PYMNTS

DECEMBER 8, 2016

Western Union, the global payment services company, announced Wednesday (Dec. 7) it is enhancing its relationship with Viber, the mobile messaging app that counts 745 million unique users around the globe. In a press release , Western Union said it is enhancing its existing relationship with Viber by enabling Viber users in the U.K. to send money domestically and internationally to more than 200 countries and territories via the Viber app.

Leverage 105

Leverage Accounting Banking Technology 105

PYMNTS

OCTOBER 10, 2016

National treasure Kim Kardashian has taught us all a series of invaluable lessons over the years: how to break the internet, that there is no such thing as too much eyeliner and that, if you are on the phone with Taylor Swift, the smart money is on hitting the record button. But of all the lessons we have learned from Kim — and later, Kimye — the most crucial, deepest and most fundamental is that, if one can get themselves behind the velvet rope, one should do so because life in the VIP suite is

Investments 102

Investments Technology Sales Banking 102

PYMNTS

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

Investment bankers in Hong Kong were tricked out of millions of dollars by a cash-advance business called Global Merchant Funding (GMF). According to Bloomberg , smooth-talking fraudster Avery Stone and his partners at GMF convinced bankers from prominent international banks to invest in the business to the tune of $32.5 million before disappearing. “This isn’t a deal that went bad; these guys systematically preyed off their friends,” Thomas Gallagher, a GMF investor, told Bloomberg.

Investments 100

Investments Banking Securities 100

PYMNTS

OCTOBER 24, 2016

While hacks have been nearly endemic over the last several years, they have, at this point, mostly faded to the level of background noise for the average consumer. Sure, the aftermath of having a card compromised is often annoying and involves changing cards stored in digital wallets and with subscription sites, but consumers know that their bank has their back.

Securities 99

Securities Numbers Technology Accounting 99

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PYMNTS

OCTOBER 7, 2016

It’s not yet the holidays, but it’s almost Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, a fitting theme for today’s bitcoin news. Diwali lasts for five days beginning Oct. 20, and bright lights, colorful decorations and fireworks mark the occasion. The Indian people celebrate by lighting diyas and candles around the home, seeking divine blessings from the goddess of wealth and exchanging gifts, such as gold coins.

Currencies 99

Currencies Foreign Exchange eCommerce Banking 99

PYMNTS

OCTOBER 24, 2016

Toasting new employment? Odds are increasingly good that you may be clinking your glass over your latest gig. The number of Americans working gig jobs — or short-term, ad hoc positions — grew at a rate of 50 percent from 2005 to 2010, while the gig economy gained 9.4 million new workers, outpacing the U.S. economy as a whole. But there is still much not known about this rapidly expanding portion of the economy, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics stopped collecting data on gigs in 2005 and won’t b

Invoicing 94

Invoicing Planning Numbers Marketing 94

PYMNTS

OCTOBER 10, 2016

Is closing on Thanksgiving day becoming the new being open on Thanksgiving day? This week, Mall of America, the nation’s largest shopping mall, announced it was bucking the recent trend of opening stores to shoppers on Thanksgiving. Instead, Mall of America said it would close on Thanksgiving so its 14,000 or so employees could have the day off to spend time with their family, although the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the more than 520 stores inside Mall of America will have the option

Retail 93

Retail Planning Sales Marketing 93

PYMNTS

DECEMBER 19, 2016

Blockchain has officially entered the grocery aisles. Walmart has announced that it is now testing new blockchain technology to track and trace produce in U.S. stores and pork in China. PYMNTS covered the testing and lead-up to the kickoff back in November. Now, the technology and use of it are even closer. It’s a pilot program, where sliced apples and cut broccoli will be used to test the blockchain database technology for four months starting in the first quarter of 2017.

Technology 92

Technology Manufacturing Planning Securities 92

PYMNTS

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

One year into the shift to chip-enabled cards — for the U.S., that is — Mastercard said on Monday (Sept. 12) that data shows a “ positive impact ” through the technology across stakeholders, including issuing banks, consumers and merchants. In reference to fraud — the very activity that the cards are designed to thwart — Mastercard stated that fraud data shows a 54 percent decrease in counterfeit fraud costs at retailers who have either completed or are close to completing EMV transitions, as me

Sales 92

Sales Retail Banking Technology 92

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Planning

PYMNTS

DECEMBER 1, 2016

Visa announced today that it will acquire eCommerce payment authentication leader CardinalCommerce. The move is expected to enable Visa’s global clients and partners to accelerate, scale and secure digital commerce as payments expands to include billions upon billions of connected endpoints. Mark Nelsen, senior vice president of risk and authentication products at Visa, said that the “strategic acquisition combines Visa’s industry expertise and Cardinal’s critical role in payment authentication

Securities 90

Securities eCommerce Planning 90

PYMNTS

DECEMBER 9, 2016

Botnet attacks are not only growing in popularity among hackers, but they are also delivering a new level of sophistication and danger to businesses and consumers worldwide. In this week’s Hacker Tracker , PYMNTS caught up with security experts at digital security products provider Avast Software to gain insight into the rise of Crimeware-as-a-Service and why the industry should be taking notice of the growing threat of malicious botnets, like Avalanche and Mirai.

Manufacturing 90

Manufacturing Securities Numbers 90

PYMNTS

DECEMBER 7, 2016

The American Express that exists today would look pretty foreign to its first employees of 166 years ago — since, to state the obvious, a lot has changed over that period of time. Long before American Express was a credit card issuer and a closed loop payments network, it was in the business of moving mail (and other things) quickly from one coast to the other.

Securities 90

Securities Numbers Banking Sales 90

PYMNTS

OCTOBER 11, 2016

Payments take the football field, but consumers call the plays. That’s how Dan Charron , EVP and Head of Global Business Solutions for First Data , sees it and how he describes the latest rollout of its commerce technology solution at CenturyLink Field Event Center and CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks , aimed at taking the fan experience to the next level.

