What the street is saying about the world of finance

World of Money, our sister publication, provides a recap of the latest news on fintechs, banking and payments across the world. The free publication has attention-grabbing headlines that are a unique combination of tongue-in-cheek humor and sarcasm but guaranteed to contain the week's most important stories.

Each issue also offers subscribers a chance to interact by being a part of our biweekly polls, which always have to do with one of our stories and reveals what industry professionals think about some of the topics we cover.

We thought ATM Marketplace readers would be interested in what their contemporaries are thinking and have included the results of the past 10 polls. Each gives the reader a choice of three answers. 

Poll 1: In the most recent poll, WOM readers were asked about biometrics in regards to the news brief, Australia, I’d recognize your biometrics anywhere, and whether or not they would be comfortable using biometrics for passport recognition and other government paperwork such as tax documents. 

• 46.67 %, Yes! That's the best way to avoid identity theft! Sign me up!
• 28.33%, I don't know. It could be cool, but then again it could be weird.
• 5%, No. That's just strange. I pass! 

Poll 2:The White House ended a 40-year streak by not releasing economic projections during the start of this summer and will not release projections for the rest of the year. Did WOM readers agree with this decision?

• 44.29%, Yes, our economy is a mess. We need to give it time to recover.
• 37.14 %, No. Let’s live in reality people. Give me the facts.
• 18.57%, I don't know. 

Poll 3: In the news brief, Banking by messaging? But I just got a new debit card! WOM described a new app, Zelf, aimed at Gen Z that would let them to bank by messaging. Did readers think that was a stroke of genius?  

• 35.09%, I don't know. I like trying new technology, but I am worried about my bank account info being hacked.
• 33.33%, No way! It doesn't seem like a secure way to do your banking at all.
• 31,58% responded, Yes. I love trying out new tech and banking by messaging sounds exciting.

Poll 4: WOM shared the news item about coronavirus lockdown in,  Sweden, how could you opt-out of a global pandemic? Readers were polled on if they felt Sweden should have been part of the global lockdown to flatten the coronavirus curve or not.

• 51.95%, No. If they didn't need to lockdown then they should have remained open.
• 25.97%,Yes. It was socially irresponsible to keep the country running like everything was fine.
• 22.08%, I don't know. Maybe they should have, but then again, maybe not. 

Poll 5: China was coming under pressure by its finance minister to offer bonds at zero percent to help its economy, We shared that information in, China, stop that in-fighting or everyone’s going in time-out! Here’s how WOM responded to our poll question asking if China should finance bonds at zero percent.

• 55.56%, No! That's how things get in a worse state.
• 25.93%, Yes. Their country is economically stressed. Fund the bonds and help them out.
• 18.52%, I'm not sure. It could be a good idea, but then again, it could be a mistake. 

Poll 6: Google was being heralded as the great new fintech and we reported it in the news item, A fintech? Our little Google is growing up! We asked readers if they would use Google as a banking alternative to traditional financial institutions and here’s how the answers came back.

• 41.03%, I'm on the fence. I do Google, but I like my money in a traditional bank.
• 33.33%, Sure! I am already using Google for so many things banking with them would be easy.
• 25.64%, Not a chance! With all the cybersecurity issues I don't trust any fintech! 

Poll 7: France was one of the first countries to lift restrictions on the coronavirus global lockdown, even though its neighboring countries didn’t agree. In the issue where we highlighted the news item, Grab your beret! France is open! we asked readers if France was jumping the gun. 

• 36.84%, Absolutely! They are taking a huge risk with the health of its people!
• 34.21%, I'm not sure. It may be too soon, but then again, we can't stay like this forever.
• 28.95%, No. I think it's high time someone reopened so that other countries can follow suit.  

Poll 8: In the WOM news item, Chairman Clarida, your rose-colored glasses have arrivedvice chairman of the Federal Reserve, Richard Clarida, stated he believes that in the second half of the year the country will completely recover economically. We asked WOM readers if they agreed. It was the most evenly split poll we had in the past three months.

• 36.36%, No! After all that has happened there is no way the economy is going to recover this year!
• 33.33%,I don't know. It may recover but then again, maybe it won't.
• 30.30%, Absolutely. If he believes the economy will recover, there's no reason why I shouldn't believe it too. 

Poll 9: Warren Buffet was interviewed on what people receiving the stimulus payment should do with the extra money. In our news brief, According to Warren Buffet, piggy banks and credit cards are not the same thing! Buffet said instead of buying luxury items people should pay off their highest credit cards. Did readers agree with that logic?

• 68.75%, Yes. Extra cash should be used to pay down your debt.
• 18.75%, No. If I come into a windfall, it's my decision to use the money for whatever I want.
• 12.50%,I don't know.

10: When the CARES Act was voted on, we reported to WOM readers in, Stop me if you heard this one before… and asked if they felt the second funding plan would actually help small businesses. 

• 38.24%, No. I think the banks and the big companies will prevent the small businesses from receiving any funding.
• 38.24%, Yes. I think all the problems are worked out and this time around the small businesses in need will get the funding.
• 23.53%, I’m not sure.

If you enjoyed reading about the World of Money’s polls, imagine how much fun you would have participating. Click on World of Money and sign up for your free subscription.