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Curated industry news and original merchant playbooks.
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Fiserv Aims to Simplify Cross-Border Commerce With Commerce Hub
Fiserv’s new Commerce Hub streamlines payment orchestration and financing options for merchants through a single global connection.
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Square Shifts Business Credit Cards to Marqeta Platform to Speed Credit Innovation
Square migrates business credit cards to Marqeta’s platform to accelerate the rollout of new merchant financing features and integrated payment tools.
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Mastercard launches Stablecoin Security
Mastercard introduces new risk intelligence tools to make stablecoin payments safer and more reliable for merchants and consumers.
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lender-updates
Klarna expands Fiserv partnership to enterprise merchants
Klarna integrates with Fiserv’s Commerce Hub, allowing enterprise merchants to easily launch BNPL options in-store and online.
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Block selects Marqeta to enable Square credit card
Square partners with Marqeta to launch a business credit card that integrates directly with merchant sales data and the Amex network.
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U.S. Bank Debuts Tool to Streamline Consumers’ Recurring Bills
U.S. Bank's new Payment Switch tool makes it easier for customers to move recurring payments to their cards, reducing churn for merchants.
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Big Banks Won’t Let Outside AI Agents Move Money
Major U.S. banks are blocking third-party AI agents from accessing accounts, citing security risks and unauthorized credential sharing.
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Mesh makes stablecoin and crypto balances spendable across Visa network
Visa and Mesh partner to allow customers to spend cryptocurrency and stablecoin balances at millions of merchant locations worldwide.
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Fifth Third Plans to Beat AI Disruptors at Their Own Game
Fifth Third Bank is integrating AI-driven cash optimization to provide retailers with fintech speed backed by traditional bank security.
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Euronet and Fireblocks team on stablecoin-funded card issuing
Euronet and Fireblocks launch a new stablecoin-funded card solution, simplifying how consumers spend digital assets at the point of sale.
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US Bank launches Payment Switch to help customers move recurring bills
U.S. Bank’s new tool lets customers instantly move recurring bills to their cards, increasing card usage and long-term customer loyalty.
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lender-updates
Inside Fifth Third's 'innovation economy' ambitions
Fifth Third Bank scales its embedded banking platform, aiming to power the next generation of fintech tools for merchants and tech-driven retailers.
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Mastercard partners Extend to bring modern spend management to issuing banks
Mastercard and Extend partner to streamline business spend management through virtual cards and automated accounting tools.
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Kort Payments to buy AptPay
KORT Payments acquires AptPay to bring real-time payouts and advanced payment routing to its omnichannel merchant platform.
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EPC to create EU Digital Identity Wallet framework for PSPs
New EU standards for digital identity wallets aim to simplify customer verification and secure point-of-sale financing.
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Utah forms digital ID consortium
Utah’s new digital ID initiative aims to give consumers control of their data, promising faster and more secure credit approvals for retailers.
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Fifth Third CEO downplays risk from AI agent Muse
Fifth Third Bank scales its AI agent 'Muse,' signaling a shift toward more automated, data-driven consumer banking and liquidity management.
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Huntington Bank partners Google Cloud for AI-powered small business operating system
Huntington Bank and Google Cloud launch an AI-driven platform to help small businesses automate financial management and streamline operations.
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regulation
Bankers need to engage as lawmakers consider AI guardrails
Impending AI regulations could reshape consumer credit approvals and merchant lending compliance.
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FCA calls for disclaimers on AI financial advice
The FCA is demanding clear disclaimers for AI-driven financial advice to protect consumers from misleading automated credit guidance.
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industry-news
Zilch to move to new London HQ
BNPL giant Zilch doubles its London HQ capacity as it prepares for aggressive European expansion and increased market share.
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The next phase of Trump's banking reforms won't be so easy
Regulatory momentum for banking reform faces hurdles, signaling a slower pace for changes that could affect consumer credit availability.
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industry-news
This Week in Consumer Financing: The AI Security Tax and the Gen Z Land Grab
Lenders double down on AI fraud prevention while fintechs pivot toward social-driven finance to capture the next generation of shoppers.
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The next AI decision financial institutions must get right
Lenders are upgrading their AI infrastructure to provide faster, more secure credit decisions at the point of sale.
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The 67% signal: Why card issuers should act on flexible credentials
Consumer demand is surging for single-card solutions that toggle between debit, credit, and BNPL options at the point of sale.
