Citi.com, the Citi Mobile® App or mywallet.paze.com. Customers can then look for the Paze button at the online checkout of participating retailers and easily complete their purchase with just a few clicks."
Mastercard to Acquire BVNK to Connect On-Chain Payments and Fiat Rails
Mastercard
"Mastercard announced a definitive agreement to acquire BVNK, a leader in stablecoin infrastructure, for up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments. The deal further expands Mastercard’s end-to-end support of digital assets and value movement across currencies, rails and regions."
Paytm’s New In-App Calculator Makes Splitting Bills Super Easy
NewsBytes
"Paytm just rolled out an in-app calculator on its payment screen, making it super easy to split bills at grocery stores, pharmacies, or markets:No need to switch between apps. You can quickly add up amounts, see the total in both numbers and words, and confirm everything before entering your UPI PIN."
Thunes Brings Stablecoin Payouts to 11,500 Banks via Swift Connectivity, Bridging Traditional Finance and Digital Assets
Thunes
"Thunes unveiled a major breakthrough in cross-border payments by offering its Pay-to-Stablecoin-Wallets solution to banks globally through their existing Swift connectivity. This innovation enables the 11,500 institutions on the Swift network to send real-time payments to more than 500 million stablecoin wallets worldwide, with zero additional integration. Thunes acts as a bridge between the fiat and the digital assets ecosystem."
Capital One Redefines Its Role With Discover And Brex Platform Shift
Yahoo Finance
"For Capital One, the combination of Discover and Brex turns what used to be a credit card centric lender into a much broader payments and software platform. Discover brings a proprietary card network and a larger consumer footprint, while Brex adds corporate liability cards, expense management tools, and integrated business payment solutions. Taken together, that pushes Capital One closer to the model you see at players like American Express, JPMorgan Chase, and to some extent fintechs that combine cards with workflow software."
Garanti BBVA Unveils a Personalized Smart Wallet Packed With Rewards
BBVA
"Garanti BBVA has completely overhauled BonusFlaş. Android users can quickly switch between registered cards before paying. GarantiPay and 3D Secure online payments, credit card and bill payments, motor vehicle tax payments and card-to-card international transfers can all be carried out without a physical card. For customers with multiple cards, total limit, remaining limit and total balance are visible on a single screen."
Wells Fargo’s Trademark Filing Suggests Wider Crypto Plans
Banking Exchange
"Wells Fargo could be exploring a deeper push into digital assets after filing a sweeping trademark application that hints at ambitions across cryptocurrency trading, payments, and blockchain software. The bank also describes a suite of blockchain-related software tools, including downloadable applications for staking digital assets, accessing non-fungible tokens (NFTs), managing cryptocurrency wallets, and executing digital asset transactions."
March 16, 2026
Top Post
Visa and Fiserv Expand Partnership to Strengthen Payment Acceptance Across Europe
Visa
"Visa and Fiserv today announced an expansion of their long-standing partnership to deliver the Visa Acceptance Platform within Fiserv’s merchant acquiring and processing solutions across Europe. The collaboration introduces a unified, API driven acceptance layer designed to simplify integration for acquirers while helping merchants improve authorisation rates, reduce fraud and deliver seamless customer experiences. The expanded partnership builds on years of joint innovation across payments, acceptance and AI enabled services."
On the web
Sorting Through the Issues Surrounding Stablecoin
Atlanta Federal Reserve
"One way to demystify stablecoin is to think of this digital currency as the latest innovation in money, another step in the evolution to improve payments efficiency that began in Eurasia as early as 750 BCE. Considered from this perspective, it's no surprise that discussions around stablecoin have reached the level it has now that the federal government has authorized its use in the United States, though it's important to note that stablecoins are not backed or insured by the US government. Instead, under the new law, payment stablecoins must be backed one-to-one by high-quality, segregated reserves, primarily US dollars, Treasury bills, or cash equivalents."
Mastercard Move Expands China Connectivity With New Bank of Shanghai Collaboration
Disruption Banking
"Mastercard announced a collaboration between Mastercard Move, its money movement platform, and Bank of Shanghai (BoS) to enable seamless, bi-directional payment flows between China and global markets. As international trade, migration and education continue to grow, people and businesses increasingly rely on fast, predictable and transparent global payments. The integration of BoS into Mastercard Move streamlines these cross-border flows, giving SMEs, students and families a more efficient way to move money into and out of China, strengthening a vital financial bridge between China and the world."
Capital One Settles 360 Savings Suit Reshaping Costs And Customer Narrative
Yahoo Finance
"Capital One Financial has finalized a class action settlement involving holders of its 360 Savings accounts. The agreement establishes a US$425 million settlement fund for eligible customers dating back to 2019. Capital One will equalize interest rates on legacy 360 Savings accounts and its 360 Performance Savings product going forward."
March 13, 2026
On the web
Buy Now Pay Later Usage Surges as New Products Proliferate, JD Power Finds
JD Power
"Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) adoption continues to grow rapidly, with 37% of consumers in the United States making a purchase using this method in the past 90 days, a 5-percentage-point increase in just one year. According to the JD Power 2026 U.S. Buy Now Pay Later Satisfaction Study released, as BNPL use matures and providers continue to launch new products, customers are increasingly using it to manage their day-to-day spending."
Swift: Transforming Consumer Payments: Banks Roll Out New Framework for Retail Transactions
Swift
"Last year, we announced plans to transform the cross-border payment experience with the launch of a new scheme, designed to ensure consistently fast, predictable and transparent payments worldwide. Thanks to progress in 2026, consumers and small businesses receiving payments across a range of countries, including five of the world’s ten largest remittance markets, will be among the first to benefit from a pioneering new framework for cross-border retail transactions."
Worldline and ABN AMRO Extend Partnership to Support Payment Services in the Dutch Market
Worldline
"Worldline will continue to enhance ABN AMRO’s customer payment solutions. This collaboration underscores the value both parties place in their long-term commitment to innovation and operational excellence. Under the renewed contract, Worldline will continue to drive critical payment services for ABN AMRO, overseeing card issuing and personalization activities, and a comprehensive suite of payment solutions. This encompasses SEPA Credit Transfers, Instant Payments, and support services ensuring seamless operations across the payment value chain."
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