Latest Cards News: Finextra Research

MyPOS launches in the UK

A new mPOS outfit has launched in the UK, promising to give retailers instant access to their funds by eschewing the bank system in favour of its own e-money account.

01 February 2018

News/Cards

Link maps out interchange reduction plans

UK ATM network operator Link is to introduce a phased reduction in interchange fees paid by banks in a move that could see tens of thousands of cash machines disappear from the high street.

31 January 2018

News/Cards

AmEx buys virtual travel assistant Mezi

American Express has acquired Mezi, an AI-powered travel assistant app that helps users plan and book trips. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

30 January 2018

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Visa Checkout tops one million accounts in UK

Visa Checkout, which enables consumers to pay with just a few clicks at online merchant sites, has surpassed one million enrolled accounts in the UK just seven months after launch.

30 January 2018

News/Cards

ATM jackpotting hits the US

The US Secret Service is warning that ATM jackpotting has finally hit American shores, with crooks using a known malware strain to cash out older Diebold units.

29 January 2018

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ING acquires a majority stake in Payvision

ING has spent EUR270 million to acquire a 75% stake in international card acquirer and payments platform Payvision.

29 January 2018

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Link goes out to tender for infrastructure rebuild

The UK's Link ATM network is inviting Expressions of Interest for a 5-10 year contract to provide ATM switching and settlement services, the first time the contract has gone to competitive tender.

26 January 2018

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Mobile wallet providers join forces for unified QR payments in Singapore

Seven mobile wallets, acquirers and payment networks, including Diners Club, EZi Wallet, EZ-Link, Liquid Pay, Mastercard, UnionPay International and Wirecard, have formed a consortium to help push the adoption of a single QR code-based payment scheme in Singapore.

25 January 2018

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First Data begins recruitment drive for new innovation centre in Ireland

First Data has begun recruitment for 150 technology engineers to staff a new research and development centre in Tipperary, Ireland.

24 January 2018

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Mastercard makes European biometrics push for online payments

From next April, online shoppers across Europe will be able to use biometrics, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, to identify themselves at the checkout when they pay with Mastercard.

23 January 2018

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Consumer group calls on payments watchdog to stand up against ATM closures

Plans to shut down loss-making ATMs across Britain could leave hundreds of communities without ready access to cash, says consumer group Which?.

19 January 2018

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Sbanken opens developer portal and invites customers to build their own digital bank

Norway's Sbanken has opened a developer portal through which customers can use a host of open APIs to build their own digital banking platforms, with the best efforts winning cash prizes.

19 January 2018

News/Cards

Blackhawk agrees $3.5bn sale

Blackhawk Network Holdings, a US fintech outfit specialising in prepaid gift cards, has agreed to be acquired by PE firm Silver Lake and hedge fund P2 Capital Partners in an all-cash deal worth around $3.5 billion.

16 January 2018

News/Cards

Europe begins Open Banking era in subdued style

The EU's second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) took effect on Saturday 13 January, bringing with it the start of Open Banking, however the prospect of a sudden revolution is likely to be thwarted by unresolved technical and regulatory issues and a lukewarm reception from consumers.

15 January 2018

News/Cards

Petal raises $13m for credit card aimed at people without credit history

Petal, a US credit card startup that is ditching traditional credit scores in an effort to sign up young people and the underbanked, has raised $13 million in a Series A funding round led by Peter Thiel's Valar Ventures.

10 January 2018

News/Cards

Transferwise ships borderless debit card

Tranferwise has begun rolling out its borderless bank account and debit card to private customers, enabling users to spend their cash in a choice of up 28 foreign currencies.

09 January 2018

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JCB to test 'world's most accurate' biometric authentication system

Japanese card brand JCB is running trials of a combined biometric palm print and vein identification system which claims a false acceptance rate of only one in one billion transactions.

05 January 2018

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Sky takes a punt on real-time payments

Sky Betting and Gaming has partnered with Barclays to offer customers a service that will immediately pay out money to their debit cards when withdrawing winnings.

04 January 2018

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Bank of Cyprus to issue fingerprint payment cards

Bank of Cyprus is to issue a biometric EMV card which uses fingerprint recognition instead of a PIN code to authenticate the cardholder.

04 January 2018

News/Cards

Bankwest opens waiting list for wearable payments ring

Australia's Bankwest is inviting customers to join the wearable payment movement as it prepares for the release of a contactless payments ring which enable touch-and-go transactions with a fist pump at the point of sale.

04 January 2018