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Why retail is positioned to win the flexible credential opportunity
New 'flexible credential' technology looks to merge BNPL, credit, and debit into a single card to streamline the merchant checkout experience.
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AI’s real opportunity in payments is giving experts back their time
AI is evolving into a practical co-pilot for payment operations, helping merchants resolve transaction errors faster and reduce back-office friction.
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Credit Unions Could Win Younger Members Through Payments
Credit unions are eyeing digital wallets and programmable payments to capture the loyalty of younger, tech-savvy consumers.
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Santander Turns to Nvidia to Build New AI Banking Capabilities
Santander partners with Nvidia to deploy advanced AI models, promising faster and more efficient financing experiences for merchants and consumers.
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Sam Altman’s World Debuts ID Verification for AI Agents
Sam Altman’s World project launches biometric ID verification to protect lenders and retailers from AI-driven fraud.
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World takes on AI-driven impersonations with new suite for banking and finance
Sam Altman’s World project launches new tools to fight AI-driven deepfake fraud in the financial services sector.
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Acorns buys Gen Z social finance app Frich
Acorns acquires social finance app Frich to capture Gen Z through peer-driven financial tools and community insights.
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Acorns Acquires Frich to Scale Financial Education
Acorns acquires Gen Z social finance platform Frich, signaling a shift toward community-driven and educational consumer finance tools.
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Marqeta and Coinbase Take Stablecoin Spending Mainstream
Marqeta and Coinbase integrate to allow consumers to spend stablecoins via traditional payment cards at the point of sale.
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industry-news
Upgrade’s Bank Ambitions Show How FinTech Growth Expands Choices
Fintech giant Upgrade seeks a bank charter, promising more stable and cost-effective credit options for merchants and their customers.
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Colony Bank uses gen AI to shave days off SBA loan approvals
Colony Bank integrates AI technology to accelerate SBA loan approvals, streamlining the funding process for small business owners.
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regulation
Trump Task Force Orders Report on AI Dangers
A new White House task force is investigating AI risks, signaling potential new compliance hurdles for automated consumer financing tools.
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Stablecoins Take Aim at Cash Locked in Prefunding
New stablecoin applications aim to unlock trapped capital in the payments lifecycle, potentially leading to faster merchant payouts and lower fees.
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lender-updates
How Mike Lyons, Truist's new CEO, is plotting a turnaround
Truist CEO Mike Lyons signals a major restructuring that could impact consumer lending availability and merchant partnership strategies.
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industry-news
Regions Bank Says AI Cybersecurity Drives Up Costs 1.5% to 3.5%
Regions Bank projects rising cybersecurity costs through 2026 as AI threats force lenders to increase technology spending.
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Visa, Mastercard urge court to approve fee settlement
Visa and Mastercard defend a $30 billion swipe fee settlement that could lower credit card processing costs for millions of U.S. retailers.
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M&T says it's monitoring impact of AI agents on deposits
M&T Bank warns that AI tools could soon automate how customers move money, potentially changing how they approach spending and credit.
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Equifax Equips Lenders With Mastercard Open Finance Insights
Equifax integrates Mastercard’s open banking data to help lenders approve more consumers based on real-time cash flow instead of just credit scores.
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regulation
Epstein bill would push regulators to disclose bank probes
Proposed bipartisan legislation aims to force regulators to disclose bank executive misconduct and reclaim bonuses from failing institutions.
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lender-updates
Truist consumer-bank chief is out in leadership shakeup
Truist offloads $7.7 billion in consumer loans and replaces its consumer banking lead, signaling potential changes for merchant financing partners.
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lender-updates
Truist Shifts Investment Toward Deposits and Digital Banking
Truist pivots to digital banking and deposits as consumer spending holds steady, signaling stable liquidity for retail financing.
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AI Shopping Agents Force Retailers to Rethink Customer Access and Payment Controls
AI shopping agents are disrupting the checkout process, potentially cutting retailers out of the financing and payment relationship.
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Stripe and Plasma team on multi-currency stablecoin cards
Stripe and Plasma partner to bridge digital assets and retail spending through new multi-currency stablecoin card technology.
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Congress should examine EWA bill
New congressional scrutiny on Earned Wage Access could change how payroll-linked financing is regulated and labeled for businesses.
