May, 2017

• 1 May

  Surcharging Ahead

  

  Merchants like programs that cover their credit card acceptance costs. So do ISOs and acquirers, some of which see a big opportunity in programs that help merchants with surcharging. Surcharging for credit card transactions or offering a cash discount may have obvious benefits for merchants, but these programs also carry …

April, 2017

• 1 April

  The Battle of the Contactless POS Technologies

  

  By Kevin Woodward Both QR codes and NFC have their backers and critics. But as mobile payments advance, which acceptance technology will own the future? Merchants and the payments industry alike are vying to encourage more consumers to use contactless payments as a way to displace cash, know more about …

March, 2017

• 1 March

  A Remedy for Attrition Headaches

  

  It turns out that merchants using integrated-payments systems tend to leave ISOs and acquirers less often. Here’s why—and how to sign up more of them. Just as independent sales organizations and acquirers engage in a never-ending struggle to curtail their merchant-attrition rates, so are they also constantly on the prowl …

February, 2017

• 1 February

  Going Down?

  

  Canada’s credit card interchange rates have already come down and, under government pressure, could be coming down again. Snow and cold haven’t stopped Canadian bankers and retailers from trekking to the national capital of Ottawa, Ontario, this winter. The reason: to give their opinions to minister of finance William F. …

January, 2017

• 1 January

  The Big Payoff in Big Data

  

  Acquirers are starting to leverage the power of massive—and diverse—pools of information. The challenge lies in unlocking big data’s full potential. Big data has been a hot topic for years as companies look for innovative ways to become more competitive, boost customer retention, and raise their bottom line. Now merchant …

December, 2016

• 1 December

  Finding the Right Word

  

  Going too deep into the payments thicket could be a sales killer. Smart agents know when, and how, to explain certain terms. Want a sure way to stunt a sale, perhaps even ensure it can’t be closed? Start talking about payments. Yes, start throwing around the key words and phrases …

November, 2016

• 1 November

  Simple Yet Complex

  

  While simple to merchants and consumers, the rapidly growing payment-facilitator model involves multiple considerations for developers and acquirers. Some of the best ideas in payments come around only once, but many, such as the payment-facilitator model, come around again when they better suit merchants and the payments industry. To put …

October, 2016

• 1 October

  The Ever-Growing Pressure to Find Red Flags

  

  In the age of the payment facilitator, merchant-vetting practices are taking on an even bigger role. As the payment-facilitator model develops and finds favor among a new set of companies offering payments services to merchants, it shares one age-old element with traditional merchant services. That is the need to check …

September, 2016

• 1 September

  Why Payments M&A Won’t Cool off

  

  Worldpay, WePay, and Stripe are among those viewed as attractive targets as the industry consolidates. Apparently, investors are not ready to put away their checkbooks when it comes to payments companies. Despite potential macro uncertainty stemming from the U.S. presidential election and the specter of the United Kingdom’s departure from …

July, 2016

• 1 July

  Triumph And Challenge at the ETA

  

  An acquiring group at heart, the Electronic Transactions Association adapts to changing business models and payments technologies. But has it outgrown its base among grassroots ISOs? Now in its 26th year, the Electronic Transactions Association may be in the midst of one of its most transformative periods yet. The Washington, …