PYMNTS

JANUARY 14, 2021

Apple is betting the lure of free coffee will help boost use of Apple Pay. Customers who subscribe to MyPanera+ Coffee can get four months of coffee for free if they check out with their Apple Pay app, according to 9to5Mac , citing an email sent to Apple users. Good through Jan. 27, Apple Pay users who take the deal may also get a free cookie thrown in as well, provided, that is, they already have Panera subscription and switch their payment method to Apple Pay.

Apple 131

Apple Payments Report System 131

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JANUARY 14, 2021

The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) is introducing an open banking policy to advance digital innovation in the financial services sector. Saudi Arabia’s central bank said the plan is for open banking to go live in the first half of 2022. Through the initiatives in the policy, the goal is to foster the advancement of digital technologies and create new financial services and products.

Innovation 225

Innovation Policies User Experience Security 225

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JANUARY 14, 2021

In today’s top news, Connecticut’s Attorney General has opened an antitrust probe into Amazon’s eBook business, and Petco beat expectations in its IPO. Plus, Grab Financial raised $300 million. Connecticut AG Launches Antitrust Probe Into Amazon’s eBook Business. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is launching an antitrust probe into how Amazon runs its eBook business, specifically regarding the eCommerce giant’s agreements with five of the country’s biggest book publishers.

eBook 130

eBook Connecticut Bitcoin Retail 130

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DECEMBER 4, 2020

Food delivery platform DoorDash is looking to raise up to $3.14 billion in its hotly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) and has increased its target price to as much as $95 a share, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange filing Friday (Dec. 4). DoorDash plans to sell 33 million common shares for $90 to $95 apiece, up from its previous price range of $75 to $85 a share.

San Francisco 151

San Francisco Groups US Marketing 151

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DECEMBER 4, 2020

It will likely go down in history as a day that will live in infamy in the movie business. In an unprecedented move, the Warner Bros. movie studio has announced that it will send 17 films — including expected blockbusters like the “The Matrix 4,” “The Suicide Squad” and “Dune” – to its streaming service, HBO Max, on the same day they hit brick-and-mortar theaters.

Operations 177

Operations US United States Report 177

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DECEMBER 4, 2020

Dutch antitrust regulators have launched an investigation into freedom of choice regarding payment apps and is eyeing Apple Pay’s limitations, Bloomberg reported. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is homing in on contactless payments that can access near-field communication (NFC), which enables users to pay for goods and services by waving their phones across terminals.

Apple 159

Apple Payments Software Regulation 159

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DECEMBER 4, 2020

It may be half a world away, but the belated and successful initial public offering (IPO) of Australia’s largest online bookseller this week has sent investors and industry watchers alike scrambling to figure out exactly what the heck is going on in an industry that has seen more than its share of ups and downs in recent years. The trading debut of Booktopia , which has been in business for 16 years, follows failed attempts to go public in 2019 and 2016 and points to changing consumer taste and

eBook 151

eBook Retail Meeting Training 151

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DECEMBER 4, 2020

Revolut has launched an acquiring solution for its Revolut Business starter pack, which will allow businesses in 13 European countries to accept credit card payments online. The product will feature a 1.3 percent fee for U.K. and EEA consumer cards and a 2.8 percent fee for all other cards. Revolut Business customers using paid plans will receive monthly allowances for free U.K. and EEA card payment acceptance at no additional charge, the company said on Friday (Dec. 4).

San Francisco 184

San Francisco California Cards Online 184

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DECEMBER 4, 2020

Banking as a Service (BaaS) is poised to change the end user experience of corporates as they navigate the daily challenges of cash flow management, supply chain activity and the need to become digital-first. In just one of the most recent announcements , Stripe said it is partnering with several large banks to offer financial services via Stripe Treasury to offer debit cards and bank accounts to online merchants and other enterprises.

Lending 224

Lending Meeting User Experience Innovation 224

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DECEMBER 4, 2020

Nonfinancial corporations are sitting on a record amount of cash assets, hitting a record $2.1 trillion at the end of June, up 30 percent over 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday (Dec. 4), citing a Moody’s report. . AT&T and Delta Air Lines were the biggest cash hoarders, with over $15 billion each at the end of June. The previous record was close to $2 trillion in 2017.

NV 160

NV Survey Data Company 160

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DECEMBER 4, 2020

Petco has set its sights on going public as the demand for pets and related supplies skyrocket amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, CNBC reported. The Silicon Valley-headquartered company filed an S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday (Dec. 4) for an initial public offering (IPO) for a Nasdaq listing with the ticker "WOOF.

Retail 166

Retail Online Capital Innovation 166

PYMNTS

DECEMBER 4, 2020

Sabadell is reportedly looking at cutting jobs and striking distribution deals with other European banks after merger talks with fellow Spanish banker BBVA crashed last week, Reuters reported. The two could not agree on a price. After the deal with the larger bank fell through, shares of Sabadell slumped, amid investor concerns over the lender getting hit with bad loans as part of the pandemic-triggered economic crisis.

