Author: IC Payments

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…
Read more


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…
Read more


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…
Read more


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…
Read more


January 25, 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…
Read more


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.…
Read more


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:…
Read more


January 16, 2019 0

Fiserv Stuns the Industry With a Massive All-Stock Acquisition of First Data

In a stunning announcement that surprised many observers, Fiserv Inc. said Wednesday morning it has struck a deal to acquire First Data Corp. with what the parties say will be the biggest ever such transaction in the payments and financial-technology businesses. The all-stock deal, expected to close in the third quarter, values First Data at…
Read more


January 16, 2019 0

Contactless Cards Round 2 Gets Another Boost with PenFed Announcement

PenFed Credit Union announced Tuesday it will begin issuing contactless Visa-branded credit and debit cards this month. The move comes after a decision by Chase, a unit of JPMorgan Chase & Co., to issue dual-interface cards that will be in force this year. The cards are called dual interface because they can be dipped into…
Read more


January 15, 2019 0

Mobile Payments Will Soon Be A Quarter Of Total Card Usage

Mobile payment volumes to hit 20% of retail volume Mercator expects mobile payment volumes to hit 25 percent of total card throughput and 20 percent of total retail sales, or $900 billion, by 2020. That includes card on file transactions, such as those made within an Amazon account or to pay a utility bill; mobile…
Read more


January 11, 2019 0