Debit Cards

Card skimming remains a vexing problem in the United States, with the number of reported incidents increasing 20% during the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, according to the credit-data firm FICO. More concerning, however, is that the number of cards compromised as a result …

Block Inc., corporate parent of Square and Cash App, posted $5.5 billion in second-quarter revenue, a 25% jump from $4.4 billion in the same quarter a year ago, as the payments provider pushes on with its move to add larger merchants. The midmarket segment now accounts for 40% of its …

As FIS Inc. prepares to dispose of a majority interest in its merchant-acquiring unit, the big processor confronts other key questions regarding potentially favorable developments in the payments business. Still, its top brass proved reluctant early Wednesday to discuss those questions, one of which touched on opportunities the proposed Credit …

Consumers plan to increase the number of gift cards they purchase this year by 12%, compared to 2022, and increase the value loaded on those cards by 7%, according to research from card platform Blackhawk Inc. released Tuesday. Blackhawk’s survey found that 37% of respondents have purchased more gift cards …

Gross dollar volume on prepaid and other debit cards issued by The Bancorp Bank grew 15% year-over-year in the second quarter, and the bank expects volume growth will exceed that rate in 2024 as it expands existing programs and books new partners. Dollar volume hit $32.8 billion for the quarter, …

With payments-industry competition rapidly getting more intense, long-established players such as Mastercard Inc. could lose out if they don’t change with the times. But Mastercard’s chief executive signaled Thursday that change is just what his company is doing. “We stand ready to compete,” declared Michael Miebach during Mastercard’s second-quarter earnings …

Payments-technology provider Aevi said it is working with contactless-technology firm Bleu to offer tap-to-pay functionality in North America and Europe on both Android and iPhone devices. Cross River Bank said it will enable an expanded menu of payment options through open-banking platform Plaid, including instant transfers for payroll and other applications. Payments provider Lightspeed …

The merchant-acquiring business helped deliver a strong quarter for Fiserv Inc. as the big processor reported Wednesday its ninth consecutive period of organic revenue growth, or growth stemming from existing rather than recently acquired businesses. The Brookfield, Wis.-based company singled out its Clover point-of-sale technology for special mention as a …

Visa Inc.’s top brass, during the company’s quarterly earnings conference call Tuesday afternoon, preferred to talk about fast-growing newer lines of business such as value-added services and transaction sources apart from traditional plastic credit and debit cards. But stock analysts on the call had questions about some sensitive merchant-relations issues, …

Independent sales organizations can’t do much without a sponsor bank, also known as an acquiring bank, to get them access to the payment card networks. As with most business endeavors, the complexity of finding a sponsor bank has increased. It’s a challenge that attendees at the 2023 Midwest Acquirers Association …