PYMNTS

MAY 29, 2019

Businesses of a certain size — and in industries as varied as construction and restaurants — know the pain of wondering if they will have enough capital to fund operations, inventory, expansion and other mission-critical business activities. They know the uncertainty of going to traditional financial institutions (FIs), even those rooted in their communities, that might not want to take on the risks or economics of extending smaller lines of credit to small businesses (SMBs), with fortunes that

Construction 88

Construction Economics Finance Numbers 88

CFA Institute

MAY 30, 2019

Bad incentives lead to bad results, Daniel Brocklebank, CFA, observed at the 72nd CFA Institute Annual Conference.

Investments 61

Investments Economics 61

PYMNTS

MAY 28, 2019

Digital assistants. Smart fridges and thermostats. Security devices, too. The Internet of Things (IoT) has gone global, an ever-expanding ecosystem that touches consumers in every facet of their daily lives. The latest Intelligence of Things Tracker shows some pretty big numbers in terms of the billions of devices already out in the field, and the billions of dollars already being spent on those devices … and it seems like things are just getting started.

Numbers 80

Numbers Securities 80

PYMNTS

MAY 30, 2019

Visa said this week that as acceptance of EMV cards has gained traction in the U.S., counterfeit fraud, measured in dollars for these card present transactions, has dropped precipitously. The latest stats show that the continued upgrade to chip card acceptance – which began in 2015 – has led to a decrease in counterfeit fraud dollars on the order of 76 percent, as measured in December of 2018 vs.

Sales 79

Sales Accounting Securities Retail 79

Speaker: Michael Veatch, Senior Director, Implementations & Ella Aguirre, Director of Solution Consulting

Embedding payments can be a transformative step for software companies looking to enhance their platform capabilities, boost customer satisfaction, and drive long-term growth. However, the success of payments hinges on a single thing: implementation. Drawing on real-world insights and experiences, payments implementation experts Michael Veatch and Ella Aguirre will explore actionable strategies that can lead to a transparent, friction-free launch and mitigate potential challenges like technical

Investments

PYMNTS

MAY 29, 2019

A European Central Bank ( ECB ) official is throwing his support towards wholesale central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). In fact, Vitas Vasiliauskas, a member of the Governing Council of the ECB and chairman of the board of the Bank of Lithuania, said the real issue at play is whether CBDCs should be retail, wholesale, or a combination of both. While a retail CBDC would be available for the general public, wholesale would serve a limited circle, primarily banks.

Currencies 76

Currencies Banking Retail Accounting 76

PYMNTS

MAY 29, 2019

The Treasury Department announced Wednesday (May 29) in a report to Congress that of the 21 major U.S. trading partners, only nine need further scrutiny because of their currency practices. Reuters, citing the semi-annual report, reported that the Treasury Department added Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam to a watch list that already includes China, Germany, Japan and South Korea.

Currencies 75

Currencies Treasury Accounting Banking 75

PYMNTS

MAY 31, 2019

As part of its strategic plan, investment firm Goldman Sachs aims to win the business of more mid-sized companies. It also plans to spend $4 billion technology this year per John Waldron, the bank’s president, who made the remarks at a Bernstein conference in New York, the Financial Times reported. Companies with a worth of under $2 billion are one of the major focus areas for the company.

Strategic Planning 72

Strategic Planning Cash Management Planning Investments 72

PYMNTS

MAY 31, 2019

Usually when we’re telling a story at PYMNTS about expectations for a product being radically divergent from its actual performance, it is a story about underperformance. Something comes in on a cloud of extravagant hype only to end up with merely so-so reaction from the intended audience. In more serious misalignments, something briefly billed as the next big thing in payments and commerce will fizzle out shortly thereafter , mostly unnoticed.

