Tencent and Alibaba’s Super Apps Evolve with Agentic Commerce
The over two billion consumers within Tencent and Alibaba’s ecosystems use these platforms to send messages, shop, and pay in a unified super app. Now, many of these users will be able to leverage the platforms’ AI agents for full-fledged agentic commerce. For example, Alibaba has just unlocked full access to its e-commerce ecosystem for […]
Should Banks Compete in the Credit Builder Card Market?
The secured credit card has long been the industry’s solution for consumers without credit histories. A new generation of credit builder cards is testing whether that solution still holds. Offered by several fintechs, the cards require users to fund an associated demand deposit account—often held at a separate bank—to cover card payments. A new report, […]
Interest Rate Caps Shift Credit Access, the Fed Finds
What would happen if President Trump’s proposed 10% cap on credit card interest rates were enacted nationwide? The New York Fed recently examined the effects of interest rate caps imposed by several states—albeit at much higher levels—and found that credit wasn’t so much reduced as it was reallocated. That said, the comparison isn’t entirely apples […]
Klarna and OnePay Test Post-Purchase BNPL Conversion Model
Consumers increasingly value flexibility, a dynamic that has helped buy now, pay later products become a fixture in retail payments. A new feature from Klarna and Walmart-backed fintech OnePay adds a new wrinkle to the model. The companies are teaming up to let OnePay customers convert debit card purchases into installment loans after a transaction […]
Getting Out in Front of Instant Payments—Before It’s Too Late
In today’s world, nearly anything a business or individual desires is available instantly. Yet, for most, receiving a payment still takes two to three days to clear, despite the availability of instant payments networks such as FedNow. What will it take for instant payments to reach a tipping point and become a standard expectation? In […]
How PayPal’s New Tax Service Fits Into Its Overall Strategy
PayPal is introducing free federal and state tax filing for its debit card holders, allowing refunds to be deposited directly into user accounts. The move expands PayPal’s existing lineup and is intended to encourage broader engagement across the platform. The service is a collaboration with april, a provider of white-label tax filing tools. Its AI-driven […]
UK Regulators Voice Concerns About AI’s Role in Financial Services
As more financial institutions deploy artificial intelligence for key functions such as credit assessments, a group of UK lawmakers has raised concerns that the industry may be unprepared to withstand a major AI-related incident. The lawmakers recently advised the Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England to implement AI‑focused stress tests that could help […]
PhotonPay Expands UK Local Payment Rails via New Collaboration with ClearBank
ClearBank, the enabler of real-time clearing and embedded banking, has announced a collaboration with PhotonPay, an AI-powered global digital financial infrastructure provider offering payment solutions to businesses worldwide. Through this collaboration, PhotonPay’s business customers will gain access to a wider range of financial services, including virtual accounts, GBP collections, payouts, and Confirmation of Payee (CoP) functionality. […]
Visa Brings Cross-Border Apple Pay Transactions to China
Mobile payments are thriving in China, and now Visa cardholders will be able to add their cards to Apple Pay to make purchases at overseas merchants, both in-store and online. Initially, this feature will be available only to consumers holding cards issued by some of China’s largest banks, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of […]
Top 5 Gift Card Purchase Categories
Gift cards have become a go-to choice for consumers who want something flexible, convenient, and easy to personalize. But where people choose to spend those cards says a lot about what they value and how they shop. From everyday essentials to entertainment and experiences, certain categories consistently rise to the top because they fit real […]