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

Consumer group US PIRG seeks BNPL crackdown

A report this month from the organization outlines a litany of complaints about buy now-pay later, such as hidden fees, and suggests the industry is trying to evade consumer protection laws.

By Jonathan Berr • March 21, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Embedded payment tools make inroads

Business customers demanding integrated tools is likely to keep driving a trend toward more embedded payments tools.

By Payments Dive staff

Stripe snags a new crypto customer

Payments software juggernaut Stripe said it has landed crypto company Blockchain.com as a new customer and that it's aiming to aid the digital currency client in international expansion.

By Lynne Marek • March 21, 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

How does Gen Z feel about credit cards? It's complicated.

Each generation has approached credit differently; Gen Z is no exception. As they turn toward credit cards, industry analysts say these consumers are likely to keep card companies on their toes.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 16, 2022

PopID aims to expand demand for its face-pay tech

As payments technology evolves, the use of biometrics is poised to take off. Software firm PopID is seeking to raise about $50 million in capital to scale its face verification services for payments applications in the U.S. and abroad.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 15, 2022

EBay creates digital wallet, plans storage vault for collectibles

The company expects its new vault service to open next quarter, and to eventually secure up to $3 billion in assets over the next few years.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 14, 2022

Frictionless checkout tech startup AiFi raises $65M

The frictionless checkout technology provider plans to use the funds, which it raised from investors including Aldi South Group, to expand its technical staff and more quickly put its gear into grocery stores, sports venues and universities.

By Sam Silverstein • March 14, 2022

Walgreens joins PayNearMe bill pay network

Consumers seeking another nearby location to make bill payments in cash can now turn to about 9,000 Walgreens store locations as a result of the new tie-up.

By Lynne Marek • March 10, 2022

New BNPL study raises concern about 'debt spiral'

Some consumers are charging buy now-pay later installment payments to their credit cards, and that should serve as a "warning flag" to regulators, said three economists who authored the research paper.

By Jonathan Berr • March 10, 2022

Inside the Store: The first Whole Foods with Just Walk Out is beautiful. Just don't look up.

Grocery Dive’s Catherine Douglas Moran visited the chain's Washington, D.C., store in Glover Park to see how its specialty soul meshed with Amazon’s checkout-free technology.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 8, 2022

Shift4 targets more acquisitions

With corporate valuations on the decline, the Allentown, Pennsylvania-based payment processor is targeting more growth this year in new sectors and additional regions. "We’re going into a climate now where we might find some opportunities that are great strategic fits," CEO Jared Isaacman said.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 7, 2022

Visa, Mastercard and PayPal suspend operations in Russia

The payments giants all separately cut off use of their services in Russia, citing that country's invasion of Ukraine. "This war and the ongoing threat to peace and stability demand we respond in line with our values," Visa CEO Al Kelly said in a Saturday statement.

By Lynne Marek • March 7, 2022

BNPL popularity shows no signs of slowing, FIS report says

The Jacksonville, Florida-based payments company expects buy now-pay later to be the fastest-growing e-commerce payment method through 2025 in the U.S. and Canada.

By Jonathan Berr • March 4, 2022

Visa reportedly plans to cut some credit card fees

The U.S. card giant plans to cut the credit card fees it charges smaller merchants, according to a report Thursday. The company didn't respond to requests for comment on previously planned April increases that could affect other merchants.

By Lynne Marek • March 4, 2022

Will new suitors come calling for MoneyGram?

The money transfer company is set to be sold to a private equity firm, but rival bidders have until March 16 to make a competing offer. In any case, the Dallas-based company is under pressure to compete with digital rivals.

By Lynne Marek • March 4, 2022

Shift4 to buy 2 companies for $579M

The Allentown, Pennsylvania-based payments provider said it has agreed to acquire the cross-border player Finaro and cryptocurrency donations firm The Giving Block in a bid to expand its global reach.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 2, 2022

Visa follows Mastercard in disclosing potential impact from Russia-Ukraine conflict

Visa disclosed Wednesday that Russia and Ukraine made up 5% of its 2021 revenue. Mastercard earlier in the week called Russia and Ukraine "important contributors" to its business and said sanctions triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine could impact 6% of its revenue.

By Lynne Marek • March 2, 2022

Affirm, Klarna meet CFPB deadline, others mum

There’s plenty at stake in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proceedings. The buy now-pay later companies were asked for voluminous amounts of data that could lead to additional scrutiny in the future.

By Jonathan Berr • March 1, 2022

FTC report shows consumer fraud losses jumped last year

Consumers lost a whopping $5.9 billion to fraud in 2021, with bank payments and cryptocurrency transactions generating the highest losses, the government report said.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 1, 2022

Toast gears up for growth despite challenges

Toast CFO Elena Gomez says helping the company weather different markets is an opportunity for a CFO to demonstrate leadership, and she's focusing on what she can control, which is executing the growth plan.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • March 1, 2022

Zip to buy Sezzle in bid for US expansion

The Australian buy now-pay later company agreed to buy Minneapolis-based Sezzle as it seeks scale in the U.S. and positions itself to take on larger competitors such as Block's Afterpay. 

By Lynne Marek • Feb. 28, 2022

Consumers prefer physical gift cards, despite digital growth

Nearly half of consumers polled by payments processor Fiserv bought more digital gift cards than physical ones amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but a slight majority still favor the hard copy version.

By Caitlin Mullen • Feb. 23, 2022