Explore leading edge topics in the payments industry with the live, virtual Advanced Payments workshop on May 19-20.
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.
Search Payments News
April 7, 2026
Top Post
FDIC Reveals Proposed Rules for Stablecoin Issuers Under Genius Act
Decrypt
"The FDIC approved a proposed rule implementing stablecoin regulations under the GENIUS Act, establishing standards for permitted payment stablecoin issuers. Deposits held as reserves backing payment stablecoins would not receive pass-through deposit insurance protection for token holders. Stablecoin issuers must redeem tokens within two business days and cannot represent that tokens pay interest or yield. The FDIC's action implements the GENIUS Act, which allows payment stablecoin issuers with less than $10 billion in outstanding tokens to choose state-level regulation if their state meets federal standards. The FDIC seeks feedback on 144 specific questions in its proposal, with the 60-day comment period beginning upon Federal Register publication.
April 1, 2026
On the web
Treasury Unveils Dual Rules for Stablecoin Companies Below $10 Billion
The Street
"The United States Department of the Treasury is taking a major step toward formalizing stablecoin regulation. On April 1, it announced issuing its first proposed rule under the GENIUS Act and invited public input on how the framework should be implemented. At the center of the proposal is a provision allowing certain stablecoin issuers to operate under state-level regulatory regimes. Specifically, issuers with less than $10 billion in total outstanding issuance may opt for state oversight, but only if those frameworks are deemed “substantially similar” to federal standards."
March 31, 2026
On the web
Treasury Releases Two New Resources to Guide AI Use in the Financial Sector
U.S. Department of the Treasury
"In support of the President’s AI Action Plan, which calls for clear standards, shared understanding, and risk-based governance to ensure artificial intelligence is deployed safely and responsibly, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released two new resources to guide AI use in the financial sector, a shared Artificial Intelligence Lexicon and the Financial Services AI Risk Management Framework (FS AI RMF)."
March 26, 2026
On the web
FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson Issues Warning Letters to CEOs of PayPal, Stripe, Visa and Mastercard About Debanking American Consumers
FTC
"Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson sent letters today to four major financial infrastructure platforms and payment providers reminding them of their obligations to their customers under the FTC Act. The letters issued to the CEOs of PayPal, Stripe, Visa and Mastercard raise concerns about publicly reported examples of financial services companies denying their customers access to services due to their political or religious views."
February 26, 2026
On the web
OCC Requests Comments on Proposal to Implement GENIUS Act
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
"The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a proposed rulemaking to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act. The notice of proposed rulemaking generally sets forth, and seeks comment on, the regulations that would apply to permitted payment stablecoin issuers and foreign payment stablecoin issuers under the OCC’s jurisdiction as well as certain custody activities conducted by OCC-supervised entities."
February 11, 2026
On the web
NCUA Proposes Rule for Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuer Applications
NCUA
"The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) announced a Notice of Proposed Rule Making outlining the framework for applicants seeking NCUA approval to become a permitted payment stablecoin issuer, as outlined in the GENIUS Act. “This proposed rule is the first step in NCUA’s implementation of the GENIUS Act” said NCUA Chairman Kyle Hauptman. “We’re on track to meet the Congress’ July 18 deadline. Credit unions should be aware that they won’t be at a disadvantage versus other entities, whether in timing or standards.” The comment period on the proposed rule will close on April 13, 2026."
January 16, 2026
Top Post
FTC Asks Court to Hold Payment Processors in Contempt for Systematically Violating 2015 Order
Federal Trade Commission
"The Federal Trade Commission has asked a federal court to hold the operators of a payment processing operation in contempt for systematically violating their 2015 order with the agency over allegations they illegally processed credit card payments. “Cliq and its operators flagrantly violated an FTC order requiring reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud,” said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection."
January 8, 2026
On the web
CFPB: The Consumer Credit Card Market
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
"This report represents the CFPB’s seventh biennial review of the consumer credit card market as directed by the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009. In this report, we analyze data from several sources to examine many aspects of the consumer credit card market as of the end of 2024. We revisit topics covered in earlier reports, such as deferred interest and innovations in the marketplace, while introducing new areas of focus this year. We analyze how cardholders spend by merchant category, review promotional interest rates, and take a deeper look into card transaction disputes."
