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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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February 12, 2026
On the web
Cash App to Sell Its Credit Score
Yahoo Finance - Payments Dive
"Digital payments company Block is working to expand the reach of its internal Cash App credit scores, betting that lenders will pay for more data about non-traditional payments and installment loans. A company spokesperson said Block will charge for the scores, but declined to reveal pricing."
Uber Eats Layers Agentic AI Into Grocery Shopping
EMARKETER
"Uber Eats is boosting its grocery delivery push with an AI assistant. The feature, called Cart Assistant, helps customers build a shopping cart using text or images, such as a handwritten grocery list or screenshot of recipe ingredients. It can automatically consider product availability and offer store-level details like prices and applicable promotions. Zooming out: The new tool is part of a larger effort from Uber to integrate agentic AI across its platform and provide more value to users,"
74% of Asia Pacific Consumers Already Use AI to Shop, But Trust and Transparency Hold the Key to Checkout: Visa Survey
Visa
"Visa released new survey findings on the state of digital commerce in Asia Pacific, revealing that while consumers are increasingly using AI to shop, concerns over security and transparency are creating hesitation at the crucial moment of checkout. With Asia Pacific’s rapid shift towards digital commerce and mobile-first shopping, the research shows that consumers are drawing a clear line between using AI to help them browse and trusting the same technology to handle their money and personal data. Demonstrating clearly how AI is used to spark discovery and securely handle payments is critical for consumers to feel confident using the technology to shop and pay."
Banks Caution Against Relaxing Standards for Fed Account Access to Preserve Financial Stability
The Clearing House
"The Bank Policy Institute, Financial Services Forum and The Clearing House Association responded to the Federal Reserve’s request for input on a special-purpose payment account, sometimes referred to as a “skinny master account.” This proposal would relax Federal Reserve master account access standards by introducing a new type of account aimed at payments companies. The associations warned that granting direct access to the Fed’s payment infrastructure to lesser-regulated institutions without sufficient guardrails could increase payment system risks and undermine financial stability."
American Express Launches Flexible Payment Option to Help Support Small Business Cashflow
American Express
"American Express announced the introduction of Flexible Payment Option (FPO), a feature designed to offer businesses greater ability to manage and control their cashflow needs with an instant line of credit. FPO is available for new American Express Business Platinum and Gold Cardmembers, providing them the option to repay their statement balance in full or pay a portion over time, with interest. Business Cardmembers also continue to get up to 54 calendar days interest free until their payment is due."
On the wires
Sabre, PayPal, and Mindtrip Partner to Deliver the Industry’s First End-To-End Agentic AI Experience for Travel
PR Newwire
"Sabre Corporation, PayPal Holdings, and Mindtrip, announced a strategic partnership to deliver a next-generation agentic AI experience that reimagines how consumers discover, plan, book, and manage travel. The collaboration unites Mindtrip's agentic consumer platform, PayPal's agentic commerce capabilities, and Sabre's enterprise-grade travel technology and agentic AI expertise. The companies are set to launch in Q2 2026."
February 11, 2026
Top Post
Zelle® Posts 20% Growth with $1.2 Trillion Sent, Far Outpacing Consumer Spending and Cementing Its Role in the U.S. Economy
Early Warning
"In 2025, American consumers and small businesses sent more than $1.2 trillion using Zelle®, marking the second consecutive trillion-dollar year and delivering 20% year-over-year growth in total dollars sent. That growth occurred at a nearly six-times-faster clip than U.S. consumer spending (3.5%) and business investment (3.2%) in the third quarter of 2025, underscoring the vital role the Zelle plays as a foundational financial tool in the U.S. economy."
On the web
Jack Dorsey’s Cash App Eliminates Fees on Large Bitcoin Purchases and Recurring Buys
Crypto Briefing
"Jack Dorsey-backed Cash App is eliminating fees on Bitcoin purchases exceeding $2,000 and all recurring buys, according to a recent announcement. The policy change, which targets both transaction fees and spreads, is part of a set of Bitcoin-focused updates aimed at making the leading digital asset more practical for everyday use, the team stated."
Adyen Launches ‘Personalize’ to Tailor Checkout Experiences in Real-Time
Adyen
"Adyen announced the launch of Personalize, a new product within its Adyen Uplift payment optimization suite. Personalize allows businesses to adjust their checkout pages in real-time based on individual shopper preferences, making it easier for customers to pay while reducing processing costs for the merchant."
Stripe Adds X402 Integration for USDC Agent Payments on Base
The Block
"Stripe has unveiled a preview of machine payments on its platform, integrating the x402 protocol to enable developers to charge AI agents directly using the USDC stablecoin on the Base network. Jeff Weinstein, product lead at Stripe, wrote on X on Tuesday that the deployment would eventually expand to include additional protocols, currencies, and blockchains. The system utilizes the PaymentIntents API to allow businesses to programmatically charge AI agents for API usage, Model Context Protocol calls, and HTTP requests."