Leadership 168

Leadership Strategy Regulation Retail 168

PYMNTS

DECEMBER 4, 2020

In today’s top news, Stripe will offer financial services to merchants on its platform, Affirm acquired BNPL firm PayBright, and J.P. Morgan analysts predict merger and acquisition deals to continue to surge through the holiday season. Stripe to Offer Banking as a Service to Merchants on Its Platform. Stripe announced Stripe Treasury on Thursday (Dec. 4), a new service that will offer debit cards, bank accounts and other financial services to online merchants and vendors using Stripe’s payment p

Payments 153

Payments Millennials United States Survey 153

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

In today’s top news in digital-first banking, SWIFT has announced that its international platform will be updated to let financial institutions (FIs) provide instant transactions, and VSoft has rolled out its new Bread merchant services network. Plus, Acumatica has introduced features for its Acumatica Cloud ERP technology, including electronic banking feeds.

Payments 130

Payments Management Technology Tools 130

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Affirm , a San Francisco-based point-of-sale (POS), buy now, pay later (BNPL) lender, announced a $500 million series G round of funding Thursday (Sept. 17) in a press release , bringing its total funding raised to more than $1.3 billion. The privately-held FinTech was founded in 2012 as an installment loan provider for shoppers to finance a purchase.

San Francisco 178

San Francisco Fintech Maryland Capital 178

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

It was Napoleon Bonaparte who purportedly said, “an army marches on its stomach” or words to that effect. As go armies, so go nations. Witness America’s insatiable appetite for fresh hot meals delivered to their doorstep by a legion of drivers working gigs with a collection of order aggregators that have been rewriting the food delivery rulebook throughout 2020.

Branding 177

Branding National Mobile 177

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

British payments firm Pay.UK's Answer Pay service and new enrollee Mastercard have successfully completed their first post-testing transaction involving Answer Pay's "Request to Pay" service, Answer Pay announced on Thursday (Sept. 17). Request to Pay is designed to make it easier for consumers to communicate with companies from which they have received bills and then pay those bills from their bank accounts, all in one session.

Payments 187

Payments Strategy Security Company 187

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

To enable customers to shop from the complete selection of multiple mall offerings and retrieve their purchases from one place, European mall operator Citycon is creating a buy-online-pick-up-in-store (BOPIS) service. Citycon runs 40 shopping centers throughout Estonia and the Nordic nations, Bloomberg reported. CEO F. Scott Ball said per the report that the addition of BOPIS offerings will provide consumers with a further rationale to travel to malls going forward.

Operations 159

Operations Philadelphia United States Online 159

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

In the great digital shift, logistics firms are shifting, too. The ripple effects, of course, extend up and down the logistics and transportation chains, getting products where they need to go. As The Wall Street Journal reported, the rise of eCommerce giants is changing the way even the largest container firms are doing business. In one example, Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of the globe’s fourth-largest container firm, CMA CGM, said in an interview that “clients like Amazon and Walmart ar

United States 320

United States Operations Course National 320

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) has a new plan for how it looks at data from minority- and women-owned businesses, according to a report from Morning Consult. The issue has been a contentious one for some time, as the CFPB has delayed making rules on a section of Dodd-Frank that requires the collection of data to determine whether minority- and women-owned businesses have equitable access to funds.

Data 132

Data Community Bank Community America 132

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Cloud-based clearing bank ClearBank has begun offering multi-currency bank accounts using an API, according to a press release. Beginning in the fourth quarter this year, the bank will allow users to access over 30 multi-currency accounts. Customers will be able to move funds "seamlessly" according to the release, and the foreign exchange pricing will be based on interbank rates.

Payments 160

Payments Management Marketing 160

PYMNTS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

NexaCollect , which helps businesses locate collection agencies, has rolled out a mobile app for Android that is available on the Google Play store, according to an announcement. The rollout of the app lets the accounts receivable (AR) portal company provide the newest information, updates and pertinent notifications to the smartphones of clients, according to the announcement.

Google 159

Google Meeting Company Mobile 159

PYMNTS

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

To help merchants receive faster access to funds, EVO Payments Inc. has rolled out its Visa Direct-enabled EVO Express Deposit real-time push payments technology. The offering lets eligible U.S. retailers instantaneously get funds for card transactions with actual fund availability depending on receiving bank and geographic area, according to a Thursday (Sept. 17) announcement.

Payments 208

Payments Georgia Maine America 208

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

The race to develop central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) is underway, but it seems the Reserve Bank of Australia may not be in the running. As reported by Cointelegraph Thursday (Sept. 17), Australia’s central bank has viewed the issuance of such digital coinage with caution, and even a bit of skepticism. One key reason: the New Payments Platform is doing just fine.

