Competitive Strategies

• In the wake of a rival bid from Euronet Worldwide Inc., Ant Financial Services Group increased its offer for MoneyGram International Inc. from $880 million to $1.2 billion, or from $13.25 per share to $18. Euronet offered $1 billion for MoneyGram after Ant made its original bid. A special MoneyGram …

Financial institutions are determined not to be left behind as mobile person-to-person payments gain popularity and non-bank players invade the market. On Monday, Early Warning Services LLC, a company controlled by some of the nation’s biggest banks, said its Zelle P2P service has grown to include 20 banks and credit …

Klarna Inc.’s new boss has big ambitions. Jim Lofgren, vice president of global accounts and partnerships for the Swedish payments processor’s U.S. operation, tells Digital Transactions News there’s plenty of room for growth in what many might perceive as a saturated market for retail credit. “In the U.S., we see …

Automated clearing house volume grew by more than 1 billion transactions in 2016, ACH network governing body NACHA reported this week. Herndon, Va.-based NACHA says traffic on the network, which connects virtually all U.S. financial institutions, hit 25.6 billion transactions, up 5.3% from 2015. That grand total includes on-us transactions. …

• The National ATM Council, a trade group for independent ATM deployers, has issued an appeal to its members in Illinois to join in opposing a bill in the legislature that the group says would “eliminate virtually all of the state’s current ATM base” by capping ATM fees at $1 per …

In-car payments may be taking yet another step forward, along with related connected-car innovations. American Honda Motor Co. Inc. on Thursday said it is reorganizing its innovation arm, Honda Silicon Valley Lab, as a new company called Honda R&D Innovations Inc. The new entity has been created specifically to “expand …

• Merchant processor Vantiv Inc. announced it will work with data-science specialist Womply to offer Vantiv BizShield and Insights, a service for small and medium-sized merchants that offers real-time data, advanced analytics, online reputation management, and threat management. • Processor Global Payments Inc.’s Campus Solutions unit has introduced TouchNet OneCard VIP, which manages access to …

Mobile-wallet enthusiasts may have to look overseas for encouragement. A report released Tuesday indicates sizzling growth worldwide for the three major mobile-payments services—Android Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay—but researchers who follow the U.S. market say the trio are making little if any headway with consumers. The report from Juniper …

China-based Ant Financial Services Group, which has a deal to buy MoneyGram International Inc. for $880 million, on Wednesday fired back at Euronet Worldwide Inc. as the two firms fight for the No. 2 U.S.-based wire-transfer provider. Euronet last month submitted an unsolicited $1 billion bid for MoneyGram and has …

• Payments-technology provider VeriFone Systems Inc. said it created a 50-50 joint venture with Gas Station TV that will combine VeriFone’s Pump Media division with Gas Station TV; the venture will operate under the Gas Station TV brand and deliver 3.3 billion annual impressions through 18,000 locations in all 50 states by …