Sales 90

Sales Securities Retail Technology 90

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

Finance

PYMNTS

OCTOBER 5, 2016

Did you know that physical trainers and fitness instructors only get paid a very small fraction of the cost you pay the gym per hour? After they’ve pushed you to do a hundred burpees or gotten you to achieve that perfect yoga Crow Pose, they may end up with only $20. When your endorphins wear off, you’ll also notice that your wallet could be a $150 per hour lighter.

Startups 89

Startups Marketing Planning 89

PYMNTS

OCTOBER 17, 2016

Ever seen a UFO? Could it have really been a bird, plane or you-know-who? That’s where 47-year-old nonprofit MUFON comes in to debunk or detail what you saw. “Sometimes, people say they saw a UFO, and immediately, people think they said, ‘I saw a flying saucer,’” said Rodger Roeser, spokesperson for MUFON, which literally investigates unidentified flying objects.

Nonprofit 89

Nonprofit Technology 89

PYMNTS

OCTOBER 24, 2016

Coyote, bobcat, armadillo and … human skulls. Perhaps counterintuitively, Skulls Unlimited , a company that sells skulls — yes, animal and human skulls — sees its biggest uptick in purchases closer to Christmas, rather than before Halloween. “This time of year, we start getting in more orders. Halloween, not as much, but most people looking for Halloween decorations quickly realize that we’re not offering skulls for that purpose,” said Josh Villemarette , co-owner and son of the fou

Education 87

Education Marketing eCommerce 87

PYMNTS

OCTOBER 4, 2016

While the emerging world of mobile payments has allowed us to collectively envision a world where payments goes far outside good old fashioned plastic, it is likely the case that very few people ever imagined that they would literally be able to use their face to pay. Or, more accurately, to verify their identity such that a payment can be completed.

Securities 87

Securities Technology Marketing 87

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Reconciliations

PYMNTS

SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

If recent emerging reports are accurate, the team at Yahoo is about to bring new meaning to the phrase “having a tough morning.” Yahoo is apparently on the verge of reporting a massive data breach of its service — a giant hack that has exposed the data behind hundreds of millions of user accounts. At this point, that is about all that is known on the hack: Several sources close to the situation were not able to say much more about it other than commenting on its scale and the fact th

Sales 87

Sales Accounting Securities 87

PYMNTS

OCTOBER 3, 2016

Though for a few years there it really looked like it might simply become retail standard, it seems that starting the Thanksgiving weekend sales crush on Thanksgiving may fizzle out after all. According to reporting over the weekend, an increasing number of big retailers are actually taking the national day of thanksgiving off. So far, the known opt-outs include Home Depot, Nordstrom , Costco, BJ’s, Fred’s Pharmacy, GameStop, Harbor Freight, Lowe’s, Pier 1 Imports, Petco, PetSmart, Sam’s C

Retail 87

Retail Sales Numbers Accounting 87

PYMNTS

NOVEMBER 21, 2016

Fact. Digital commerce has been a reality for more than two decades. Fact. The launch of the iPhone in 2007 and the App Store in 2008 opened everyone’s eyes to the impact that mobile would have on payments and commerce. Fact. Twenty years and hundreds of millions of smartphones later, the digital payments experience is anything but consistent anywhere — online, in-store and in-app.

Securities 86

Securities Numbers Sales Technology 86

PYMNTS

NOVEMBER 16, 2016

American consumers have fallen for mobile banking apps, but up to now, most businesses were not seemingly showing apps the same love. With the number of mobile banking customers now outnumbering those who bank at branches for the first time, consumers have warmly embraced banking via mobile apps. Despite that, the vast majority of American companies, particularly small businesses, have yet to adopt mobile financial management apps.

Banking 86

Banking Accounting Retail Numbers 86

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Accounting

PYMNTS

DECEMBER 16, 2016

The Internet of Things may be a burgeoning industry, but according to a new survey by IAB, nearly two-thirds of American consumers, or 62 percent, already own at least one IoT device. What’s more, 65 percent of those surveyed who own IoT devices said they are willing to receive ads on their IoT screens. In a press release highlighting the survey results, IAB said 62 percent of survey respondents said they already see ads on IoT -connected gadgets.

Advertising 84

Advertising Education Marketing 84

PYMNTS

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

Apple is about to face opposition from a group of Seoul-based financial technology firms that are gearing up to file a complaint with the Korean Fair Trade Commission. According to a report , the financial technology firms are upset about Apple’s closed policy for the near-field communication functions of its iPhones. The financial technology firms in Korea , which include Hankook NFC, Kona I and Cashbee, and law firm Tech&Law reportedly held a meeting last week to hash out how to respond to

Transportation 84

Transportation Communication Technology Numbers 84

PYMNTS

OCTOBER 13, 2016

Canadian startup Ask The Doctor announced Ask The Doctor To Start Accepting Bitcoin As Payment on Wednesday (Oct. 12) it is now accepting bitcoin as a new way to further help protect its patients’ privacy. In a press release , the company said that users can choose to pay for advice from a physician by bitcoin on Ask The Doctor’s desktop platform.

Currencies 84

Currencies Startups Finance Banking 84

PYMNTS

DECEMBER 12, 2016

IBM is getting into the blockchain game, announcing Friday (Dec. 9) it launched a blockchain ecosystem aimed at accelerating the creation of blockchain networks. In a press release , IBM touted blockchain, saying it has the potential to transform the way all sorts of industries conduct business transactions. In order for it to take off, IBM contends there needs to be a complete ecosystem of industrial players all working together.

Education 84

Education Startups Investments 84

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