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Curated industry news and original merchant playbooks.
Curated
general
industry-news
Bernanke joins Anthropic's oversight trust, JPMorgan inks NBA deal
Nubank secures a banking license in Mexico while JPMorgan Chase deepens its ties to consumer markets through an NBA partnership.
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general
technology
Retail’s Best Customer Now Arrives From ChatGPT
AI-driven shoppers are converting 50% faster, making it critical for retailers to lead with financing options in AI search results.
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general
regulation
New York Launches AI-Assisted Regulatory Overhaul to Cut Red Tape
New York State targets bureaucratic 'red tape' with a massive AI-driven overhaul of business and commerce regulations.
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general
regulation
CFPB job cuts frozen until a new director is confirmed
A federal judge has halted planned layoffs at the CFPB, ensuring regulatory oversight remains steady during the agency's leadership transition.
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general
regulation
OCC, FDIC encourage banks to share data on fraud
New federal guidance allows lenders to share fraud data more easily, promising better security but tighter scrutiny at the point of sale.
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general
technology
What Are the Best Use Cases for Tokenisation and Programmability?
HSBC highlights how tokenized deposits and programmable money can eliminate the need for expensive cash floats and enable 24/7 transaction settlement.
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general
regulation
UK gives financial regulators oversight of cloud giants
UK regulators gain power over cloud giants like Amazon and Google to protect the digital plumbing of the financial services industry.
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general
merchant-playbooks
Fraud fight can’t wait on government
Retailers must take charge of their own fraud defense as payment disputes and chargebacks surge ahead of government regulation.
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general
regulation
Merchants blast credit union rule
Retail groups sue federal regulators to defend an Illinois law that bans swipe fees on taxes and tips.
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technology
Valley Bank exec: AI is changing build-versus-buy question
Valley Bank's pivot to custom AI tools signals a shift toward faster, more flexible consumer financing platforms for retailers and their customers.
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general
technology
Finance is not prepared for the coming wave of value destruction
New payment technologies are set to collapse transaction costs, shifting the balance of power from banks to customer-facing retailers.
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general
industry-news
Revolut recruits JP Morgan exec to lead European operations
Revolut poaches JP Morgan’s Chase UK chief to scale its European banking and credit operations.
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general
industry-news
Lendable raises $670m for global expansion
Digital lender Lendable secures $670 million to scale its AI-powered personal loan platform and challenge legacy banks.
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technology
Capital One Urges Leaders to Listen Before They Launch
Capital One Business emphasizes that successful fintech adoption depends on internal culture and staff feedback rather than just technical specs.
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general
technology
Three Quarters of Financial Firms See Identity Inconsistencies
New data shows identity verification hurdles are causing customer friction, making seamless digital onboarding vital for closing financed sales.
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general
technology
Study Finds AI Must Earn the Right to Move Money
New PYMNTS research shows that while AI is transforming payments, businesses must balance automation with human trust to succeed.
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general
technology
European Parliament backs digital euro, paving way for final negotiations
European lawmakers move forward with a digital euro, potentially lowering payment costs and introducing new digital cash standards by 2029.
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general
regulation
Warsh Recruits Andreessen, McMillon to Rethink Fed Methods
The Federal Reserve brings in retail and tech giants to modernize economic policy, potentially reshaping future interest rate decisions for merchants.
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general
industry-news
Security Home Mortgage, CCBank to rebrand as Accordia
Utah’s CCBank and Security Home Mortgage consolidate under the new Accordia brand to streamline national lending operations.
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technology
PayPal boosts its stablecoin as banks prepare to launch a shared one
PayPal expands its stablecoin to the Polygon network, aiming to slash transaction fees and speed up digital payments for merchants.
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general
regulation
Block reaches $45m Cash App fraud probe settlement with US states
Block's $45M Cash App settlement signals a regulatory crackdown on fintech security that could impact digital wallet checkout experiences.
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general
technology
CEOs fear they’re underinvesting in AI
Retail CEOs worry that outdated technology foundations are preventing the adoption of AI tools needed to stay competitive.
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general
industry-news
Citizens' latest move further positions Coughlin as next CEO
The architect of Citizens Pay is set to lead the bank, signaling a permanent commitment to merchant financing and POS lending.
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general
technology
Sean Scott on how U.S. Bank won the Innovation of the Year award
U.S. Bank’s award-winning embedded finance strategy shows how retailers can bridge the gap between investment-minded customers and instant purchasing power.
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general
regulation
CFPB, in major turnabout, to revisit credit-card late fees
The CFPB is revisiting a plan to slash credit card late fees to $8, a move that could trigger tighter credit standards for your customers.
