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Curated industry news and original merchant playbooks.
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Nium CEO Says Stablecoins’ Real Prize Is the Cash Companies Can’t See
Stablecoins are shifting from crypto speculation to a practical tool for real-time cash management and faster settlement for global businesses.
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FinWise Owns Full Card Tech Stack After Acquiring Tallied Platform
FinWise Bancorp acquires Tallied technology to bring credit card processing in-house, promising faster innovation for merchant financing programs.
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Affirm to provide installment payments for Amazon Business customers
Amazon Business partners with Affirm to offer flexible installment payments at checkout, bringing consumer-style BNPL to the B2B procurement market.
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Banks Tap FinTechs and Embedded Finance for Deposits
Major banks are doubling down on embedded finance partnerships, providing more stability and scale for consumer lending programs at the point of sale.
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lender-updates
Samsung launches Galaxy credit card to rival Apple Card
Samsung enters the U.S. credit market with a Barclays-backed card to challenge Apple's dominance in mobile-first consumer financing.
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Republicans ask CFPB's Vought how to curb agency's power
GOP lawmakers are targeting the CFPB’s core authority, signaling a potential long-term shift toward a more business-friendly financing landscape.
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Natural Raises $30 Million to Build Payment Rails for AI Agents
New $30M funding for Natural signals the rise of 'agentic commerce' where AI bots, not humans, handle the checkout and payment process.
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regulation
Bank deregulation package inches toward House floor
New House legislation seeks to loosen capital rules for regional banks, potentially easing the flow of credit for retailers and consumer lenders.
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Fake Employees Are Banks’ Newest Insider Threat
AI-driven 'synthetic insiders' are infiltrating financial institutions, posing a new risk to data security and lending stability.
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Trump's trade war targets Brazil's payment rail
New U.S. tariffs on Brazil's Pix payment system could signal a broader crack-down on low-cost international payment alternatives.
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Visa Bets the Future of Money Still Needs an Operator
Visa’s new stablecoin platform aims to make digital currency payments as seamless and reliable for merchants as traditional credit cards.
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Loyalty Data Is Now AI’s Favorite Currency
Retailers are turning loyalty data into AI-driven financing tools to predict spend and personalize credit offers at checkout.
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The Impact of AI and Other New Technologies on Payment Hubs
AI is set to radically accelerate how lenders build and deploy payment technology, potentially cutting launch times to a single week.
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industry-news
Why pricey credit cards may soon cost more
A landmark settlement may allow merchants to charge extra for premium rewards cards, making alternative financing more competitive at the point of sale.
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industry-news
Why PayPal makes sense for Stripe now
Stripe merchants can now integrate PayPal, opening easy access to PayPal's popular ‘Pay in 4’ BNPL tools and a massive loyal user base.
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Banks are making a bigger play for the SMB back office
Banks are evolving into all-in-one management hubs, integrating payments and accounting to simplify daily operations for small business owners.
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Banks report operational changes driven by AI adoption
Big banks are shifting from AI experimentation to full operational integration, promising faster credit decisions and enhanced fraud detection for retailers.
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regulation
What comes next for the Fed's regulatory independence?
Recent Supreme Court activity signals a potential shift in how the Federal Reserve regulates the lenders providing your consumer credit programs.
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HSBC joins EPAA agentic AI working group as founding member
HSBC joins a global task force to standardize 'agentic' AI payments, signaling a shift toward autonomous consumer financing and automated checkouts.
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EPI embarks on next phase of iDeal transition to Wero
European banks and payment providers align on a new roadmap to replace iDEAL with Wero, the continent's new digital wallet standard.
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Abound taps ClearScore for debt consolidation
New AI-powered debt consolidation tools are helping customers clear high-interest balances to free up spending power for new purchases.
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industry-news
This Week in Consumer Financing: The War for Your Checkout
AI takes the wheel in underwriting while industry giants battle for control over retail payment rails.
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Retail media was the first wave. Financial services may define the next one.
Retailers are evolving into financial hubs by embedding BNPL, insurance, and personalized lending directly into the customer journey.
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AI is creating ecommerce’s next optimization challenge: The intent gap
AI is bringing higher-intent shoppers to your site; here is how to ensure your financing and checkout process doesn't drive them away.
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The future of banking growth is decision intelligence
Lenders are adopting AI-driven decision intelligence to speed up loan approvals and increase conversion rates for merchants.
