“DepositLink, the industry-leading provider of secure digital payment solutions for real estate, introduces an innovative product enhancement for brokers and title companies. DepositLink Pay, the next generation of digital payment technology, further reduces the friction and inefficiency of processing paper checks for earnest money and commission payments. With DepositLink Pay, a broker, agent, or title company can direct buyers and renters to a customized URL or a “Pay” button to make digital EMD and rental payments. There is no cost to brokers, agents, or companies.”

“A new deposit and payment method developed by a Silicon Valley banking expert made its national debut in Missoula on Friday, aiming to give both merchants and consumers a new way to conduct business. Figure Pay , a digital-first company created by Tony Morosini, targets “thin file” consumers such as young adults and immigrants with little credit history. It also relies upon blockchain technology, eliminating the need for a traditional financial company.”

“The European Central Bank has complained to Italian Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri that measures to spur electronic payments in the country undermined the goal of a neutral approach to means of payment. In a letter dated Dec. 14 published on the European Union legal website, the ECB said the programme of incentives launched by Rome to reduce reliance on cash appeared to be “disproportionate”.”

“Alphabet Inc.’s Google subsidiary is adding more services to its Google Wallet for Android mobile devices, and Google’s Chrome Web browser now supports a common e-commerce payment form for merchants that is expected to be integrated into the other major browsers too. United Airlines Inc. in May became the first air carrier to link the Google Assistant voice-commerce system with Google Wallet , Jack Connors, head of commerce partnerships and marketing at Google, said Wednesday at the 2019 Mobile Payments Conference in Chicago. What that means is that besides paying for a ticket and loading it into the wallet, the traveler can command the wallet to open the ticket and go through the entire check-in and boarding process on a smart phone.”

“European financial technology firms, including TransferWise Ltd. and German banking startup N26 Bank GmbH, are embracing plans by U.S. tech giants like Facebook Inc. to push into digital currencies and payments, brushing off potential rivalries.    Speaking at Bloomberg’s Sooner Than You Think conference in London, Taavet Hinrikus, the chairman and co-founder of TransferWise, said he welcomed plans by Facebook to develop a new digital currency that could let users transfer money on its WhatsApp messaging app.”

“Sainsbury’s has launched its first digital-only store that will feature no tills whatsoever. Starting today, shoppers at Sainsbury’s Holborn Circus in London will be able to check out on their phones only, as part of the grocer’s latest trial to speed up the shopping experience.     It said at present, 82% of transactions at the trial store are cashless – with many customers workers on-the-go. The experiment will put SmartShop Scan, Pay & Go technology to the test “making grocery shopping quicker and more convenient”.”