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technology
How BMO's chief AI officer works toward a return on AI
BMO’s pivot toward high-performance AI signals a new era of faster, data-driven credit approvals for consumer financing.
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general
technology
Emerging Payments Technologies: What Will the Direction of Travel Look Like?
Discover how Agentic AI and tokenized money are moving toward 'invisible' payments and automated consumer financing decisions.
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general
regulation
Fed stands out among bank enforcement action decline: Brookings
A decade-long decline in public bank enforcement actions masks a shift toward private regulatory pressure that could impact consumer credit availability.
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general
regulation
Cash App triggers $45M settlement
Block settles with 46 states for $45M over Cash App security failures and inadequate fraud victim support.
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industry-news
U.S. Bank pursues payments-first strategy
U.S. Bank shifts focus to payments-led growth, aiming to win over Gen Z and retailers with integrated digital checkout tools.
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general
regulation
ABN Amro punished for AML shortcomings
ABN Amro's $9M fine for poor customer vetting signals a tougher regulatory environment for all consumer lenders.
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general
technology
Nodu receives MiCA and Payment Institution licences from the Bank of Latvia
New European regulatory approvals for Nodu pave the way for regulated, low-cost stablecoin payments at the point of sale.
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technology
Paper still defines payments’ last mile. J.P. Morgan Payments thinks AI and robotics can tackle that.
J.P. Morgan is deploying AI and robotics to eliminate the manual paper bottlenecks that slow down merchant settlement and cash flow.
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technology
AI-based fincrime startup Tangos raises $20 million
AI startup Tangos secures $20M to fight financial crime, promising smoother and safer digital financing approvals for retailers.
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general
regulation
Mutuals call on Government support to close financial protection gap
The AFM is pushing for government backing to double the mutual sector, potentially expanding credit access for underserved consumer groups.
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technology
Swiss telcos form fraud risk consortium
Swiss telcos launch a real-time fraud intelligence network that streamlines identity verification for consumer credit and device financing.
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technology
Banks to pilot live transactions on Swift's blockchain-based shared ledger
Swift and 17 global banks pilot 24/7 instant payments, paving the way for faster merchant funding and real-time settlement.
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general
technology
85% of Financial Firms Plan AI Budget Increases
Mainstream lenders are doubling down on AI budgets, promising faster credit approvals and smarter risk management for retail partners.
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general
merchant-playbooks
BNPL Boosts Basket Size When Shoppers See It Early
New data reveals that showing BNPL options early in the shopping journey significantly increases customer spending and conversion rates.
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general
technology
JPMorgan Chase picks SambaNova for on-prem AI inference
JPMorgan Chase scales up AI infrastructure to drive faster, more secure credit decisions and automated financial services.
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general
technology
Monzo takes the hassle out of debt consolidation
Monzo and ClearScore partner to automate debt consolidation, helping consumers lower monthly payments and improve credit health.
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general
regulation
Block to pay $45M to states for fraud on Cash App
Block's $45M settlement over Cash App fraud signals a new era of aggressive regulation for digital wallets and mobile payment platforms.
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general
technology
AI is starting to replace humans in operations, analyst jobs
Major banks shift from human analysts to AI, promising faster credit decisions but fewer personal touchpoints for merchant partners.
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industry-news
Fiserv's executive turnover continues with president's resignation
High-level leadership turnover at Fiserv could signal shifts in strategy for Clover users and merchant processing partners.
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industry-news
Starling to whittle headcount by 3%
The UK challenger bank is cutting 100 roles to streamline its internal structure and speed up product delivery for customers.
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technology
Visa pushes 'smartphone pay' to bridge small-business gaps
Visa’s 'Tap to Phone' tech turns smartphones into payment terminals, removing hardware costs for mobile and small-scale retailers.
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home-improvement
industry-news
Home Depot adds 7-Eleven, Jimmy John’s as pro loyalty partners
Home Depot expands Pro Xtra loyalty perks, signaling a push to own the contractor's full business lifecycle beyond just building materials.
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general
technology
Retailers plan to invest deeper in AI, cybersecurity this year
Retailers are doubling down on AI and security to streamline the path to purchase and protect consumer financial data.
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technology
PNC overhauls app
PNC launches a modernized mobile app to streamline retail banking, raising the bar for digital consumer financial experiences.
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industry-news
Fiserv president exits
Fiserv reshuffles top leadership to sharpen its focus on merchant services and digital payment technology.