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From legacy to leading edge: DXC CoreIgnite bridges the banking innovation gap
New tech allows traditional lenders to modernize faster, promising better financing tools and smoother approvals for retail partners.
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The next competitive edge is the payout experience
Closing the gap between instant spending and slow payouts is the latest way for retailers to improve customer loyalty and operational efficiency.
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Why Vertical SaaS Companies Are Taking Control of Payments
Specialized software providers are moving beyond workflow tools to offer integrated payments and financing directly to merchants.
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The Housing Market Hands More Decisions to AI
AI is replacing human underwriters to speed up credit approvals and expand financing access for non-traditional borrowers.
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Manual Debit Reviews Can Cost Banks $2.4 Million a Year
High manual review rates in debit processing are causing revenue leaks and transaction friction that impact merchant conversion and customer satisfaction.
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industry-news
Velera CEO Chuck Fagan Exits With a Challenge to Credit Unions
Velera’s leadership transition highlights a major push for credit unions to adopt AI and real-time payments to compete in consumer lending.
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industry-news
Stripe Capital, PayPal Working Capital Could Merge If Acquisition Offer is Accepted
A potential merger between Stripe and PayPal’s lending units could consolidate the working capital market and change how retailers fund their growth.
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industry-news
ACI Worldwide Considers Putting Billing Division Up For Sale
ACI Worldwide considers selling its billing division, a move that could impact how thousands of merchants collect recurring consumer payments.
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Lumin Digital raises $70 million from its clients
A $70 million investment into Lumin Digital signals a tech-forward shift for the community banks and credit unions that power consumer lending.
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Regions Bank’s Mobile Upgrade Drives Digital Transactions to 80%
Regions Bank sees digital transactions hit 80%, signaling a critical need for retailers to offer mobile-integrated financing tools.
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lender-updates
Fifth Third Sees Comerica Merger Wins Ahead of Labor Day Conversion
Fifth Third Bank prepares for a Labor Day systems overhaul as it nears the finish line of its Comerica merger.
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Former CFPB enforcement directors launch public interest law firm
Former CFPB enforcement heads launch a new firm, signaling a more litigious and scrutinized environment for merchant financing.
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industry-news
PayPal balks at Stripe acquisition offer
PayPal rejects a $53 billion buyout bid from Stripe, signaling a heating battle for control over your store's checkout and financing options.
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regulation
Regulators answered half of banks' data-security asks
New federal guidelines promise 72-hour notice if regulators lose bank data, but the rule lacks the enforcement power faced by private lenders.
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lender-updates
Truist culls some consumer loans, cites long-term strategy
Truist Bank exits the marine and RV lending markets, forcing outdoor retailers to find new financing partners for high-ticket consumer purchases.
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industry-news
Citizens to close about 100 in-store branches for 50 retooled ones
Citizens Bank pivots away from supermarket branches to focus on high-net-worth clients and digital-first banking services.
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lender-updates
Truist’s Rogers: Lyons CEO appointment brings ‘certainty’
Truist stabilizes leadership with a new CEO appointment, signaling a return to operational focus and consistent lending for merchant partners.
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regulation
State AGs blow whistle on OppFi, Enova deals
Twenty attorneys general are urging federal regulators to block fintech giants OppFi and Enova from acquiring banks to bypass state interest rate caps.
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FIS and Anthropic extend partnership
FIS partners with Anthropic to use advanced AI to secure the critical infrastructure powering consumer lending and payment processing.
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How Cross-Border is Growing to Mirror Domestic Ease
New AI and API integrations are removing the friction from international payments, making global expansion more accessible for retailers.
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industry-news
PayPal board considers $53bn Stripe-Advent offer inadequate - Reuters
PayPal rejects a $53 billion takeover bid from Stripe, citing undervaluation and potential regulatory hurdles in the payments space.
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Visa, Stripe join AI protocol project
Visa and Stripe join a new push to standardize how AI agents handle credit and payments, paving the way for more automated online checkouts.
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regulation
Backing the president’s fintech order
New federal focus on fintech regulation aims to balance consumer protection with the innovation driving today's point-of-sale financing tools.
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BBVA becomes first Spanish bank to launch Swift’s new global retail payments scheme
BBVA adopts Swift’s new retail payment scheme to provide faster, more transparent, and predictable 24/7 international transfers for SMEs.
