Credit Scores Start to Take Shape During Childhood
New research suggests that adult credit access is shaped by childhood experiences—especially neighborhood environment and surrounding social influences. The study from Opportunity Insights found that credit scores tend to solidify by the time a person is in their mid-twenties, with credit behavior deeply linked to formative years and early life circumstances. The area where a […]
OpenAI to Add Payments Checkout in ChatGPT
In the latest convergence of artificial intelligence and payments, OpenAI will integrate a payments checkout system into ChatGPT. Earlier this year, ChatGPT and Shopify partnered to upgrade the shopping feature within the AI platform. The collaboration enabled users who search for a product on ChatGPT to see the top results with prices, reviews, and links […]
The Payment Process: The Supply Chain’s Most Overlooked Cyber Risk
The payment process is the financial Achilles’ heel of the global supply chain and a risk area too often overlooked by finance and security leaders. Why should today’s cybercriminals bother with ransomware or selling stolen Personally Identifiable Information (PII) on the dark web when they can use AI-powered social engineering to trick finance teams into […]
Phishing Attacks Target Vulnerability in Google Gemini
A bug in Google Gemini is allowing criminals to exploit the artificial intelligence itself, using summarized emails to launch phishing attacks. Although Google has reportedly known about the issue since last year, cybersecurity experts say it still hasn’t been fixed. By slipping invisible text into an email—hidden with HTML tricks like white text or concealed […]
Citi Considers Stablecoin, but Is More Active in Tokenized Deposits
As U.S. lawmakers inch closer to passing stablecoin legislation, Citigroup is reportedly exploring the possibility of issuing its own stablecoin. In a post-earnings call, Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup, said the institution is also evaluating key aspects of digital assets, including stablecoin reserve management, fiat and digital currency on- and off-ramps, and crypto custodial services. […]
Navigating Global Fintech Regulations Through Strategic Regulatory Arbitrage
As fintech continues to reshape global finance, both startups and established players are learning that innovation often outpaces regulation. With no universal set of standards, this regulatory lag becomes even more pronounced. Companies expanding internationally need to navigate complex payment regulations that govern customer identification processes, data security measures, and operational authorization requirements. We define regulatory […]
Bank Regulators Outline Expectations for Crypto Custody
Three major federal bank regulatory agencies issued a joint statement warning banks about the risks associated with taking custody of cryptocurrency assets. While the statement does not impose new regulations on crypto custody, it signals a significant shift—indicating that the federal government is now fully engaged on this issue, a notable departure from the previous […]
Australia to Ban Surcharging on Card Payments
Many merchants have adopted card surcharging to reduce costs and drive customers to use alternative payment methods. However, Australian regulators consider the practice outdated. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has proposed eliminating card payment surcharges—a move the central bank estimates could save consumers roughly A$1.2 billion per year. “Australia seems to be in a […]
AI Is Turning Accounts Receivable Into a Strategic Powerhouse
For years, accounts receivable (AR) was a quiet, behind-the-scenes function in corporate finance. Necessary, sure, but not the kind of area that made headlines. But that’s starting to change—fast. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), AR is being transformed from a manual, reactive process into a proactive engine for cash […]
How ISO 20022 Will Impact the Payments Industry
The Federal Reserve has transitioned its Fedwire Funds Service to the ISO 20022 messaging standard, making the new protocol mandatory for all U.S. banks. ISO 20022 provides a single, standardized messaging framework designed to improve interoperability among financial institutions, market infrastructures, and end users. The new standard is expected to enhance payment transaction efficiency, strengthen […]