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general
technology
NextGen FinCrime 2026: How non-financial sectors can replicate banks’ success in fraud prevention
As financial crime shifts from banks to merchants, retailers must adopt advanced fraud prevention to protect their financing programs and revenue.
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technology
Dun & Bradstreet brings agentic credit and portfolio management workflows to Databricks
Dun & Bradstreet introduces AI-powered credit workflows to help businesses automate risk management and portfolio monitoring.
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technology
SBS embeds AI into core banking platform
A major upgrade to core banking software brings AI-driven lending tools to financial institutions, promising faster approvals for retail customers.
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technology
Sony receives OCC’s conditional approval for trust charter
Sony gains conditional federal approval to launch a U.S. trust bank, signaling a major push into digital stablecoins and alternative payment infrastructure.
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industry-news
Equifax agrees $750m acquisition of Mexican credit bureau
Equifax's $750M acquisition of Círculo de Crédito signals a major tech upgrade for consumer credit reporting and lending approvals in Mexico.
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technology
US Bank advances money moving capabilities for SMEs
U.S. Bank launches 'Enhanced Payments' to help small business owners move money faster via Zelle and Real-Time Payments.
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technology
Kikoff acquires credit reporting technology
Fintech firm Kikoff acquires TSB technology to streamline credit reporting for over 1,000 businesses and their customers.
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lender-updates
The 3-Min Read: Fintechs want to become small businesses’ next employee
SoFi, Square, and Capital One are launching new AI tools and flexible lending programs to automate daily operations for small business owners.
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technology
AI in Banking: What is Myth and What is Reality?
AI is moving from myth to reality in banking, promising faster approvals and smoother payment operations for merchants and consumers.
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industry-news
NextGen FinCrime 2026: What the UK really thinks about fraud
New fraud data reveals shifting consumer attitudes that could impact your financing conversion rates and merchant security protocols.
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technology
Profile releases AI orchestration platform for banks
Profile's new AI platform automates banking workflows, promising faster credit decisions and more efficient loan management for financial institutions.
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technology
Visa moves beyond payments to become travel companion
Visa launches a mobile traveler platform that integrates merchant offers and payments to capture more international consumer spending.
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regulation
Study shows decade-long decline in federal enforcement activity
A new study shows federal banking enforcement actions have steadily dropped over the last decade, signaling a shift toward quieter industry supervision.
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technology
Australia sets out long-term direction for A2A payments
Australia's roadmap for direct bank-to-merchant payments promises lower fees and a long-term challenge to traditional credit card dominance.
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technology
Meniga integrates with bank AI assistants for conversational banking
New conversational AI tools will allow customers to get instant, data-backed 'permission' from their banks to finance large purchases.
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technology
Pay Later Credit Option May Have to Win Over the Algorithm First
AI shopping assistants are starting to choose financing options for customers, forcing retailers to optimize for algorithms rather than just brand logos.
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technology
Open USD and the Questions 140 Logos Don’t Answer
A new industry-backed stablecoin looks to standardize digital dollar payments for merchants and major payment networks.
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technology
The New Competition in Card Rewards Is Over Rules, Data and Money
New smart basket technology translates real-time shopping data into instant consumer financing incentives at the point of sale.
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technology
42% of Issuers Say AI Has Cut Fraud Losses by at Least $5 Million
AI adoption is helping lenders block millions in fraud, leading to more secure transactions and higher approval confidence at the point of sale.
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industry-news
Fiserv President Dhivya Suryadevara Resigns Citing ‘Good Reason’ Contract Clause
The President of payment giant Fiserv resigns unexpectedly, potentially signaling internal strategy shifts for the merchant services provider.
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regulation
Fed Joins Banking Regulators to Overhaul Financial Crime-Fighting Rules
Federal regulators are tightening money-laundering rules, which could lead to more rigorous identity checks during the consumer financing process.
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technology
Italian fintech Satispay partners Mastercard for debit card launch
Italian fintech Satispay partners with Mastercard to launch debit cards, bridging the gap between digital wallets and physical storefronts.
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industry-news
NatWest Boxed and Mettle CTO Wayne Freeman leaves
The departure of a top tech executive at NatWest’s BaaS unit highlights the evolving leadership in the embedded consumer financing space.
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technology
Banks Are Racing Into AI Faster Than Security Can Follow
Lenders are fast-tracking AI integration to speed up approvals, but the rapid shift is creating new data security challenges for the financing industry.
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technology
Axos to buy San Francisco fintech and its AI technology
Axos Bank acquires fintech Arc Technologies to bolster AI-driven lending and automated financial analysis.