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Democrats slam Vought over CFPB ‘trauma’
Political tension over the CFPB's future suggests a massive shift in how consumer lending and merchant financing will be regulated.
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Why every financial firm wants to answer the same question: What should you do next?
Financial firms are racing to use AI and data to guide consumer spending habits through proactive 'next-step' advice.
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OpenUSD has its work cut out if it hopes to challenge incumbent stablecoins
A new stablecoin consortium aims to shake up digital payments, but it faces an uphill battle to win over banks and retailers.
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Lumin Digital gets $70 million from bank, credit union users
A $70 million tech investment by credit unions will lead to faster, AI-powered loan approvals at the point of sale.
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Alipay+ enables QR code payments for travellers to Argentina
Alipay+ expands QR code payment access in Argentina, signaling a continued global shift toward frictionless cross-border digital wallet adoption.
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industry-news
Creditspring surpasses £1 billion in loan disbursements
Creditspring hits £1 billion in loans, proving that subscription-based, transparent credit models are winning over modern consumers.
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From Asset to Everyday Money: Making Digital Currencies Spendable
Digital assets are evolving from risky investments into practical payment methods that could soon land at your point-of-sale.
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Spendability Emerges as the Next Test for Digital Assets
New payment infrastructure is transforming digital assets from speculative investments into functional tools for retail transactions.
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medical
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UnitedHealth Says AI Now Runs Every Function of Its Business
UnitedHealth integrates AI across all business functions, signaling a shift toward real-time medical billing and automated patient payment workflows.
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Mastercard rolls out service to help developers build mobile wallets
Mastercard's new wallet tools allow lenders and fintechs to embed contactless payments directly into their apps, streamlining instant financing.
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regulation
Regulators tighten handling of sensitive exam data
New federal guidelines for handling bank exam data could trickle down to affect how retailers manage consumer financing documentation.
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industry-news
What Barclays gets from its Frontier Airlines extension
Barclays secures a decade-long extension with Frontier Airlines, signaling a strong future for co-branded consumer credit programs.
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How Block's using its license to threaten traditional bank lending
Block’s Cash App sees a 300% spike in lending as it bypasses traditional banks to offer consumers instant, data-driven credit.
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Visa launches stablecoin platform
Visa's new stablecoin platform signals a future of faster merchant payouts and modernized digital financing rails.
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regulation
Fed bans former Illinois banker for using inflated appraisals
A Federal Reserve ban on a top lender highlights the severe consequences of using inflated valuations to secure consumer credit approvals.
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Why The November Deadline is a Critical Point of ISO 20022
A critical November deadline for global payment standards could impact how retailers receive and reconcile consumer financing payments.
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regulation
EWA backers push for CFPB move
Ongoing regulatory battles over Earned Wage Access could change how you offer early pay perks to your employees.
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industry-news
Nubank names Livia Chanes CEO, Latin America
Nubank's new regional leadership points to faster growth for digital consumer financing and merchant credit tools across Latin America.
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Thredd joins Visa's Agentic Ready programme
Thredd and Visa partner to enable AI-driven automated payments for European issuers without requiring a total system rebuild.
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industry-news
Strata Decision Technology acquires c. myers
Strata’s acquisition of c. myers signals a more tech-driven future for the regional banks and credit unions that power consumer financing programs.
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Hacked fintech Nayax refuses to pay ransom
Global payment platform Nayax refuses ransom demands following a data breach, highlighting security risks for integrated retail merchants.
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Finance and tech firms unite around Internet payments protocol x402
The Linux Foundation and 40 industry leaders back x402, a new open standard designed to simplify and secure internet payments for everyone.
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lender-updates
PayPal launches Pay in 30 days for UK shoppers
PayPal expands its UK Buy Now, Pay Later portfolio with a fee-free 30-day payment deferral option for shoppers.
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industry-news
With BNPL mainstream, Klarna shifts its focus to better economics
Klarna pivots from rapid growth to a banking-first model, signaling a more mature and AI-driven era for the BNPL industry.
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Inter brings wearable payment devices to the US
Brazilian fintech Inter launches contactless payment rings and wristbands in the U.S., pushing the boundaries of frictionless retail checkout.
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AI operating system Feathery raises $30 million
Feathery's $30M funding round signals a new wave of AI-powered consumer financing tools designed to boost approval speeds and conversion rates.