Intuit Launches New AI-Powered Construction Edition for Intuit Enterprise Suite
Intuit Inc.
"Intuit announced the launch of a new construction edition for Intuit Enterprise Suite, an AI-native, end-to-end ERP built specifically for the complex realities of the $2 trillion construction industry. Purpose-built for mid-market construction businesses, the new solution brings project, financial, and operational workflows together in one place, helping customers streamline operations, improve cash flow, and deliver real-time visibility into performance to drive profitable growth at scale. These new construction capabilities are also available as a module for Intuit QuickBooks Online Advanced customers."
February 10, 2026
Top Post
New Pay by Bank Offering Powers Amazon Purchases Directly From Shoppers’ UK Bank Accounts
Retail Technology Innovation Hub
"Amazon has launched Pay by Bank, a new payment method on amazon.co.uk that allows customers to complete retail purchases directly from their UK bank accounts, with the ability to do so for their Prime membership coming soon. This avoids the need to enter or store card details by establishing a connection between customers and their existing banks. Security is maintained through the customer's own banking app, using their established biometric authentication or PIN verification systems."
On the web
Social Engineering Breach Exposes 1.4 Million Betterment Customer Records
Digital Watch Observatory
"Betterment has confirmed a data breach affecting around 1.4 million customers after a January 2026 social engineering attack on a third-party platform. Attackers used the access to send fraudulent crypto scam messages posing as official promotions. The breach occurred after an employee was tricked into sharing login credentials, allowing unauthorised access to internal messaging systems rather than core investment infrastructure. Attackers used the access to send messages promising multiply cryptocurrency deposits sent to external wallets."
Adyen and Uber Expand Global Partnership to Power New Markets, Launch Uber Kiosks
Adyen
"Adyen and Uber announced the renewal and expansion of their global partnership. Building on more than a decade of successful collaboration first starting in 2012, Adyen continues to serve as a key payments engine supporting Uber's global footprint, which now spans over 70 countries across six continents. The expanded partnership reflects Uber’s growing use of Adyen’s global payments platform to enhance performance and offer more alternative payment methods, to support Uber’s continued international growth."
On the wires
accesso® and Adyen Expand Strategic Partnership to Enhance Platform Payments Capabilities at Global Scale
PR Newswire
"accesso Technology Group a technology solutions provider to leisure, entertainment, and cultural markets, announced the expansion of its long-standing strategic partnership with Adyen. This collaboration integrates embedded payments as a core platform capability across the accesso ecosystem. Together, accesso and Adyen's partnership is designed to deliver the scale and reliability required for complex, high-volume environments spanning multiple regions and sales channels."
Ingenico Launches Next-Generation AXIUM Payment Device Family and Ingenico 360 Unified Cloud Platform
PR Newswire
"Ingenico announced the launch of its next-generation AXIUM payment device family and Ingenico 360, a unified cloud platform designed to deliver consistent, enterprise-grade payment experiences while simplifying large-scale payment operations. The new AXIUM family is built on a common architecture that spans mobile, countertop, multilane, self-service, PIN pad, and SoftPOS form factors. Every AXIUM device shares the same core design principles, is certified to PCI PTS v7, and runs Android 14, ensuring consistent security, compliance, and behavior across global deployments."
February 6, 2026
On the web
Mastercard Collaborates With Cyber Security Council to Safeguard Uae’s Digital Ecosystem
Mastercard
"Mastercard has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) to strengthen trust in the nation’s digital ecosystem. Through this collaboration, both entities will work together to advance cybersecurity resilience by sharing global best practices and supporting the development of forward‑looking cybersecurity policies. The two entities are also launching a joint report on the current state of the country’s cybersecurity landscape."
Lloyds Says GenAI Delivered £50m of Value in 2025
Banking Exchange
"Lloyds Banking Group’s use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) delivered around £50 million of value in 2025, with more than £100 million in additional value expected in 2026 as the bank expands its use of the technology. During 2025, the bank deployed more than 50 generative AI solutions, which it said have reshaped how customers interact with its services and how employees carry out day-to-day work."
On the wires
Zip US Expands Flexible Payment Options with Launch of Pay in 2
Business Wire
"Zip announced the launch of Pay in 2, a new payment option that allows consumers to split a purchase into two installments paid over two weeks. While Zip’s Pay in 4 offering has helped millions of customers manage larger purchases over six weeks, Pay in 2 is designed to help manage cash flow and everyday spending within a single billing cycle."
February 5, 2026
Top Post
Visa Introduces Visa & Main, A New Platform to Accelerate Small Business Growth Across the U.S.
Visa
"Visa announced the launch of Visa & Main, a new platform designed to give small business owners across the United States better access to the resources they need to succeed. Built in direct response to pressing challenges entrepreneurs face—access to capital, reaching customers and adopting modern business tools—the platform brings together capabilities across Visa’s network to help small businesses succeed."