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technology
Robinhood mainnet launch signals broader bet on tokenized finance
Robinhood’s new blockchain mainnet could redefine the speed and cost of consumer lending through tokenized assets and stablecoins.
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regulation
ECB tells banks: Fix AI cyber gaps by Oct. 31
The ECB’s strict new AI security mandates for major lenders signal a wave of upcoming tech regulations that will impact zero-interest and BNPL providers.
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regulation
Fed proposal calls for higher threshold for BSA/AML citation
The Fed's move to prioritize systemic compliance flaws over isolated errors could lead to smoother loan approvals and less friction for retail financing.
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industry-news
How a bank-owned debit network upends payment processing
Big banks are eyeing a $15 billion deal for the Star network, a move that could shift power away from Visa/Mastercard and lower merchant routing costs.
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industry-news
JPMorgan and BofA explore acquisition of Fiserv debit network - WSJ
Big banks are eyeing Fiserv’s Accel debit network, a move that could shift the balance of power in credit and debit card processing fees.
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technology
Episode Six and Decisionly on AI-powered dispute automation for card issuers
Episode Six and Decisionly partner to bring AI-powered dispute resolution to card issuers, streamlining chargeback management for financing programs.
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industry-news
Klarna seeks to disrupt US market
Klarna applies for a U.S. bank license and partners with Southwest Airlines to expand its BNPL footprint into broader financial services.
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lender-updates
Klarna applies for ILC charter
The Buy Now, Pay Later giant applies for a U.S. banking license to offer insured accounts and expand its lending power.
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general
regulation
ECB tells banks to submit plans to address AI cyber threats
European regulators are forcing banks to harden defenses against AI-powered cyberattacks, signaling tighter security standards for the global lending industry.
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technology
How real-time payments expand
The era of waiting days for customer funds to clear is ending as real-time payment tech moves to the checkout counter.
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technology
U.S. Bank pursues Gen Z with payments-first strategy
U.S. Bank pivots to a payments-first model to capture Gen Z, signaling a shift toward embedded finance and digital-first consumer habits.
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technology
Flutterwave secures investment from Circle Ventures
Flutterwave partners with Circle Ventures to integrate stablecoin technology into African payment and consumer financing systems.
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medical
regulation
Here's what will trigger the next fight over payments compliance
Growing regulatory scrutiny on peptide wellness treatments could lead to frozen merchant accounts and medical financing disruptions.
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industry-news
Revolut’s US bet: A bank charter, a stablecoin pitch, and a graveyard of European challengers that tried before it
Revolut pursues a U.S. bank charter to offer direct consumer financing, potentially shaking up the domestic BNPL and lending landscape.
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regulation
Bowman: Low-risk AI usage should get lighter regulatory touch
Fed Governor Michelle Bowman advocates for lighter regulation on low-risk AI to foster innovation in banking and consumer finance tools.
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technology
Tokenized deposits may be coming, but it's not a slam-dunk
Banks are racing to turn traditional deposits into digital tokens, promising faster settlement and lower fees for retailers.
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technology
Credit card-linked instalments fintech Float goes live in the UK
Float launches in the UK, allowing merchants to offer interest-free installments using a customer's existing credit card limit.
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technology
Thought Machine raises £30 million from Tier 1 bank
A £30M investment into Thought Machine by a major bank signals faster, more flexible digital financing tools are coming to the retail point of sale.
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technology
Open banking fraud rates remain below wider UK payments industry benchmarks
New data proves Open Banking is a safer, low-fraud alternative to traditional card payments for modern retailers.
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automotive
technology
Insurers Find a Loyalty Test in Every Premium Payment
Modern payment flexibility is becoming the new baseline for customer loyalty in the automotive and insurance sectors.
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technology
AI Gives Every Purchase Its Own Credit Decision
AI is transforming credit into a personalized feature of every transaction, moving beyond traditional static credit limits.
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technology
Banks Find Debit’s Real Cost in False Declines and Manual Fixes
Outdated bank systems are causing false debit declines, making it harder for retailers to close sales without alternative financing options.
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technology
84% of Cross-Border Shoppers Say One-Click Checkout Influences Merchant Choice
Simplify your checkout page or lose the sale: 84% of global shoppers now choose merchants based on one-click payment ease.
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industry-news
Big Banks Eye Payments Deal That Could Rewire Debit Fees
Major U.S. banks are exploring a new payment network deal that could bypass federal fee limits and change the cost of debit card acceptance for merchants.
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technology
Santander publishes AI projects on GitHub
Santander opens its AI toolkit to the public, signaling a shift toward faster, tech-driven financing solutions for merchants and consumers.