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Fourthline to merge with Veridas
A major merger in the identity verification space promises to make consumer financing applications faster, more secure, and more global.
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9 Clicks Stand Between Businesses and Their Money
Excessive clicks and login requirements are creating revenue leaks for lenders; streamlining the payment path is the next major efficiency play.
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The Premium Payment Is Becoming Insurance’s Most Valuable Touchpoint
Modern billing is shifting from a back-office task to a strategic tool for boosting customer retention and simplifying high-ticket transactions.
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46% of Small Businesses Would Pay for Better Digital Tools
Small businesses are ditching cash and checks in favor of paid digital tools that offer better cash flow control and real-time payment tracking.
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Credit Unions Plan to Nearly Triple AI Payment Services
Credit unions are racing to triple their AI payment capabilities by 2026, promising fewer false declines and smoother checkouts for retailers.
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48% of Online Shoppers Now Use AI Before Buying
As nearly half of shoppers embrace AI agents, retailers must adapt their financing and checkout flows for automated decision-making.
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regulation
New York Regulator Proposes Licensing Rules for BNPL Lenders
New York's proposed licensing rules for BNPL lenders signal a major shift toward stricter oversight of the popular payment method.
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Mastercard Software Helps Companies Launch Custom Digital Wallets
Mastercard launches new tools allowing merchants to build branded digital wallets and integrate contactless payments directly into their own apps.
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Mastercard picks UK as test environment for agentic AI sandbox
Mastercard’s new AI sandbox aims to automate complex financial tasks, potentially lowering costs and increasing conversion for retail financing.
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ABN Amro's ICS to cut 450 staff as it outsources operations to Worldline
ABN Amro’s credit card arm outsources core operations to Worldline in a bid to modernize consumer lending tech.
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The state of agentic storefronts: How AI agents guide shoppers on frictionless, full-funnel journeys
AI shopping agents are taking over the checkout process, requiring retailers to integrate financing options directly into automated conversations.
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CSI purchases treasury payments fintech Qolo
CSI acquires Qolo to give community banks the high-tech payment and card issuance tools they need to compete with national fintechs.
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Bank of America's Moynihan touts 'good economics' of AI
Bank of America's AI push signals a future of faster, more automated consumer loan approvals and tech-driven customer support.
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regulation
Democrats preview tough oversight of CFPB post midterms
Increased political pressure on the CFPB signals potential shifts in how consumer financing and retail credit products are regulated.
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UK government backs financial services AI adoption plan
The UK government’s new AI roadmap aims to standardize how lenders use artificial intelligence, promising faster and safer credit decisions for consumers.
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Bank of America’s chatbot Erica continues to amplify digital engagement
Bank of America’s AI chatbot sees a 23% surge in users, signaling a shift in how consumers expect to interact with credit and payments.
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industry-news
How PayPal may benefit Stripe
A potential deal between Stripe and PayPal could merge dominant payment rails with popular consumer BNPL tools, simplifying retail checkout flows.
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industry-news
How PayPal may benefit Stripe
A potential Stripe-PayPal tie-up could simplify how retailers manage point-of-sale financing and digital wallets through a single platform.
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industry-news
How a PayPal may benefit Stripe
A potential tie-up between payment giants Stripe and PayPal could simplify checkouts and streamline merchant financing tools.
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As fintechs chase OCC licenses, are sponsor banks at risk?
Fintech lenders are pursuing national bank licenses, potentially shifting the regulatory landscape for consumer financing providers.
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Is BNPL financing raising prices?
New report warns that merchant BNPL fees may be inflating retail prices, potentially triggering fresh regulatory oversight for 'hidden' costs.
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Vikar Technologies taps Plaid for account funding and ID verification
Vikar and Plaid partner to bring instant identity verification and account funding to community bank lending platforms.
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Paytia lets AI agents take card payments — without the card ever reaching the AI
New tech allows AI bots to take payments securely, reducing compliance risks for retailers using automated customer service.
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UC Berkeley professor: 'Things are getting weird', even Mitch McConnell photos aren't being trusted
As deepfakes become indistinguishable from reality, retailers must look beyond simple visual ID checks to secure consumer financing transactions.
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Stripe takes another swing at PayPal acquisition
Stripe’s $53 billion bid for PayPal could consolidate the checkout experience and reshape how merchants offer Buy Now, Pay Later.