Payments


MasterCard Joins Vodafone Wallet, Demos Loyalty Feature in Paris (Nov. 17, 2015)

Users of Vodafone’s mobile wallet soon will be able to add their MasterCard-branded payments cards to the wallet app and subsequently make contactless payments via NFC, the European telecom provider announced. Vodafone Wallet added support for Visa-branded payment cards earlier this year and compatibility with Visa- and MasterCard-branded payment cards could help Vodafone Wallet compete against Apple Pay, which launched in the U.K. in July.

Top Payments Lawyer Spotlight: Amy Ross Lauck, Lindquist & Vennum LLP

Earlier this year, we recognized the Top 10 Payments Lawyers as voted for by Paybefore.com visitors. In our first profile, we feature Amy Ross Lauck, partner, in the payment systems and consumer financial services practice at Lindquist & Vennum LLP, who discusses the challenges of the CARD Act, prospects for the CFPB’s prepaid rulemaking and innovations yet to come.

FDIC Issues Revised Brokered Deposit FAQs Affecting Prepaid (Nov. 16, 2015)

The FDIC last week issued a revised financial institution letter soliciting public opinion on a proposed update to its series of FAQs related to identifying, accepting and reporting brokered deposits. The revised guidance, which has a 45-day comment period that ends Dec. 28, has far-reaching implications for the prepaid industry.

Four Startups to Get Boost from MasterCard Accelerator Program (Nov. 16, 2015)

MasterCard has named the startups comprising the next class of its Start Path fintech accelerator. The four startups, which were selected from more than 200 applicants, will receive mentoring from MasterCard experts, access to the company’s commercial partners and the opportunity to integrate with MasterCard solutions for six months.

Visa Europe Testing Blockchain for Remittances (Nov. 16, 2015)

Visa Europe is exploring the use of blockchain technology to speed and simplify international remittances. Under a new partnership with Epiphyte, a startup specializing in bringing blockchain to mainstream financial services, the Visa Europe Collab innovation hub is testing the use of a distributed ledger to process remittance transactions.

London’s 22,500 Black Cabs Go Mobile with HailoPay (Nov. 12, 2015)

In a global battle pitting two companies, Hailo and Uber, that connect drivers with riders, U.K-based Hailo announced this week that all of London’s 22,500 black cabs now accept mobile payments using HailoPay, a payment gateway for passengers to pay for black cab rides using their smartphones.

The Rise of Instant Payments

In this age of tablets and smartphones, customers expect instantaneous access to information and services. Emails, tweets, shopping: everything is now real time or forget about it. As a result, instant payment is upon us, writes David Andrieux. Benefits of instant payments aren’t hard to see. For the economy, they allow consumers and businesses to […]

Green Dot to Expand GoBank, Launch GoBusiness and MoneyPak Plus (Nov. 6, 2015)

Green Dot is pressing the gas pedal when it comes to expanding GoBank, with new distribution plans for next year, including a new distribution partner and a GoBusiness account rolling out to serve at least one company’s large base of 1099 workers. During last week’s earnings call with investors, Green Dot CEO Steve Streit also discussed plans for new prepaid products, along with MoneyPak Plus—a reload product to replace its discontinued MoneyPak.

Apple Pay Adds Walgreens as First Loyalty Partner (Nov. 9, 2015)

Five months after announcing support for retailer loyalty programs, Apple Pay has landed its first merchant loyalty partner. Members of Walgreens’ Balance Rewards loyalty program now are able to integrate their rewards accounts into Apple Pay, using a mobile device to earn and redeem points when making purchases at the pharmacy giant.

HSBC payments head to take the helm at CHAPS

Tim Fitzpatrick has been appointed as the new chief executive of CHAPS, the UK’s same day high-value payment system. Currently HSBC’s Global Payments and Cash Management chief operating officer and group head of payment services.

Study: CMOs Predict Modest Increase in Holiday Sales

Chief marketing officers at 100 U.S. retailers are expecting a 4.2 percent increase in holiday season total store sales this year, which is in line with last year’s 4.1 percent increase, according to a the 10th annual survey from BDO USA, a professional services firm and consultancy.

Mobetize, Global Service Solutions Partner for Mobile Wallet (Nov. 4, 2015)

Mobile payments technology provider Mobetize Corp. has formed a strategic partnership with prepaid wireless company Global Service Solutions Inc. and under the new brand Gotwallet, the companies “successfully” will bridge the gap between the prepaid wireless end user and mobile payments, according to a Global Services Solution executive.

Viewpoint: Virtual Currency State Roundup

Legislators and regulators are grappling with how to apply existing money transmitter laws to an emerging industry. Read about the challenges and latest developments across the U.S.

Visa Inc. to Buy Visa Europe for Up to €21.2 Billion (Nov. 2, 2015)

Visa Inc. has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Visa Europe for up to €21.2 billion (US$23.4 billion), bringing Visa’s global networks under the same roof for the first time since 2007. The long-anticipated deal earned the unanimous support of both companies’ boards of directors and is expected to close in Visa’s fiscal third quarter of 2016, pending regulatory approval.

RushCard Making Good after Service Disruption (Nov. 2, 2015)

RushCard will reimburse RushCard customers who experienced financial losses as a result of a temporary service disruption during a technology conversion last month. The company’s systems now are fully restored, the company said Thursday.