Policies 181

Policies Boston Examples ATM 181

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Uber Technologies Inc. wants to shed part of its minority stake in Didi Chuxing , the Beijing vehicle-for-hire company that calls itself the world’s leading mobile transportation platform. Bloomberg News reported that a portion of Uber’s $6.3 billion, 15 percent stake in the Chinese company is up for grabs, as the San Francisco-based ride-hailing giant is seeking cash to improve its balance sheet and raise its own share price, sources said.

San Francisco 170

San Francisco Regulation Report Groups 170

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Tonal , a fitness company that sells what it calls "the smartest home gym," announced on Thursday (Sept. 17) that it has raised $120 million in a second round of venture capital funding. "This new capital will allow us to accelerate our marketing initiatives while scaling our supply chain so that we can change even more people’s lives through the power of strength training," Tonal CEO Aly Orady wrote in a blog post.

Training 220

Training Exercises Capital Software 220

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

A day after Facebook generated headlines with twin announcements about smart glasses and upcoming work on wearable augmented reality, the company’s chief scientist said in a Reuters report that the company is unlikely to fully integrate the two for five to 10 years. True augmented reality glasses “are still years off,” Michael Abrash , director of Facebook Reality Labs Research, said in the Reuters report.

US 142

US Technology Report Company 142

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

The Libra Association has named James Emmett as managing director of Libra Networks, the association’s operating company subsidiary. The association said in a news release that “Emmett is a highly experienced financial services leader with a wealth of global experience in business, strategy, technology and operations, gained through his 25 years with HSBC.".

Management 142

Management social media Leadership California 142

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Facebook is accelerating its push into eCommerce as the coronavirus pandemic upends shopping habits across the world. The company on Thursday (Sept. 17) unveiled plans for a new app aimed at helping small businesses that rely on the social media giant to hawk their wares and services to operate more efficiently online. In a blog post, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg announced the rollout of Facebook Business Suite.

social media 173

social media Survey Online Operations 173

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

As America heads into a holiday shopping season that will be unlike anything that has ever come before, we can all at least look forward to one piece of returning familiarity — the latest iteration of the “Console Wars.” That’s a holiday tradition that pops up every seven or so years when Microsoft and Sony release their Xbox and PlayStation systems’ latest editions, then spend the holiday season slugging it out for dominance in the video-gaming market.

Video 259

Video Apple Google social media 259

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Approximately one million homeowners are at risk of losing their homes through foreclosure despite the safety net established by Congress at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to industry data. The Wall Street Journal reported that while homeowners with federally guaranteed mortgages were granted a reprieve from making home loan payments for up to a year without penalty in March, they were required to contact their lenders to request the relief.

Washington 247

Washington Florida National Analytics 247

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

ByteDance’s bid to retain ownership of TikTok in the United States through a “partnership” with Oracle faces long odds of winning White House approval, according to former national security advisors and regulatory lawyers interviewed by Reuters. After spending months exploring a deal to sell off TikTok’s U.S. operations to a Microsoft or another American firm, China-based ByteDance has shifted gears over the past week, unveiling a proposal over the weekend under which Oracle would be its “truste

United States 213

United States US Security Operations 213

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JULY 31, 2020

President Donald Trump said late Friday (July 31) that he plans to ban Chinese-based social-video giant TikTok in the United States even as reports emerged that Microsoft Corp. is in discussions to buy the company’s American operations. “As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, according to NBC News.

America 232

America United States Video Report 232

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JULY 31, 2020

Facebook is enabling official music videos on its social media platform in the United States to help users unite over music. Users will have the ability to find, view and distribute music videos from emerging and top musical groups, as well as classics, throughout different styles, beginning on the weekend, according to the Friday (July 31) announcement.

Video 141

Video social media United States US 141

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JULY 31, 2020

As the pandemic continues to disrupt everyday life the world over, consumers in many cases might want refunds on things they have already paid for but may not be able to use. Universities are offering reimbursements, credits, or donation options for season tickets. LSU will provide a rollover, reimbursement or contribution option for football season ticket holders who wish to opt-out of their tickets for this year, And The Valley Shook reported.

Report 215

Report 215

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JUNE 22, 2020

To let companies open business accounts online, HSBC rolled out Hong Kong’s inaugural remote business account opening process designed for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), according to an announcement. Those companies can open an account at any time and at any location without meetings or sending tangible paperwork as well as signature. Clients can seek a business integrated account digitally and get the account number instantaneously.

Operations 131

Operations Meeting Innovation Company 131

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JUNE 22, 2020

To help firms retrieve funds from past-due invoices, NexaCollect has rolled out a B2B arm that provides information about commercial debt collection, according to an announcement. The move comes as firms and commercial services are looking at large losses because of unpaid accounts receivable (AR) with the current economic deceleration. NexaCollect said in the announcement, “The launch of the Commercial Collection section on the portal will benefit companies who have unpaid invoices from supplie

United States 141

United States Capital Fintech Company 141