Competitive Strategies

The U.S. subsidiary of failed German payment processor Wirecard AG is drawing strong interest from potential buyers, according to media reports. The Wall Street Journal also reported that the U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether Wirecard AG played a critical role in an alleged $100 million bank-fraud conspiracy connected to an online marijuana marketplace.Splitit Payments Ltd., which enables …

Apple Inc., whose Apple Pay is the leading mobile-payment service based on near field communication technology, reportedly is testing Quick Response codes as an alternative technology with Apple Pay. That development was first reported Tuesday by the 9 to 5 Mac blog, which said a second beta version of the …

With consumers shopping online in greater numbers, the four major card networks are preparing to take their new single-click checkout technology international. American Express Co., Discover Financial Services, Mastercard Inc., and Visa Inc. said in a joint announcement Wednesday they are “beginning technical preparations” to launch the technology, Click to …

Discover Financial Services announced an agreement with the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority’s Saudi Payments unit that calls for acceptance of Discover, Diners Club International, and Pulse cards on Saudi Payments’ mada network. The deal includes acceptance on point-of-sale terminals, e-commerce platforms, and at ATMs.Fareportal, the technology platform for travel brands CheapOair …

The number of ATMs providing the option of cardless withdrawals rose 26% in 2019, says a new report from research firm RBR. Leading the charge in the adoption of cardless ATMs is the United States, where the number of these machines has more than tripled, according to the research.  Bank …

Taking a page from Square Inc.’s playbook, PayPal Holdings Inc.’s Venmo peer-to-peer payments service is testing what it calls Venmo Business Profiles, a potentially revenue-generating service that enables Venmo users who are sole proprietors of small businesses to sell goods through an affiliated page visible to other Venmo users. Announced …

Evidence continues to accumulate that the Covid-19 pandemic is not only boosting contactless and online payments, but doing so in historically short order. Some 48% of small and medium-size merchants reported in mid-June that they had observed an increase in the number of consumers either using contactless payments or asking …

A new rule requiring all financial institutions in the automated clearing house network to participate in ACH governing body Nacha’s contact registry took effect Wednesday. The registry’s purpose is to enable financial institutions to quickly find the appropriate person to resolve issues when a transaction looks fraudulent or presents other …

MagTek Inc. said its Magensa unit launched token technology to make touchless payments easier. The technology enables a merchant to send a payment link containing the token via email or text that allows consumers to pay in a secure environment. MagTek said the technology is available in QwickPAY, the Magensa mobile …

The fallout from the Wirecard AG financial scandal has hit the U.S. market as the processor’s North American unit announced late Monday it is seeking a buyer. Wirecard North America Inc., based in Conshohocken, Pa., said it has engaged an unnamed investment bank to assist in the transaction. In the …