On the web
Merchant Steering of Consumer Payment Choice
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
"This paper analyzes data from a consumer payment survey and diary to identify reasons why consumers often deviate from their preferred payment method when making in-person purchases. In particular, it investigates the degree to which merchants influence consumers’ payment choice—cash, debit, or credit card—and whether they are able to steer consumers from their preferred payment method."
Phixius by Nacha and Kinexys by J.P. Morgan Integration Goes Live, Expanding Multi-Responder Account Validation Network
Nacha
"Phixius by Nacha (Phixius) announced that its integration with Kinexys Liink, the world’s first bank-led peer-to-peer blockchain-based data sharing network, part of Kinexys by J.P. Morgan, is now live. With this integration, financial institutions and organizations that make ACH payments can benefit from a multi-responder account validation system. As part of the integration, Phixius serves as a key U.S. payment information network responder for clients of Kinexys Liink, enabling near real-time validation of domestic bank account data."
Block Expands OpenIP with Bitkey and Proto Patents: Advancing Open Hardware Innovation
Block
"Block announced the expansion of Block's OpenIP initiative to include patents related to Bitkey, our bitcoin self-custody hardware wallet, and Proto, our brand of bitcoin mining products and services, furthering our commitment to open innovation in hardware development. This expansion builds on our initial OpenIP announcement from October 2025, where we established our approach to intellectual property that puts builders first."
February 4, 2026
Top Post
ACI Worldwide Report: Global Refund Volumes Surge 18% as Retailers Tighten Returns
ACI Worldwide
"Annual refund volumes in the global retail sector increased 18.1 % in 2025, while refund value rose 12.7% year-on-year, according to ACI’s annual Global Ecommerce Report. Refund activity peaked sharply during the holiday season; November and December together accounted for approximately 20% of all refunds in 2025. While refund rates are rising more slowly than eCommerce transactions, their financial impact for retailers remains significant. Every $1 million in refunds typically translates into around $1.3 million in total costs once reverse logistics, inventory depreciation, payment processing fees, and fraud-related overheads are accounted for."
On the web
Mastercard Launches Fleet: Next Gen to Streamline Fleet Payments in Apac
Asian Banking & Finance
"Mastercard has launched Mastercard Fleet: Next Gen, a portfolio of new solutions for car fleet management and logistics operations. It offers global acceptance across millions of locations, including fuel, electric vehicle (EV) charging, maintenance, tolling, and ancillary fleet speed, according to a press release on 4 February 2026. Mastercard promises smarter authorisation controls and spend policies based on vehicle, driver, merchant categories, location, time, and amount."
Webster Financial Corporation Enters Into Merger Agreement With Banco Santander, S.A. for $12.3 Billion
Business Wire-Yahoo
"Webster Financial Corporation, the holding company for Webster Bank, N.A., today announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which Banco Santander, S.A. will acquire Webster in a cash-and-stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Webster stockholders will receive $48.75 in cash and 2.0548 Santander American Depository Shares for each Webster common share."
Ripple Wins EU EMI License, Scaling Payments Across Europe
NFT Plazas
"Ripple secured a full EMI license in Luxembourg, granting seamless operational access to all 27 European Union member states. With 75+ global licenses, Ripple leverages strict compliance as a competitive moat to win over traditional institutional partners. The $1.15 billion ecosystem combining Ripple Treasury and RLUSD stablecoin provides a high-speed, transparent alternative to legacy banking systems."
Project Fusse: Exploring Flexible, Scalable and Secure Settlement Engines
BIS
"This report details the findings from Project FuSSE (Fully Scalable Settlement Engine), a proof-of-concept exploring how a modular, microservices-based architecture could support the design of settlement systems that could scale under sustained growth and stress conditions, adapt to change, and strengthen security through quantum readiness and cryptographic agility. The project demonstrated technical feasibility while highlighting significant operational trade-offs that must be carefully managed."
BBVA Joins Banking Consortium to Issue European Stablecoin
BBVA
"BBVA has joined a consortium of eleven major European financial institutions that have formed a joint venture, Qivalis, to launch a euro-pegged stablecoin. The aim is to enable faster and cheaper payments, as well as the settlement of digital assets within a regulated environment backed by all the safeguards that a European bank can offer. The commercial launch is slated for the second half of 2026, once the technical and regulatory developments have been completed."
On the wires
Truist Launches AI-Enabled Receivables Platform to Accelerate Cash Application and Minimize Exceptions
PR Newswire
"Truist Financial Corporation announced a new integrated receivables platform that uses AI and machine learning to help commercial and corporate clients simplify receivables and improve cash visibility. The solution matches payments to invoices across checks and electronic rails, unifies payment and remittance data, and accelerates cash application activity."
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