Banking 71

Banking Transportation Leadership Currencies 71

PYMNTS

MAY 29, 2019

More than half of all Americans now subscribe to digital news or entertainment streaming services, and such offerings are already beginning to crop up in new industries, like cars and financial services. Companies are developing new subscription boxes, tiers and perks to retain customers’ loyalty in the face of rising competition, too. Retailers, like Walmart , are using related retail packages to compete with rivals such as Amazon , while digital services like Spotify and Apple Music continue t

Entertainment 71

Entertainment Education Retail Banking 71

Speaker: Amanda Adams, Fractional CFO, CPA

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Amanda Adams, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

Accounting

PYMNTS

MAY 28, 2019

Citigroup was reportedly in advanced talks with Apple to partner on its new credit card but decided not to move forward, according to CNBC. Citing people with knowledge of the talks, CNBC reported that Citigroup bailed over concerns that it wouldn’t earn enough of a profit from the partnership. The report noted that JPMorgan Chase, Barclays and Synchrony were also in the running to partner with Apple on the credit card.

Economics 71

Economics Banking Finance 71

PYMNTS

MAY 31, 2019

When most people talk about the high-tech future of ridesharing, they are generally talking about self-driving vehicles as the next logical great leap forward. Most people, but not quite everyone. For Munich-based firm Lilium , thinking about autonomous vehicles is thinking too small. When the folks at Lilium think about the future of ridesharing, they tend to think the sky’s the limit.

Manufacturing 71

Manufacturing Planning Retail 71

PYMNTS

MAY 31, 2019

A cybersecurity research team at vpnMentor has discovered that The Pyramid Hotel Group, which manages Marriott and other hotel brands, underwent a data leak exposing vulnerabilities that could potentially be used by criminals, the company said in a report. The researchers, Noam Rotem and Ran Locar, found a breach that exposed 85.4GB of security audit logs.

Auditing 69

Auditing Securities Planning 69

PYMNTS

MAY 29, 2019

Apple Pay is coming to New York City thanks to a partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or MTA. The Verge , citing Apple Pay, reported that on May 31st, people can use Apple Pay for public transportation in the sprawling metropolis. According to TheVerge, the rollout of Apple Pay is part of the MTA’s One Metro New York initiative in which it’s testing new payment methods for fares.

Transportation 69

Transportation 69

Speaker: Abdi Ali, Sr. Lease Accounting Consultant

Join this insightful webinar with industry expert Abdi Ali, who will discuss the challenges that can arise from managing lease accounting with spreadsheets! He will share real-world examples of errors, compliance issues, and risks that may be present within your spreadsheets. Learn how these tools, while useful, can sometimes lead to inefficiencies that affect your time, resources, and peace of mind.

Accounting

PYMNTS

MAY 28, 2019

So much starts with coffee – mornings, political ads, artistic movements, advances in QSR retail – and that dictum could hold true with robots, at least the next generation of robots that promise to be powered by 5G technology. The world is waking up to the fact that emerging 5G technology could bring significant, widespread change to not only business and economics, but also to many parts of civilization.

Technology 69

Technology Communication Retail Numbers 69

PYMNTS

MAY 28, 2019

The Bank of Spain wants eurozone countries to complete their banking alliance by creating a deposit insurance scheme and a stabilization fund. Reuters , citing the Bank of Spain , reported that during a presentation of its annual report, the central bank warned that the economy of the bloc could face risks as a result of Brexit uncertainty, high national debts, low productivity and a population that is getting older.

