Sat.Mar 30, 2019 - Fri.Apr 05, 2019

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Cross-Border Payment Efforts Look To The Blockchain And Beyond

PYMNTS

It may seem that cross-border payments were in the … well … crosshairs this past week, with a number of country-by-country and company-by-company initiatives using blockchain and other methods to speed payments and lower fees. In Myanmar, Shwe Rural & Urban Development Bank has partnered with Krung Thai Bank, which is state-owned, to debut a cross-border transfer money offering that is in turn tied to the Ethereum blockchain.

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Exotic Indexes: Built to Sell or Built to Last?

CFA Institute

There are now more than 70 times as many indexes as there are stocks. What does that mean for investors?

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How Card-On-File Is Changing Online Consumer Shopping

PYMNTS

When it comes to online shopping, one of the greatest frustrations for consumers — and friction points for merchants — is having to manually enter credit or debit card information for each purchase. It’s no wonder that 78.9 percent of consumers today have account information stored online with at least one or more companies or service providers. In the latest Mobile Card Services Playbook , a collaboration with Ondot , PYMNTS surveyed more than 9,500 U.S. consumers to get a better understanding

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How Gig Work In The US Became A Career

PYMNTS

With U.S. gig workers accounting for more than $1.4 trillion in income by the end of 2018, it’s safe to say the gig economy is becoming a mainstream part of the global economy. From ridesharing drivers to freelance designers and consultants, an increasing share of gig workers are pursuing specialized jobs, often juggling multiple at once. In fact, the share of those in the gig economy with highly specialized skills rose to 32.3 percent in Q4 2018 — a 12.2 percent increase over the previous quart

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Elevating Accounting Practices: The Power of Outsourcing and Automation in the Digital Age

Speaker: Nancy Wu, Head of Sales and Customer Success at SkyStem

Join us for an enlightening webinar as we delve into the transformative realm of modern accounting practices. In today's digital age, the convergence of outsourcing and automation has revolutionized how businesses manage their financial operations. In this webinar we will explore the synergistic potential of these two strategies to streamline processes, enhance accuracy, save cost and drive strategic decision-making.

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Visa Rolls Out Card Payouts, Pushing Payments To Gig Workers

PYMNTS

The gig economy is growing. The desire to get paid faster is also gaining traction — along with the companies satisfying that desire. To that end, Visa announced Tuesday (April 2) that it has introduced Card Payouts, an app designed help mid- to large-sized businesses manage cash flow — and speed payments to gig economy workers, to boot. (Call it killing the check — and you may remember our own research, where 85 percent of gig economy workers surveyed said they would work more if they could get

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FBI Gears Up To Fight Cybercriminals

PYMNTS

The FBI has announced a directive shift away from counterterrorism and toward fighting the increasing threats from cyber attacks, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The move comes amid an ecosystem of attacks from foreign countries, like Russia and its election meddling and China’s cyber attacks against U.S. businesses. The Navy also recently reported that it was under siege by Chinese cyber attacks, and FBI Director Christopher Wray said all 56 bureau field offices have open inve

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Dozens Of Cybercrime Groups Found On Facebook

PYMNTS

Dozens of cybercriminal groups have found a home on Facebook , using the platform’s online marketplace to sell illegal services such as stolen credit card information, as well as account theft and spamming tools, according to Cisco Systems’ Talos security unit. “Over the past several months, Cisco Talos has tracked several groups on Facebook where shady (at best) and illegal (at worst) activities frequently take place.

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SWIFT, Ripple Support EU Blockchain Group Launch

PYMNTS

A new blockchain association has been created to promote the adoption of the technology across the European Union. The group — the International Association of Trusted Blockchain Applications ( INATBA ) — officially launched on April 3 in Brussels and includes SWIFT, IBM, Ripple and around 100 other companies and organizations. As a European Commission initiative, INATBA is a “global multi-stakeholder forum” created to bring “industry, startups and SMEs, policy makers, international organization

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Want To Play A Part In Cannabis Payments? Start Your Homework Now

PYMNTS

Blunt question for PYMNTS readers (pun intended): Have you been inside a pot shop lately? One of the legal operations that are springing up in the states that have approved the above-board sale of marijuana products? Or do your views of marijuana retail still center around high school bathrooms, back alleys or sketchy dudes at heavy metal concerts? We don’t mean to be aggressive, nor do we take a stance on the moral or political natures of legal weed.