November 21, 2025
On the wires
CFPB Transfers Active Litigation to DOJ as Funding Dwindles
Bloomberg
"The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is transferring all of its active litigation to the Justice Department as the Trump administration moves to wind down the federal consumer finance watchdog. The CFPB’s remaining enforcement actions, any appellate cases, and litigation over agency regulations—including a case challenging its open banking rule—will now be handled by DOJ attorneys, according to multiple people with knowledge of the move who requested anonymity to discuss internal bureau matters."
November 14, 2025
On the web
Bank of England Consults on Systemic Stablecoins
Paul Hastings Insights
"As part of the UK’s rapid overhaul of its digital assets regulatory regime, the Bank of England this week issued a consultation paper on the bank’s 'Proposed regulatory regime for sterling-denominated systemic stablecoins.'"
October 30, 2025
On the web
Real-Time Payments Systems: A Force for Transformation
OMFIF
"A vibrant, safe and innovative RTP ecosystem depends on conditions that are co-created by the public and private sectors. Success is defined by three core imperatives: security, interoperability and digital extensibility. A new report published by OMFIF and Mastercard, Future-proofing the architecture of real-time payments, finds that these three dimensions must be advanced in parallel to realise the promise of safe, inclusive and future-ready payments ecosystems that enable broad participation across stakeholders."
August 27, 2025
On the web
FinCen’s Fentanyl Orders: What Banks Need to Know Before Oct. 20
ABA Banking Journal
"The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has exercised a significant new authority to the fight against illicit fentanyl. FIs must cease any and all transmittals of funds, from or to CIBanco, Intercam, or Vector, as well as their Mexico-located branches, subsidiaries, and offices, by Oct. 20, 2025. The orders define “transmittals of funds” as the sending and receiving of funds, including convertible virtual currency."
July 14, 2025
On the web
The FTC Gives the Merchant of Record Model a Paddling
JD Supra
"The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently settled an enforcement action with Paddle.com, a U.K.-based payments company, and its U.S. subsidiary (“Paddle”). The settlement resolves claims against Paddle for violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act, Telemarketing Sales Rule, and Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act. The settlement is notable for the FTC’s focus on Paddle’s use of a “merchant of record” (MOR) model for payment processing."
June 27, 2025
On the web
Mastercard, Visa's Merchant Fees Breach Competition Law, UK Tribunal Rules
Reuters
"Global payments processors Visa and Mastercard's default multilateral interchange fees which are charged to retailers infringe competition law, a London tribunal ruled on Friday in the latest round of the long-running legal saga. London's Competition Appeal Tribunal unanimously ruled that Visa and Mastercard's multilateral interchange fees breach European competition law, in a ruling in linked lawsuits brought by hundreds of merchants."
June 11, 2025
On the web
Treasury Releases Request for Information: “Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account”
U.S. Department of the Treasury
"Reminder: The U.S. Department of the Treasury released a request for information related to the Executive Order (EO) 14247 “Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account,” which transitions federal disbursements to electronic payments. Beginning September 30, 2025, all federal payments that are currently made by paper check—including Social Security benefits, tax refunds, and vendor payments—will be made electronically."
May 6, 2025
On the web
CFPB Announcement Regarding Enforcement Actions Related to Buy Now, Pay Later Loans
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
"The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is announcing today that it will not prioritize enforcement actions taken on the basis of the Truth in Lending (Regulation Z); Use of Digital User Accounts to Access Buy Now, Pay Later Loans, 89 Fed. Reg. 47,068 (May 31, 2024) (“Buy Now, Pay Later”). The Bureau will instead keep its enforcement and supervision resources focused on pressing threats to consumers, particularly servicemen and veterans."
CFPB Plans to Revisit Open Banking Rule Despite Staff Cuts
Bloomberg Law
"The Trump administration is poised to reopen a Biden-era rule allowing customers to share their sensitive bank data with third-party fintechs and potentially vacate it, according to multiple sources. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is leaning toward reworking its open banking rule, which allows customers to share their deposit account and credit card information with fintechs, such as online investment company Betterment or PayPal Holdings Inc.’s Venmo service, the sources told Bloomberg Law."
