WhatsApp Removes Millions of Scammers, but Security Revamp Could Go Further
WhatsApp took down 6.8 million scam-linked accounts—primarily in South Asia—during the first half of 2025 in a major crackdown on cyber fraud. It also announced new protective chat tools designed to combat criminal activity. The next question is whether the extensive fraud rings will be dismantled or simply adapt and find new ways to entrap […]
UK Regulator Tightens Rules on Payment Processors
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has introduced rules stipulating that payments firms must keep company funds separate from customer funds. The FCA cited several instances where fintechs became insolvent, noting that customers were left with an average shortfall of 65% in these cases. The new safeguarding rules are intended to ensure that, if a […]
From Trust to Truth—New Purpose-Built Infrastructure to the Rescue
The correspondent banking model that has enabled cross-border payments for the past 50 years is built on trust; trust that each party in a complex chain will act in good faith and fulfill its obligations. However, the absence of purpose-built technology and the dependence on manual processes at originating institutions and correspondent banks have prevented […]
Authorized Payment Scams: How to Stay Ahead of AI-Powered Fraud
WEBINAR Authorized Payment Scams: How to Stay Ahead of AI-Powered Fraud August 26, 2025 1:00 pm EDT [contact-form-7] APP fraud is rising fast—but are banks and businesses ready to stop scams their customers authorized? Authorized push payment (APP) fraud is one of the fastest-growing threats to corporate and consumer payments, with criminals using social engineering, […]
Tilt Enters Subprime Market with a Different Way of Credit Scoring
A new entrant has emerged in the non-prime credit market, offering cards to consumers who don’t meet the underwriting standards of traditional issuers. While this segment has historically posed challenges for mainstream providers, Tilt uses a proprietary scoring mechanism aimed at identifying creditworthy individuals within this group. The cards are a relaunched version of an […]
Klarna and Afterpay Opt Not to Send BNPL Data to Credit Bureaus
For now, Klarna and Afterpay have declined to participate in the new credit scoring model that incorporates consumers’ buy now, pay later (BNPL) loan information. In contrast, competitor Affirm has been working with FICO to develop two credit score models that include BNPL data. These models aim to give lenders a clearer picture of how […]
What Texans Credit Union Learned from Upgrading its General Ledger
When credit unions look for ways to improve service for their members, accounting systems may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But when Texans Credit Union upgraded its accounting platform, the benefits cascaded throughout the organization—saving money, streamlining operations, and even boosting morale. In a PaymentsJournal Podcast, Tracy Montez, SVP, Controller at […]
Remitly Unveils Stablecoin Wallet for Cross-Border Usage
As stablecoins play an increasingly prominent role in cross-border payments, Remitly is preparing to offer users digital wallets capable of sending and receiving funds in stablecoins. These disbursements will be handled through Remitly’s partnership with Bridge, the stablecoin infrastructure provider for Stripe. The first step will be the launch of Remitly Wallet, a multi-currency digital […]
As Fraud Rises, Identities Are More Valuable Than Ever
A recent fraud survey from a UK fraud consortium reveals a troubling evolution in criminal tactics, highlighting that fraud isn’t just growing—it’s getting smarter. The findings from Cifas point to a critical shift: as traditional fraud methods are disrupted, criminals are rapidly adapting, leveraging more advanced and often AI-driven tools to bypass detection. Cifas noted […]
Why More Merchants Are Centralizing Their Payments Infrastructure
As the technology behind payments processing accelerates, it’s also reshaping how merchants need to think about the ways their customers pay. Increasingly, acquirers are discovering that by focusing on areas like reconciliation and streamlining the payments workflow, they can build stronger relationships—not only with their customers, but also with their employees. In a PaymentsJournal podcast, […]