Month: January 2019

Mastercard Issuers Jumping on the Contactless Card Bandwagon

So far, Visa Inc. has dominated the headlines regarding the U.S. conversion to contactless payment cards. Mastercard Inc., however, will soon be getting into the act. “In the U.S., contactless momentum continues to grow on both issuing and acceptance sides,” Mastercard president and chief executive Ajay Banga said Thursday. “We have received commitments from issuers…
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January 31, 2019 0

Visa Eyes More Contactless Cards And More Volume From Visa Direct

Visa Inc. saw payment volume growth of nearly 11% in the quarter ended Dec. 31, and sees ever-more contactless cards and volume on its Visa Direct real-time payments service in its future. Visa on Wednesday reported a respectable first quarter of fiscal 2019, according to its chief executive, despite the beginning of the U.S. federal-government…
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January 30, 2019 0

What the iPhone’s slump means for the future of mobile pay

Apple’s recent smartphone revenue decline contrasts with strength in wearables and services, making these alternative venues increasingly important to Apple Pay’s continued success. Apple reported $84.3 billion in revenues for its fiscal 2019 first quarter, which ended Dec. 29, a 5 percent decline from the prior year’s $88.3 billion and the company’s first holiday quarter…
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January 30, 2019 0

A New Marriott Card Lineup Lets AmEx Launch a Contactless Expansion

When JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced in November it would soon start mass-issuing contactless Visa cards, industry experts expected the move to at last kickstart a trend in the U.S. payments industry toward tap-and-pay EMV plastic. But while most experts thought Chase’s decision might stir smaller banks to follow suit, it turns out at least…
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January 28, 2019 0

After Fiserv-First Data, who’s merging next?

Fiserv’s $22 billion deal to acquire First Data creates pressure to scale core banking and payment processing that may force further industry consolidation. That puts M&A bullseyes on companies like FIS, TSYS and myriad bank IT and merchant services companies. “A deal has been brewing for years and it was no secret that Fiserv has…
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January 25, 2019 0

Today In Data: Driving Contactless Adoption With Community Banks

Community banks could put more contactless cards into the hands of consumers with the help of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). At the same time, gig economy workers don’t want to wait for funds or spend additional time moving money from one account to another. And the demand for faster payments is strong in the U.S., yet not all financial…
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January 25, 2019 0

Dual-Interface Card Personalization

Publication Date: October 2018 Download the white paper With the introduction of EMV chip cards in the United States, cardholders are tapping into the power of chip payment technology and the security, value, and convenience it offers to both consumers and businesses.  The adoption of dual-interface (EMV contact and contactless chip) technology in the U.S.…
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January 23, 2019 0

Integrating Fiserv and First Data Could Take Up to a Decade, Report Says

The proposed mega-deal that has Fiserv Inc. buying First Data Corp. for $22 billion presents integration issues that could take up to 10 years to iron out, according to a new report. “The integration of two companies of this scale will undoubtedly be a challenge—the short-term shock will take more than 18 months to recover…
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January 22, 2019 0

Fiserv’s Planned Acquisition of First Data Raises Questions About the Debit Market’s Future

The proposed merger of Fiserv Inc. and mega-processor First Data Corp. has huge implications for many parts of the payments industry. But the deal, if consummated as planned, could have an especially large effect on the U.S. debit card market. First Data owns the Star electronic funds network, while Fiserv owns the rival Accel network.…
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January 17, 2019 0

Fiserv-First Data: Why small banks fear big fintech

The news that Fiserv is buying First Data may be unwelcome to small banks and credit unions as some fear it will create a combined entity that is even slower and more bureaucratic than the large core vendors are seen as today. The deal makes sense for Fiserv. It brings together two financial industry behemoths:…
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January 16, 2019 0