UK Proposes Legislation to Rein in Excessive BNPL Usage
Concerns over spiraling buy now, pay later (BNPL) debt potentially entrapping consumers have prompted the UK to propose new regulations designed to govern the industry. According to CNBC, City Minister Emma Reynolds compared the current installment loan landscape to the “wild west,” stating that a stronger regulatory framework would not only better protect UK citizens […]
India Considers a Discount for Instant Payment Users
In its latest move to promote wider adoption of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) instant payment system, the Indian government is considering offering direct discounts to consumers who use it. Under the proposed plan, UPI users would receive an automatic 2% discount compared to the credit card price, effectively rewarding those who choose instant digital […]
From the Name on the Cup to Custom Hotel Lighting: The Future of Loyalty Programs
As loyalty programs become increasingly widespread, businesses are beginning to understand that consumer loyalty isn’t always driven by a deep affinity for the products themselves. Instead, loyalty has become a marketable asset—something that can be cultivated through incentives and experiences. In the prepaid card space, where loyalty is a critical driver of growth, gift […]
Global Payments Launches POS After Worldpay Acquisition
To further solidify its standing as a leading payments player, Global Payments is launching its Genius point-of-sale (POS) system, designed specifically for small businesses. The company made waves with its $22 billion acquisition of Worldpay, a deal that creates a global payments company serving more than six million customers and processing roughly 94 billion transactions. […]
Apple’s Warnings About Third-Party Payments Aren’t New, but Must Change
Even though the European Commission (EC) fined Apple €500 million last month over its anti-competitive App Store practices, the tech giant is still sending “scare notices” to users who opt for third-party payment methods. One of the EC’s concerns was that Apple was actively dissuading users from using alternative payment channels. In one specific complaint, […]
From Bland to Beneficial: Using Push Notifications to Reach Business Customers
For busy business owners, the constant stream of push notifications can quickly become overwhelming. As a result, many financial institutions haven’t seen value in trying to elbow in amid notifications about orders, industry news, and social media updates—especially when there are other ways to reach their business customers. However, as Ian Benton, Senior Digital Banking […]
How Bad Actors Recruited Coinbase Agents for Extortion and Phishing
Crypto exchange Coinbase was the target of an attack that resulted in stolen customer data and potentially $400 million in damages. The company reported that a group of bad actors had been approaching its overseas contractors for months, attempting to bribe them into releasing customer information. Once the criminals succeeded, they threatened to leak the […]
CFPB Rescinds Rule Limiting Sale of Personal Data
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is withdrawing a proposal, originally passed during the lame-duck period of the Biden administration, that aimed to curb the sale of personal information by data brokers. At the time, then-CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said the rule was necessary to address national security, surveillance issues, and the risk of criminal […]
Tariffs May Create an Opportunity in Small-Business Cards
The specter of looming tariffs has created a great deal of uncertainty for the backbone of the American economy: small businesses. As if inflation and high interest rates were not stressful enough, many smaller enterprises in retail and manufacturing face the prospect of supply chain disruptions, impeded cash flow, and questions about operating costs. This […]
Perplexity Adds In-Chat PayPal Payments in Latest Agentic Commerce Partnership
Users who consult with Perplexity’s artificial intelligence platform will soon be able to purchase products and services directly within the chat using PayPal. This feature will be exclusive to Perplexity Pro subscribers, who can choose to use either PayPal or Venmo, as well as the payment firm’s passkey checkout solution, to complete one-click purchases. PayPal […]