Retail 74
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How to Build the Ideal HR Team

HR doesn’t exist in a vacuum. This work impacts everyone: from the C-Suite to your newest hire. It also drives results. Learn how to make it all happen in Paycor’s latest guide.

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Why Hello Kitty Has A Credit File

PYMNTS

Synthetic fraud is a brave new frontier in bilking billions, as commerce goes increasingly online. Merchants, lenders and banks never see the person on the other side of the transaction, and proving that someone is, well, legitimate is becoming more difficult. To that end, SentiLink said late last month that it had garnered $14 million in Series A funding.

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Denmark Bans €500 Note To Stymie Money Laundering

PYMNTS

Denmark has decided to ban 500-euro notes in an attempt to fight money laundering in the country. The decision was made despite a request by the European Central Bank ( ECB ) not to ban the note. But Danish authorities says that the bills’ use for criminal activities justifies the ban, adding that the ECB even decided to stop printing the notes in 2016 under the recommendation of the global anti-laundering organization Financial Action Task Force.

Banking 73
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Luxury Brands Work With Chinese eCommerce Sites, Shun Amazon

PYMNTS

Luxury brands are selling more and more on Chinese eCommerce sites like JD.com and Alibaba, while still keeping their distance from Amazon, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. French multinational luxury goods conglomerate LVMH ’s finance chief made his views on Amazon clear in 2016 when he said “the existing business of Amazon doesn’t fit with luxury, full stop.

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Deep Dive: Gig Economy Onboarding And The Push For Faster Payments

PYMNTS

Digital solutions have made their way into the gig economy, with more workers than ever utilizing digital marketplaces that pair companies with talent from around the world. These days, however, gig jobs don’t just encompass rideshare drivers, home renters or handymen on popular platforms like Uber, Airbnb or TaskRabbit. Gig work is now available in nearly every industry, and it is beginning to disrupt traditional ideas regarding career paths and earnings. .

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Planning Your Restaurant's Path to Profitability

Speaker: James Kahler, COO of Full Course

Ever wondered where to splurge and where to safely conserve when it comes to operating and growing your restaurant? 🤔 Join James Kahler, COO of Full Course and industry visionary, in this new webinar where he'll talk all about best practices to invest in your restaurant's success! Whether you're a new business or an established restaurant, a seasoned pro or a rookie, you'll learn the keys to sustainable success in this competitive industry.

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Mastercard Launches AP Partnership With Bill.com

PYMNTS

Business payments company Bill.com has secured unicorn status and launched a partnership with Mastercard to accelerate accounts payable for joint business customers. In a press release on Tuesday (April 2), Bill.com announced new funding to the tune of $88 million led by Franklin Templeton, while Mastercard, Fidelity Investments Canada ULC and others also participated.

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Bento For Business Taps Visa For Small Business Cash Flow

PYMNTS

Small and medium-sized business spend management firm Bento for Business is teaming up with Visa to enhance cash flow management for SMB customers. In a press release on Thursday (April 4), Bento announced its collaboration with Visa to integrate Visa’s business debit card into the Bento for Business platform. Current holders of Visa business debit cards will be given access to Bento’s financial solutions, including expense and spend management, budgeting and bookkeeping functionalit

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Global Demand Grows For Instant Payments

PYMNTS

Woody Allen once supposedly said 80 percent of success is just showing up. Beyond that, in business and in life, showing up on time counts for a lot, too. So it is with payments, where speed counts. The movement toward faster payments and peer to peer (P2P) is, well, quickening. As the Faster Payments Tracker shows, the clamor for speedier payments spans the globe.

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Virtual Reality: 5G Retailers’ Secret Sauce?

PYMNTS

Out of the haze of uncertainty emerged a new mobile network, and from the new mobile network came new retail applications and experiences, all taking advantage of the faster speed of the technology, and the potential to reduce friction. So goes the imagined story of 5G , even though the narrative has barely progressed beyond the prologue. The mobile technology is moving from the realm of the possible to the world of the real.