March 26, 2025
On the web
New FTC Data Show a Big Jump in Reported Losses to Fraud to $12.5 Billion in 2024
Federal Trade Commission
"Newly released Federal Trade Commission data show that consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, which represents a 25% increase over the prior year. According to the FTC’s data book, this number is not driven by an increase in fraud reports, which remained stable. Instead, the percentage of people who reported losing money to a fraud or scam increased by double digits."
March 10, 2025
On the web
OCC Withdraws Policy on Bank Engagement With Cryptocurrency
ABA Banking Journal
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency published an interpretive letter rescinding the agency’s policy on bank engagement with cryptocurrency “to reaffirm that a range of cryptocurrency activities are permissible in the federal banking system,” according to an agency statement.
March 7, 2025
On the web
Senate Moves to Stop Watchdog Agency From Overseeing Digital Payment Apps
PCMAG
"The US Senate on Wednesday voted to nullify a Biden-era rule that allowed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to monitor digital payment platforms. As The Verge reports, the resolution is pending House approval, but the Republicans who introduced it say it's necessary to reduce the CFPB’s authority. "Our legislation eliminates barriers to innovation, cuts red tape, and supports our job creators," said Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE)."
March 4, 2025
On the web
US CFPB Drops ‘Zelle’ Case Against JPMorgan, BOFA, Wells Fargo
MSN
"The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Tuesday said it was dropping a lawsuit filed in December against three of the nation's largest banks over their handling of the payment service Zelle, according to a court filing."
February 10, 2025
Top Post
Russ Vought Orders Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to Stop Work
CBS News
"The Trump administration late Saturday ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an independent government agency designed to protect consumers from corporate fraud and scams, to halt much of its work, amid an ongoing overhaul of the federal bureaucracy."
February 7, 2025
On the web
FDIC Releases Documents Related to Supervision of Crypto-Related Activities
FDIC
"The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) released 175 documents related to its supervision of banks that engaged in, or sought to engage in, crypto-related activities."
FinCEN Announces $37,000,000 Civil Money Penalty Against Brink’s Global Services USA, Inc. for Violations of the Bank Secrecy Act
FinCEN
"The Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) assessed a $37,000,000 civil money penalty against Brink’s Global Services USA, Inc. (Brink’s) for willful violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), the primary U.S. anti-money laundering (AML) law that safeguards the financial system from illicit use, and its implementing regulations."
February 5, 2025
On the web
Hawley, Sanders Push for 10 Percent Cap on Credit Card Interest
The Hill
"Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced a bill Tuesday seeking to cap credit card interest rates at 10 percent. Hawley and Sanders said credit card interest rates have become 'exploitative,' citing a recent Forbes report that found the average credit card interest rate is 28.6 percent."
February 4, 2025
On the web
Payments Canada Opens Public Consultation on Expansion of Membership
Open Banking Expo
"Payments Canada membership eligibility is set to expand to include payment service providers, as defined in the Retail Payment Activities Act, that perform retail payment activities; credit union locals that are members of a central or a cooperative credit association; and finally, to clearing houses of designated clearing and settlement systems."
February 3, 2025
Top Post
Statement on Designation of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
"On January 31, 2025, President Trump designated Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent as Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)."
January 16, 2025
On the web
CFPB Orders Operator of Cash App to Pay $175 Million and Fix Its Failures on Fraud
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
"The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered Block, the operator of the peer-to-peer payments app Cash App, to refund and pay other redress to consumers up to $120 million and pay a penalty of $55 million into the CFPB’s victims relief fund."
January 14, 2025
On the web
CFPB Proposes to Include Virtual Currency Transactions Under the EFTA
Goodwin Law
"The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a proposed interpretive rule that, if finalized as written, would bring certain virtual currency products and services, such as stablecoins and digital wallets, within the scope of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) and Regulation E."
CFPB Research Reveals Heavy Buy Now, Pay Later Use Among Borrowers with High Credit Balances and Multiple Pay-in-Four Loans
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
"More than 60 percent of users had simultaneous loans, borrowers held higher balances on other credit lines, and most loans went to consumers with subprime or lower credit scores"