Blogs

The Risks and Rewards of Payments Innovation

Will Hernandez — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:16:09 GMT

Partnerships are the name of the game in payments today Discover and PayPal, American Express and Wal Mart, Square and Starbucks. These strategic relationships are extremely powerful because they utilize each other’s strengths to make their companies more successful and

Is PayPal Really a “Frenemy”of the Banks?

Will Hernandez — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:43:25 GMT

In the last 15 years, PayPal has enjoyed a meteoric rise and has gained an enormous consumer following worldwide. Consumers use PayPal for its trusted and reliable service in delivering secure online payments. But as PayPal has grown and moved

Is UK Government Really Increasing Financial Services Competition?

Will Hernandez — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:45:48 GMT

The United Kingdom’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, a British cabinet member responsible for all economic and financial matters, earlier this year told JPMorgan Chase staff members at a company retreat the government wanted to introduce more competition in the market

Gyft Gives Smartphone Users a Mobile Management Tool for Gift Cards

Will Hernandez — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:30:50 GMT

Editor’s note This is the first in a series of Perspectives from Prepaid Senior Analyst Ben Jackson testing different prepaid mobile applications. Start up company Gyft is betting the smartphone can make gift cards more valuable for retailers and cardholders.

The Next Generation of Cross-sell

Will Hernandez — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:41:27 GMT

Cross sell is, and always has been, a core component of financial institutions’ business strategies. However, in today’s market—with lenders looking to grow their credit portfolios and the competition for new customers remaining incredibly fierce—the idea of deepening wallet share

The Many Combinations and Permutations of Mobile Banking Solutions

Will Hernandez — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:30:42 GMT

As part of Mercator Advisory Group’s research for recent (and future) reports on mobile banking, we see an ever increasing array of available products, solutions, and deployment methods. Mobile banking solutions offer something for everyone, and can include one or

Remain Relevant, Through Mobile Technology Adoption

Will Hernandez — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:15:54 GMT

Today’s consumers are empowered by new online and mobile technology, driving forces behind continued, dramatic changes in banking and retail commerce. They expect to transact business and make payments electronically – anytime, anywhere and on any type of device. First

Electronic Identity Cards for Every European Citizen?

Will Hernandez — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:37:53 GMT

Speaking at the European Citizens' Initiative last month, European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič said he believed that all European Union citizens will be required to carry electronic identity (eID) cards in the not too distant future. With the majority

Card Manufacturer Finds Simpler Cards, but More Outlets in Review of Gift Card Trends

Will Hernandez — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:21:04 GMT

During the holiday season, more merchants hosted card malls, but the cards in those malls were simpler than in years past.Travel Tags Inc., a card manufacturer and printer based in Inver Grove Heights, Minn., visited 108 unique merchants in the

The Top 4 Reasons the Unbanked Pay Prepaid Fees & Why Consumer Groups Should Let Them

Will Hernandez — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:47:34 GMT

Consumer groups and legislators argue prepaid fees are unfair, as if there were no costs involved in delivering the benefits that low and moderate income users enjoy when using prepaid products. These are the features the unbanked and underserved need

People Do Not Leave Their Wallets Before Their Phones

Will Hernandez — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:07:38 GMT

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that a person will leave their wallet at home before they leave their phone, then I might have enough to fix the damage done from grinding my teeth every time

Euronet Raises the Bar in the Global Prepaid Market

Will Hernandez — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:25:35 GMT

Prepaid markets worldwide have expanded quickly the past decade, often surpassing credit and debit card growth. Prepaid represents tremendous opportunities, which is a highlight during today’s economic slowdown. But for the most part, the global prepaid market is fragmented with

Taking the Temperature at NACHA 2013

Will Hernandez — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:57:13 GMT

Over the years, NACHA’s annual conference has become an important event for the larger payments industry and presents a wide cross section of the topics and issues the market is facing. This year’s conference kicked off with a keynote from

Preliminary Data Show Holiday Gift Card Activations Up More Than 15% In 2012

Will Hernandez — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:56:17 GMT

Closed loop gift card activations in November and December 2012 were up 15% compared with the 2011 holiday season, according to preliminary aggregate data provided by payments processor Vantiv.Based on information from Mercator’s closed loop card benchmark combined with aggregated

Field Testing Payments Apps – Where the Mobile Meets the Card

Will Hernandez — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:45:19 GMT

Over the next few weeks, Mercator Advisory Group will test and report on a number of payments applications companies have put out as a way to take payments mobile or put them online. Many of these products convert a plastic

What is Bitcoin Really Up To?

Will Hernandez — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:37:06 GMT

The payments industry, government agencies, and the media have all been intrigued by bitcoin because it purports to be a digital currency that enables anonymous transactions. Leaving aside the issues of whether anonymity is truly achievable online and the potential

How to Increase Customer Loyalty by Using Mobile Devices

Will Hernandez — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:28:13 GMT

Technology has made it easier than ever for businesses to communicate with their customers on a personal level. Mobile capabilities, in particular, provide an unprecedented opportunity to connect with customers and prospects on an individual level, giving them the incentives

Are DDoS Attacks Changing?

Will Hernandez — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:37:46 GMT

In the past month, JPMorgan Chase, BB&T, American Express, TD Bank, and Wells Fargo suffered DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks on their online banking portals. The attacks affected service only intermittently for a few hours, but signs are pointing

Five Simple Steps to Optimize Card Payment Performance

Will Hernandez — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:44:10 GMT

Most organizations have specific reasons for starting purchasing card programs. It may be to establish better control over spending, to speed up the payment process, or to cut invoice processing costs by eliminating paper. Whatever the reason, time and resources

P-Card Controls: Broaden Your Understanding

Will Hernandez — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:39:56 GMT

Because all payment methods present certain risks to an organization, establishing and maintaining an effective control environment for each method, including P Card, is a must. In comparison to a traditional procure to pay process (e.g., one based on a