Retail 71
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How Automation is Driving Efficiency Through the Last Mile of Reporting

Speaker: Jamie Eagan

As organizations strive for agility and efficiency, it's imperative for finance leaders to embrace innovative technologies and redefine traditional processes. Join us as we explore the pivotal role of digitalization and automation in reshaping what is commonly referred to as the “last mile of reporting”. We’ll deep-dive into why digitalization is no longer a choice, but a necessity for finance departments to stay competitive in a fast-paced environment touching on: 2024 trends for the Office of

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B2B FinTech Tackles The Nuanced Challenges Of Marijuana — Beyond Banking

PYMNTS

The legal cannabis market continues to reach new milestones, the latest being the launch of the industry’s first commodity trading desk — with the latest service provider highlighting the opportunity in addressing the more nuanced challenges of an unfamiliar, emerging market. Marijuana company Grupo Flor has rolled out its commodity trading desk to connect industry buyers and sellers, and facilitate the trade of raw materials, including the THC flower, THC trim, crude and distillate THC an

B2B 70
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Goldman Sachs To Hire Engineers For Digital Innovation Program

PYMNTS

In an effort to lure talented engineers its way, Goldman Sachs has rolled out a new program in which it will pay engineers to develop new finance apps. According to a report in Reuters , Goldman Sachs is looking to hire engineers to join a digital innovation program. The engineers would receive $100,000 in compensation along with access to Goldman Sachs’ API.

SAP 68
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Why Does The Path To Retail Innovation Go Through So Many Labs?

PYMNTS

It’s not enough to be a retailer these days, not if a merchant intends to survive in a world of commerce dominated by the likes of Amazon and other tech-focused competitors. Innovation is one of the keys to advancement — and that increasingly means opening tech hubs, incubators and other such operations. Those efforts have certainly led to significant advances in product and revenue, and the enablement of what’s come to be called the “consumer experience.

Retail 68
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How Friendly Friction Builds Better Banking Experiences

PYMNTS

Consumers’ preferences are undeniably shifting digitally when it comes to banking and financial services. According to a recent study by Citibank , 31 percent of consumers use their mobile banking app more than any other — placing mobile banking behind only social media and weather for most frequented mobile destinations. And by all accounts, this digital migration is driven by consumer preference — according to the same study, 91 percent of mobile banking users prefer accessing their app over

Banking 67
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Accounting Software and ERP Readiness Guide

In this white paper, we explore the factors to consider in deciding whether the time is right for your Company to consider a new ERP or accounting software, the total cost of ownership and plans necessary to make the potential leap to these systems.

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Walmart Says Card Program Has Helped Customers Save $2B

PYMNTS

About two years ago, Walmart teamed up with Green Dot and Commonwealth, for a prepaid card savings program. On Thursday (April 4), the company announced that customers “have moved more than $2 billion through the program’s virtual Vault, a safe and accessible way to save money through the Walmart prepaid MoneyCard.”. Customers can also win money using the program.

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TransferWise Seeks To Raise Up To $300M

PYMNTS

Cross-border money transfer startup TransferWise is looking to raise funds and will sell a stake in itself to do so, according to a report by Reuters. The company’s past investors include English business magnate Richard Branson and PayPal founders Peter Thiel and Max Levchin. FinTech companies that offer new technology to help move cash and funds across borders are becoming increasingly popular and disruptive to traditional banking institutions.

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Will The Consumer’s Next Bank Be Amazon, PayPal Or Walmart?

PYMNTS

FinTech firms may not be the only ones that traditional financial institutions (FIs) need to keep an eye on. About six in 10 consumers have said they would be open to banking with non-FIs if they could — especially with big-name brands like Amazon , PayPal and Walmart. Younger consumers, as it turns out, are particularly open to receiving financial services from retail merchants and FinTech firms.

Banking 67
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SoLo Adds Mastercard Integration To P2P Lending Platform

PYMNTS

SoLo Funds announced it has added a Mastercard integration so users can link their debit accounts to the peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform. The company noted there are 100,000 Visa cardholders who already use the SoLo Funds platform, which allows users to request and receive a P2P loan of less than $1,000 within minutes – faster than traditional ACH bank transfers, which can take up to three full business days to settle.

Banking 66
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Recruit and Retain New Blue-Collar Talent

Blue-collar jobs have a branding problem. One company, GEON, partnered with Paycor to find the solution. Learn how to attract, engage, and retain blue-collar employees, helping them build meaningful careers – and support your company’s goals.