CBDC will take years to develop, Yellen says

Despite new technologies, payments often take too long, the treasury secretary said in her first remarks on digital assets since a March executive order on the topic. Regardless of where assets are stored, regulation should be "tech neutral," she said.

By Dan Ennis • April 8, 2022

FDIC: Banks should alert agency of their crypto-related pursuits

The regulator said it supports safe and sound innovations, but is concerned that the risks associated with crypto assets and crypto-related activities are not well understood.

By Anna Hrushka • April 8, 2022

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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

Toomey bill envisions 'payment' stablecoins

The Republican senator's draft bill would preserve state-registered money transmitter status for most existing stablecoin issuers and would clarify that insured depository institutions are permitted to issue the digital currency.

By Anna Hrushka • April 8, 2022

There was no stopping credit card fee hikes this year

Merchants are incurring tens of millions of dollars in additional interchange, or "swipe," fee increases that the big credit card companies Mastercard and Visa are deploying. There was a loud silence about the inevitability of those boosts this year.

By Lynne Marek • April 7, 2022

Crypto buyers see long-term investment value

As cryptocurrency adoption grows worldwide, many Americans are increasingly interested in it, according to several new surveys. However, many consumers acknowledge they still don’t fully understand cryptocurrencies.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 6, 2022

Russian Mir payments may benefit from US exit

While overall Russian card payments volume is expected to decline as U.S. card companies exit the country, Russia's Mir payments system and related cards may benefit, according to new research. U.S. payments companies are expected to forgo about $2.4 billion in annual revenue.

By Jonathan Berr • April 6, 2022

To ease fuel-price pain, subsidies, rebates gain momentum

Chicago and California propose giving prepaid gas cards to eligible residents and assistance to public transit users. State and federal efforts to suspend gas taxes face criticism for potential economic and environmental impacts.

By Dan Zukowski • April 5, 2022

Sen. Cruz seeks to restrict Fed role for CBDC

Sen. Ted Cruz's legislation, which follows a companion House bill introduced earlier this year, would prevent the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency directly to consumers.

By Jonathan Berr • April 1, 2022

Small businesses adjust to inflation, supply chain disruptions: survey

A new survey from American Express and its Kabbage unit found nearly two-thirds of small businesses will keep their inflation-adjusted pricing for the next six months.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 31, 2022

Visa urges cautious approach to BNPL regulations

"The CFPB should tailor its approaches to preserve consumers’ and merchants' ability to access a wide variety of installment options and maintain competition among BNPL solutions," Visa said in commenting to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

By Jonathan Berr • March 30, 2022

Credit card late fees likely to keep climbing, CFPB says

Total credit card late fee volume is rising again after a dip during the pandemic, and current inflation levels mean the largest issuers are likely to keep increasing fees, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 29, 2022

Congress mulls a different digital dollar

While talk of a digital dollar has mainly focused on creation of a central bank digital currency through the Federal Reserve, a group of House Democrats on Monday proposed legislation that pivots in a different direction, creating an electronic dollar through a new program administered by the Treasury Department.

By Lynne Marek • March 29, 2022

BNPL critics urge CFPB to protect consumers from payment app

Proponents and opponents of buy now-pay later services are weighing in on how the new installment financing should be regulated after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau asked for input. The federal agency is absorbing the views as it conducts an inquiry into the industry's business practices.

By Jonathan Berr • March 28, 2022

Advocacy group points to BNPL 'warning signs'

As scrutiny of buy now-pay later comes to a head, a survey from advocacy organization Financial Health Network revealed financially vulnerable households are almost four times more likely to use BNPL to make purchases than those that are financially healthy.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 25, 2022

Shift4's Finaro purchase entangled with Russian oligarch

With its acquisition of financial services firm Finaro, Allentown, Pennsylvania-based payments company Shift4 awaits not only European regulatory approval but also a license from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control due to a Russian oligarch’s minority stake in Finaro.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 25, 2022

Ohio's credit unions swing at BNPL

Buy now-pay later comments are due to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau this week. And battle lines are being drawn over how to regulate a burgeoning industry.

By Jonathan Berr • March 24, 2022

Fed's Powell lists 4 qualifications for a US CBDC

A digital dollar must ensure user privacy, be "identity verifiable," be "intermediated" and be widely accepted as a means of payment, the central bank chief said Wednesday during a panel discussion hosted by the Bank for International Settlements.

By Dan Ennis • March 24, 2022

Affirm CFO leans in for CFPB inquiry

A top executive at Affirm, the biggest independent U.S. buy now-pay later company, says he understands the way in which the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is trying to get a handle on the new industry.

By Jonathan Berr • March 23, 2022

Retail, financial trade groups beg for coins

A U.S. coin shortage subsided for a bit early last year, but the problem is back. That led a group of trade organizations to complain to the Treasury Department this week, and to ask for help in making consumers aware of the coin crisis.

By Lynne Marek • March 22, 2022

ChargeAfter raises $44M as competition grows

The New York-based company is stockpiling dollars as new and old payments players arrive in the buy now-pay later arena. Consumers are predicted to increase their BNPL spending, but the service also faces regulatory scrutiny.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 22, 2022

Payments industry makes a tempting target for hackers

The industry might not be experiencing a major uptick in cyberattacks as a result of Russia's war on Ukraine, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be on high alert, cybersecurity professionals say.

By Jonathan Berr , Caitlin Mullen , Lynne Marek • March 18, 2022

Merchants lose North Dakota debit fee case

Merchant trade groups that sued the Federal Reserve Board in federal court last year over what they alleged was the central bank's failure to keep debit card fees in check had their case dismissed this week. They said they'll appeal the ruling.

By Lynne Marek • March 18, 2022

Wealthy BNPL consumers give Affirm a boost

A new survey from one equity analyst suggests installment financing from the buy now-pay later company Affirm has appeal for rich and poor alike. "The demand for our service is going up because consumers are trying to ration their money,” Affirm CEO Max Levchin told CNBC.

By Jonathan Berr • March 16, 2022

CFPB's Chopra blasts potential card hikes

In a rare TV appearance, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said that the payments industry isn't competitive enough and that fee hikes by the big card companies would add "insult to injury" at a time of inflation. He noted new fintech tools could ultimately be a benefit if they add competition.

By Jonathan Berr • March 14, 2022

Russia pivots to UnionPay for payments alternative

With Russia shut out of U.S. and EU payment infrastructures, the country is pivoting to alternatives such as China's UnionPay card system and other channels that may take its trade and commerce through China.

By Jonathan Berr • March 11, 2022