AI drives global fraud surge

Losses to fraud and scams climbed 9.2% in 2025, with much of the increase attributed to bad actors leveraging artificial intelligence, said a report from Nasdaq's Verafin financial crime-fighting software unit.

By Patrick Cooley • March 13, 2026

Scam prevention requires ‘upstream’ focus: panel

“We need to bring in these social media companies at the point where [scammers are] first contacting consumers, to look at shared liability,” an AARP executive said at a Payments Dive event Wednesday.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • March 13, 2026

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Payments industry seeks to keep pace with fraudsters

As losses from fraud in payments have climbed, companies are seeking new tools to combat illicit schemes.

By Payments Dive staff

Social media blasted over fraud

The Consumer Federation of America estimates the annual cost of online scams at $119 billion, pointing to social media as a big part of the problem.

By Lynne Marek • March 12, 2026

Visa, Mastercard face U.K. challenge

“In seeking to reduce its reliance on Visa and Mastercard, the United Kingdom banking sector is justified, given the perceived risk that the two main schemes have too much control over the market,” a European executive says.

By Brian Gaynor • March 12, 2026

Fraud battle calls for cross-sector effort

As criminals adopt AI-enabled tactics, financial institutions need to consider data-sharing with other industries, fraud-fighting professionals contend.

By Justin Bachman • March 12, 2026

Cash-strapped homeowners tap BNPL

Researchers at the JPMorgan Chase Institute found that homeowners are most likely to use buy now, pay later tools when their bank accounts are low or their credit cards are maxed out.

By Patrick Cooley • March 11, 2026

Clarity Act stokes debate on crypto

The bill aims to identify which agencies should regulate digital currencies.

By Patrick Cooley • March 9, 2026

Boston Fed touts FedNow

The Federal Reserve has been updating its instant payments service, FedNow, to attract more banks and ultimately reach more consumers.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 6, 2026

Why EWA services matter

“We’re already seeing high-growth from restaurant and hospitality companies that now view instant payments, including digital tips, as a competitive advantage,” writes one earned wage access CEO.

By Tal Clark • March 6, 2026

CCCA seeks new path to passage

Sens. Dick Durbin and Roger Marshall had been angling to attach their credit card interchange fee legislation to a major housing bill before Congress. The Senate passed the housing bill without it.

By Lynne Marek • Updated March 13, 2026

Amex taps customers for fraud fight

Conversations with cardholders are crucial in developing countermeasures to deter scammers, a top executive for the card company said.

By Patrick Cooley • March 4, 2026

Shift4 taps xAI for customer service

The payment processor announced it would partner with Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company for a range of uses.

By Patrick Cooley • March 3, 2026

Block swaps 4,000 workers for AI

CEO Jack Dorsey told investors Thursday that Block’s headcount will drop about 40% as it leans on artificial intelligence for efficiencies.

By Patrick Cooley , Lynne Marek • Feb. 26, 2026

Fiserv appoints new executives

The payment processor added two chief revenue officers and a business development executive as it seeks to raise sales figures.

By Patrick Cooley • Feb. 26, 2026

Meta dips a toe back into crypto

The social media giant is exploring the use of stablecoin payments in its app ecosystem, years after its Diem digital currency experiment imploded.

By Justin Bachman • Feb. 26, 2026

Stripe’s slower view of agentic commerce

The processing giant, like some other digital commerce specialists, sees agent-enabled shopping evolving at a measured pace.

By Justin Bachman • Feb. 25, 2026

New York releases draft BNPL rules

The state aims to set a national standard for regulating buy now, pay later lenders with its regulations issued Monday.

By Patrick Cooley • Feb. 24, 2026

Senator spars with JPM’s Dimon

Sen. Elizabeth Warren says a bill she’s backing emulates a proposal by JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon to let states determine their own card interest rate caps.

By Justin Bachman • Feb. 18, 2026

Stripe’s Bridge wins OCC conditional approval

The nod for a national trust bank charter comes after digital-asset firms Circle, Ripple and Paxos received a similar green light.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 18, 2026

GAO details CFPB’s downsizing

The scope of the CFPB’s downsizing were explored in two reports released Monday, one of which concludes that the changes cost consumers $19 billion.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Feb. 11, 2026

Merchants seek hearing on card pact

Large retailers opposing a swipe-fee settlement with Visa and Mastercard want a judge to hear oral arguments before he rules on the proposal.

By Justin Bachman • Feb. 11, 2026

Judge backs Illinois law on card fees

A U.S. judge ruled that federal bank law doesn’t preempt an Illinois effort to ban card interchange fees on sales tax and tips. Bank groups vowed to appeal.

By Justin Bachman • Feb. 11, 2026

EWA products aren’t loans: fintechs

Trade groups representing fintechs filed briefs urging a U.S. appeals court to reverse two district court rulings against earned wage access providers.

By Justin Bachman • Feb. 10, 2026

Block to chop up to 10% of employees

The company is reducing its workforce to trim overhead costs and stay below a 12,000 employee cap, analysts said.

By Patrick Cooley • Feb. 9, 2026

Fed ‘skinny’ account idea draws criticism

A prototype payment account carries undue restrictions, fintech groups said in response to a Fed proposal that offers expanded real-time payments access.

By Justin Bachman • Feb. 9, 2026