Fed report stirs debit fee debate

The Federal Reserve issued a biennial report last week detailing interchange fees related to debit card transactions, reviving a battle over the central bank’s plans to reset a cap on the fees.

By Lynne Marek • Dec. 23, 2025

Klarna, Shift4 embrace stablecoins

Both companies announced stablecoin ventures in the past week.

By Patrick Cooley • Dec. 23, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Digital wallets proliferate as features advance

As more companies aim to offer digital wallets the rise in competition is sharpening their features.  

By Payments Dive staff

Fed seeks ‘skinny’ account comment

The Federal Reserve Board voted 6-1 Friday to gather public comment on creating a new special payments account for use by financial institutions.

By Lynne Marek • Dec. 22, 2025

Fiserv, Visa unite on agentic tools

The payment processor plans to partner with card networks, also including Mastercard, to cater to merchants navigating agentic commerce.

By Patrick Cooley • Dec. 22, 2025

Fintech Mercury applies for OCC bank charter

The company also appointed an alum of SoFi, Green Dot and Goldman Sachs to serve as CEO of the proposed bank. 

By Dan Ennis • Dec. 22, 2025

Zip lands new credit line

The buy now, pay later provider has received another credit facility from its long-time funder Victory Park Capital to catalyze its growth.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 19, 2025

MoneyGram floats stablecoins

The cross-border player is targeting Latin American countries to test stablecoins, but consumers won’t necessarily know it's part of the payment.

By Lynne Marek • Dec. 19, 2025

Cross-border payments goals remain elusive

G20 nations have inched ahead in making cross-border payments more efficient and affordable, but progress has been uneven, says a new BIS study.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 18, 2025

BNPL connected to poor mental health: study

Johns Hopkins University researchers have spotted a link between people with mental health conditions and those that have used buy now, pay later loans.

By Patrick Cooley • Dec. 18, 2025

EWS leans into sports

The fintech has signed Paze agreements with two pro sports teams since September, banking on fans' loyalty to their teams.

By Patrick Cooley • Dec. 17, 2025

Why PNC joined FedNow

The bank finally joined the Federal Reserve’s instant payments system this year after a significant Treasury Department announcement.

By Lynne Marek • Dec. 17, 2025

Open banking fees fuel debate

 Bank, fintech and consumer advocacy panelists disagreed this week during a panel discussion about the basis for imposing fees for data use.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 17, 2025

Amex CEO slams surcharges

Steve Squeri said higher surcharges would be a negative experience for the card network’s customers.

By Patrick Cooley • Dec. 16, 2025

PayPal seeks bank charter

The digital payments pioneer has applied with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions to form an industrial bank.

By Lynne Marek • Dec. 15, 2025

BNPL loan values rise, CFPB says

The average size of buy now, pay later loans grew and use of the payment method inched up, a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau study said.

By Patrick Cooley • Dec. 15, 2025

MoneyGram swipes Wells Fargo vet for CFO

Marc Winniford will take the finance reins of the legacy cross-border payments company that is seeking to digitally overhaul its sprawling operations.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Dec. 15, 2025

Sapphire ads were ‘puffery,’ BBB says

When JPMorgan Chase advertised its Chase Sapphire Reserve cards as the “most rewarding,” the bank card issuer should have provided more context, the BBB’s National Programs’ advertising arm determined in response to a challenge brought by Capital One.

By Lynne Marek • Dec. 15, 2025

Tyler Technologies aids payments modernization

The software and payments firm is supporting the federal call to modernize payments as it caters to state and local government clients.

By Lynne Marek • Dec. 12, 2025

Stablecoins are inevitable in cross-border payments

The digital currency is already demonstrating its value across a variety of use cases in multiple markets, a cryptocurrency executive writes.

By Rocio Rodriguez Saa • Dec. 12, 2025

JPMorgan backs B2B firm Mondu

The largest U.S. bank’s payments arm plans to provide debt financing and collaborate with the Dutch business-to-business services firm.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 12, 2025

Stripe digs deeper into crypto

The digital payments player bought a crypto-focused digital wallet, and its Privy unit has joined with Klarna to develop a crypto wallet.

By Patrick Cooley • Dec. 11, 2025

Visa CEO pay tops $31M

Chief Executive Ryan McInerney’s total pay package last year at the card network was $31.56 million, the highest ever for the job.

By Lynne Marek • Dec. 11, 2025

Fifth Third, Brex ink card tie

Fifth Third’s corporate card program, previously operated in-house, will soon be powered entirely by fintech Brex.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Dec. 11, 2025

Vanco, ACS Technologies merge to court churches

The two companies aim to provide payment processing and church management software through a single digital hub. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 10, 2025

CFPB budget becomes court fight

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has sought to police payments plays, has made its funding a key issue in battling two lawsuits that aim to keep the agency open.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 10, 2025