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home-improvement
industry-news
Home equity deal shows VantageScore viable for RMBS ratings
Wall Street’s acceptance of VantageScore for home equity deals paves the way for higher consumer approval rates and more flexible financing options.
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lender-updates
Truist's new CEO begins makeover with consumer business
Truist begins a major consumer banking overhaul, including the sale of its specialized home improvement lending platform.
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Equifax taps Mastercard Open Finance to give lenders more consumer-permissioned insights
Equifax and Mastercard team up to boost loan approvals by using real-time bank data instead of just traditional credit scores.
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Splitit unveils bank-branded instalment charge card
Splitit’s new white-label Mastercard allows banks to offer built-in installment plans, reducing checkout friction for retailers.
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Feedzai report shows banks' overconfidence on fraud
A new report warns that banks and fintechs are overconfident in their fraud defenses, posing risks for retail financing and customer security.
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ECB approves Unicredit's bid for control of Commerzbank
The ECB's approval of the UniCredit-Commerzbank deal signals a new era of consolidated banking that could reshape consumer credit access.
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Green-lighting new banks could help female entrepreneurs raise capital
New fintech bank charters could unlock more accessible capital and flexible lending terms for diverse small business owners and retailers.
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Farsight and Ornn partner for AI-powered banking
A new AI infrastructure partnership aims to modernize banking speed, promising faster and smarter credit decisions for consumer financing.
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home-improvement
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SaverLife launches customised financial wellness app
A new financial wellness app tailored for skilled trades workers aims to boost savings and financial stability across the home improvement workforce.
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Scams Capture 22.4% of Fraud Dollars as Banks Adjust Defenses
As scams drive 22% of fraud losses, merchants should prepare for tighter lender security and higher risks of payment disputes.
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Fed's Warsh to look beyond interest rates over next 100 days
The Federal Reserve is shifting focus toward stricter bank oversight, potentially impacting how lenders approve consumer financing for your customers.
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BNY Extends Reach Into Tokenized Funds and Pay-to-Wallet Service
BNY Mellon shifts to a platform model, launching new 'pay-to-wallet' services to bridge the gap between traditional banking and digital consumer wallets.
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Personal Shopping Platform Glance Adds PayPal Native Checkout
Glance integrates PayPal native checkout to allow 60 million device users to buy products instantly from their lock screens.
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AI-native personal finance platform Matters emerges from stealth with $5m pre-seed
Swedish AI startup Matters raises $5 million to automate how consumers manage their debt and spending decisions.
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AI-native payments platform Movere launches
A new AI-native payments platform, Movere, launches to simplify business transactions and optimize financial infrastructure for operators.
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Getting Money Back Could Be Stablecoins’ Next Big Selling Point
New efforts to bring chargeback-like protections to stablecoins could pave the way for safer, faster retail payment alternatives.
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industry-news
Citizens' payment exec on how banks can coexist with fintechs
Traditional banks are revamping their merchant services to compete with the seamless digital experiences offered by fintech giants.
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Illinois swipe fee case enters the appeals phase
Illinois appeals a ruling that blocked the nation's first ban on credit card swipe fees for taxes and tips.
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Google Launches Intelligent Shopping Cart for Search and Gemini App
Google’s new Universal Cart lets customers shop and checkout directly within Search and Gemini, shifting how retailers must present financing options.
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Ohio bank joins credit unions suing Fiserv over security
A growing legal battle between banks and payment giant Fiserv highlights critical liability risks in consumer data security.
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Meta Sends Its AI Agent After Denied Insurance Claims
Meta’s new AI models aim to automate insurance appeals and billing disputes, potentially reducing administrative friction for medical and service providers.
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FIS and Anthropic Debut Money Laundering Investigation Agent
FIS and Anthropic launch an AI agent to automate bank compliance, promising faster risk assessments and smoother financing approvals for consumers.
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BoE Warns Banks Against AI Cybersecurity Risks
The Bank of England warns that AI-driven cyber threats pose a systemic risk, signaling tighter security hurdles for the consumer lending industry.
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AI Micropayments Point to Crypto’s Role in Agentic Commerce
AI agents are using crypto to bypass traditional credit card fees, paving the way for a new era of automated, low-cost micropayments.
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Visa takes stablecoin-powered money movement from pilots to production
Visa moves stablecoin payments into full production to modernize how merchants get paid.
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JP Morgan Payments powers Mercado Libre’s global selling expansion
J.P. Morgan and Mercado Libre partner to simplify cross-border payments and merchant payouts for global sellers.
