• Money transfer firm MoneyGram International Inc. said last week’s unsolicited $1 billion bid from Euronet Worldwide Inc., outdoing Ant Financial Services Group’s $880 million offer in January, meets the “company superior proposal” definition in the merger agreement with Ant. The determination means MoneyGram can further consider the Euronet offer. • Private-label and cobranded credit …

As the sweeping plan to update the U.S. automated clearing house network and other parts of the country’s payments system—an initiative known as faster payments—draws nearer, the first hints of what it could mean for merchants are being discussed. The faster-payments project, under the aegis of the Federal Reserve, will …

• Samsung Electronics Co.’s soon-to-be-released Galaxy S8 smart phone will employ facial-recognition technology for mobile payments, including the company’s

• China-based UnionPay International says more than 41 million merchants and more than 2 million ATMs in 160 countries and regions now accept its UnionPay card, as do 10-million-plus Web-based merchants. More than 80% of U.S. merchants accept the card, the company says. • Point-of-sale terminal maker Equinox Payments said …

Euronet Worldwide Inc., owner of the Ria money-transfer service, early Tuesday announced a $1 billion bid to acquire Dallas-based MoneyGram International Inc. Euronet’s unexpected bid casts a cloud of uncertainty over the $880 million buyout offer China-based Ant Financial Services Group submitted for MoneyGram in January. Leawood, Kan.-based Euronet called …

Decoupled debit programs may yet yield rewards for merchants, especially as they look for ways to circumvent payment networks and spur loyalty among consumers. That’s the take from a new report, “Decoupled Debit: The Start of Mainstream Adoption?” issued by Mercator Advisory Group Inc. Decoupled debit is not a new …

• Private-equity fund Vista Equity Partners said it would buy Canadian payments and financial software provider DH Corp. (D+H) for C$4.8 billion ($3.6 billion) in cash and merge it with one of its portfolio companies, United Kingdom-based Misys, a software provider for retail and corporate banking. • Merchant processor Payment Data Systems Inc. said …

The week started out on a fusion theme when a private-equity firm said it would buy Canadian payments and financial software developer DH Corp. for C$4.8 billion ($3.6 billion) and merge it with one of its portfolio companies, United Kingdom-based Misys, a software provider for retail and corporate banking. Also …

For mobile-wallet providers, card issuers, and merchants trying to attract consumers to their mobile-payment services, the way to build a base of active customers can be summarized in two words: pay up. New findings from Auriemma Consulting Group based on research with 1,505 payment card holders eligible for mobile-payments programs …

• Retailer H&M Group said it will encourage its suppliers to pay their workers via mobile money or other digital funds. The initiative is part of the Better Than Cash Alliance, a United Nations-based federation of governments, companies, and organizations fostering digital payments in lieu of cash. Mastercard Inc. and Visa …