Visa, Mastercard rebuff merchant gripes

The card networks rejected retailers’ objections to a proposed court settlement and suggested plaintiffs are too optimistic about winning at trial.

By Justin Bachman • Jan. 15, 2026

Credit Card Competition bill wins Trump support

Sens. Dick Durbin and Roger Marshall reintroduced their proposal calling for more competition in the card network industry after the president endorsed it.

By Lynne Marek , Justin Bachman • Updated Jan. 13, 2026

Heavy metal’s hot in payment cards

Credit card issuers are doubling down on heavier, stiffer metals as consumers seek to convey affluence and innovation through payment cards.

By Justin Bachman • Jan. 12, 2026

Toast, Clover battle for small eateries

The two payments processors have the biggest market shares with respect to smaller restaurants, according to a new report from the financial firm Baird.

By Lynne Marek • Jan. 8, 2026

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

Merchants assail card fees pact

Retailers, restaurants and others oppose a proposed court settlement with Visa and Mastercard over swipe fees as insufficient and favorable to the networks.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 15, 2025

Card fees creep onto restaurant tabs

Beset by higher food and labor costs, more restaurants are starting to pass along their credit card fees.

By Justin Bachman • Dec. 11, 2025

Adyen US executive exits

The Dutch payments processor’s president for North America, Davi Strazza, said he’s leaving after witnessing 11 years of growth.

By Lynne Marek • Nov. 18, 2025

8 pros, cons of Visa-Mastercard pact

A proposed settlement to end 20 years of credit card swipe fee litigation generated strong reactions for and against the agreement.

By Justin Bachman • Nov. 12, 2025

Toast mulls eat-and-run options

The software firm is contemplating a system that lets restaurants store customer payment cards to give diners a quicker exit after they finish a meal.

By Justin Bachman • Nov. 6, 2025

Fiserv turns to AI for help

Fiserv is embracing artificial intelligence as new executives try to fix major portions of the company and placate peeved customers.

By Justin Bachman • Nov. 4, 2025

Fiserv CEO orders major changes

The processor replaced its CFO and added new directors as it seeks to revamp after a management review and troubled quarter revealed deep weaknesses.

By Justin Bachman • Oct. 29, 2025

Shift4 to buy Worldline subsidiaries

The payment processor said acquiring the North American businesses will add 140,000 new merchant customers to its roster.

By Patrick Cooley • Oct. 22, 2025

Square stirs restaurant battle

The digital payments provider has cooked up a new set of tools for restaurant clients as the contest to attract customers heats up.

By Lynne Marek • Oct. 8, 2025

Fiserv buys CardFree for hospitality expansion

The company said it acquired the California startup that focuses on restaurant and hotel payment systems to expand its Clover point-of-sale business.

By Justin Bachman • Sept. 5, 2025

Apple doesn’t threaten Visa, Mastercard, judge rules

Merchant arguments that Apple could displace Visa or Mastercard’s network dominance failed to support an antitrust case on swipe fees, a court found.

By Justin Bachman • July 14, 2025

Visa, Mastercard trials postponed

Courts in New York and Chicago rescheduled two antitrust trials over Visa and Mastercard swipe fees to next year as merchants decried further delays.

By Justin Bachman • June 30, 2025

Shift4 buys Smartpay for $180M

The payments services provider bought the distribution network business to keep building its presence in Australia and New Zealand.

By Lynne Marek • June 23, 2025

JPMorgan, Amex flash new cards

Both companies have teased premium card refreshes, reflecting the race for high-end card holders.

By Patrick Cooley • June 20, 2025

Illinois delays interchange fee law

Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a bill that delays implementation of a controversial new law that would bar interchange fees on taxes and tips in Illinois.

By Lynne Marek • June 17, 2025

Cantaloupe scooped up for $848M

The self-checkout kiosk company was purchased by 365 Retail Markets, a firm focused on self-service technology and backed by private equity firm Providence Equity Partners.

By Lynne Marek • June 17, 2025

Credit card bill crusade persists

Sens. Dick Durbin and Roger Marshall may have lost their latest bid to win a congressional vote on the Credit Card Competition Act, via stablecoin legislation, but proponents are undeterred.

By Lynne Marek • June 16, 2025

Tapcheck embeds EWA in payroll

Recent integrations with HR management platforms position the Texas earned wage access startup for growth.

By Justin Bachman • June 13, 2025

Visa, Mastercard $5.5B settlement advances

Plaintiffs in the card network litigation say problematic third-party communications regarding claims has declined since a February filing deadline.

By Justin Bachman • May 20, 2025

Toast targets entertainment venues

The digital processor signed a Dallas-based chain of driving ranges as a customer in the first quarter, and has made a push to add movie theaters, bowling alleys and arcades.

By Patrick Cooley • May 16, 2025