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Cross River embeds Ripple stablecoin into operating system
Cross River Bank partners with Ripple to integrate stablecoins, signaling faster settlement times and lower costs for consumer finance platforms.
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Vast Bank forms payment partnership with Cliq
Vast Bank and Cliq partner to modernize payment processing, offering merchants more stable ACH and alternative transaction options.
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Episode Six launches real-time backing verification for tokenised money
New real-time ledger technology aims to reduce payment friction and fraud for digital wallets and tokenized consumer financing.
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Stripe agentic commerce revs up
Stripe is doubling down on 'agentic commerce,' paving the way for AI bots to handle customer purchases and financing decisions autonomously.
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Mastercard and BVNK bring fiat and stablecoin payments together in global money platform
Mastercard integrates stablecoin technology to simplify global payments and bridge the gap between digital assets and traditional retail banking.
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lender-updates
U.S. Bank doubles down on small-biz growth
U.S. Bank targets small business growth by bundling new credit card offerings with merchant payment services.
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Account-to-Account Payments in the UK: What Comes Next?
UK banks are overhauling retail payment infrastructure, paving the way for faster, cheaper account-to-account transactions for merchants.
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AI-native core banking startup Maximum signs Emprise Bank
Emprise Bank partners with Maximum to build an AI-native core, promising faster and more flexible lending solutions for partners and consumers.
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home-improvement
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Pineapple Financial rebrands as Pentiv; unveils agents for mortgage brokers
Mortgage tech firm Pineapple Financial rebrands to Pentiv, launching an AI platform to streamline consumer lending workflows.
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Extend brings AI receipt agent to bank partners' SMB customers
Extend launches an AI tool for small businesses to automatically match receipts to card transactions through their existing bank partners.
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Fiserv ‘reset’ bolsters case, litigants say
A legal battle over Fiserv’s merchant fee practices highlights a growing industry shift toward transparent payment processing and billing.
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Lack of financial confidence driving consumers to AI assistants
New research shows consumers are using AI assistants to escape the 'judgment' of human bankers and sales staff when making financial choices.
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Coinbase is taking stablecoin rails into banking, expanding the market for both
Coinbase launches a stablecoin payment stack aimed at bringing instant, low-cost digital dollar settlements to mainstream retail and banking.
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What Wells Fargo, Citi and Goldman Sachs’ CEOs are saying about AI
Big bank CEOs reveal how AI will speed up product launches and improve customer insights, signaling a shift in the future of consumer lending tech.
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Banks face liability over use of AI chatbots, report finds
New regulatory warnings clarify that businesses are legally liable for incorrect financing information provided by AI chatbots.
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Neonomics secures $4m for open banking
Norwegian fintech Neonomics secures $4M, signaling continued growth for the open banking infrastructure that powers lower-cost consumer payments.
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Nearly 9 in 10 Card Issuers Turn to AI to Stop Fraud Without Blocking Sales
Banks are adopting AI to stop fraud more precisely, aiming to eliminate the false declines that frustrate customers and kill retail sales.
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DEBANKED?
The OCC's new report on 'debanking' highlights why retailers must diversify their banking relationships to avoid sudden service disruptions.
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Bowman: Global regulators should match Fed's 'modernization'
Fed Governor Michelle Bowman warns that global banking rules based on flawed research could unnecessarily tighten credit markets.
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JPMorgan Chase blocks outside AI agents from directly accessing customer accounts
JPMorgan Chase limits third-party AI access to retail accounts, prioritizing security over seamless automated banking.
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NatWest enlists Nvidia to help its AI spending tool understand regional accents
NatWest partners with Nvidia to improve AI speech recognition, making financial tools more accessible for users with regional accents.
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Nuvei receives South African authorisation
Global payment platform Nuvei secures South African licensing, simplifying local payment processing for international and domestic retailers.
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Should banks prepare for an 'agentic buy button''?
Visa executives signal a shift toward AI agents that can autonomously navigate checkout and select consumer financing options.
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Debanking makes a campaign stop in Kentucky
Federal regulators and lawmakers are pushing back against banks that deny services to legal businesses based on industry reputation.
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Small Business Lending Looks Beyond Credit Scores to Everyday Business Data
Modern lenders are ditching outdated credit scores for real-time sales and inventory data to fund growing small businesses.