Banking 68

Banking Budgeting Currencies Economics 68

PYMNTS

MAY 28, 2019

For Total System Services (TSYS) and Global Payments, it’s official. To that end, the companies said they would enter into a merger valued about $21.5 billion, marking the latest in a string of multi-billion dollar deals among global players offering a range of services and products across the payments landscape. The merger follows the $34 billion deal between FIS and Worldpay that came in March and the $22 billion announcement between Fiserv and First Data that was announced in January of this

B2C 66

B2C B2B Accounting Marketing 66

PYMNTS

MAY 29, 2019

With better-than-expected revenues and earnings, DICK’S Sporting Goods ’ eCommerce sales jumped 15 percent in the first quarter. The company’s overall reported quarterly earnings beat estimates of analysts as the company increased its outlook for the full year, CNBC reported. The retailer reported net income of $57.5 million or 61 cents for each share.

eCommerce 65

eCommerce Sales Forecasting Retail 65

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Join us in this webinar, where we share best practices on how to think about the reconciliation work each month, when best to do reconciliations, how they should be prepared, and some common pitfalls to avoid. Learning Objectives: This course objective is to understand how to properly prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations and its impact on the financial statements.

Reconciliations

PYMNTS

MAY 30, 2019

As 5G deployments start, the people who run hospitals and medical offices, along with companies that supply healthcare devices and payment services, are starting to figure out what the quicker speed and other features of the new mobile network technology will do for them. These early moves are yet another sign of the wide and deep impact that 5G promises to have.

Healthcare 65

Healthcare Technology Forecasting Communication 65

PYMNTS

MAY 31, 2019

Two U.S. law firms have launched investigations into the U.K.’s Metro Bank on behalf of investors concerned that the institution committed securities fraud. Reports in The Guardian on Thursday (May 30) said Pomerantz and Levi & Korsinsky, both based in New York, have opened these investigations, joining Glancy Prongay & Murray, which confirmed it launched a probe earlier this month.

Banking 65

Banking Securities Numbers Accounting 65

PYMNTS

MAY 31, 2019

The chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs said the bank is working on a digital money management tool in an attempt to attract more customers from Main Street, according to a report by Reuters. “We are developing a digitally empowered mass affluent capability that will leverage our Marcus platform and customer base,” said John Waldron at a bank conference in New York.

Foreign Exchange 65

Foreign Exchange CFO Leverage Banking 65

PYMNTS

MAY 29, 2019

A group of investors has acquired Sureswipe , a South African payments company, for an undisclosed amount. The investors were led by Apis Partners LLP and FinTech investor Crossfin Technology Holdings. Sureswipe will be consolidated under the newly-formed Crossfin Transactional Services (CTS), along with Innervation Pan African Payments and Emerge Mobile’s iKhokha.

Investments 65

Investments Retail Finance Banking 65

Speaker: David Warren and Kevin O’Neill Stoll

Transitioning to a usage-based business model offers powerful growth opportunities but comes with unique challenges. How do you validate strategies, reduce risks, and ensure alignment with customer value? Join us for a deep dive into designing effective pilots that test the waters and drive success in usage-based revenue. Discover how to develop a pilot that captures real customer feedback, aligns internal teams with usage metrics, and rethinks sales incentives to prioritize lasting customer eng

Sales

PYMNTS

MAY 31, 2019

Some entrepreneurs are inspired to start companies because they spot unmet needs in the market: Frontdesk Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer Jesse DePinto, for instance, saw the amateur nature of home shares but the opportunity for something better than a hotel. The company saw the need for the best of both worlds and, to tackle this challenge, it is “evolving into a 21st-century tech-enabled hospitality brand,” DePinto told PYMNTS in an interview.

Technology 63

Technology Advertising Communication Marketing 63

PYMNTS

MAY 29, 2019

Robinhood Markets , the operator of a free mobile trading app, is close to garnering a valuation of $7 billion or more. CNBC , citing two people familiar with the deal, reported Robinhood has raised a minimum of $200 million in a recent late-stage fundraising round that will give it a valuation of between $7 billion and $8 billion. The round, which includes mainly existing investors, hasn’t closed yet — which means it could raise more than $200 million.

Valuation 63

Valuation Cash Management Currencies Banking 63

PYMNTS

MAY 28, 2019

With abundant choices in many aspects of their lives, consumers expect a range of options when it comes to online shopping, ranging from picking out clothes to making travel plans. And, to meet their day-to-day needs, more consumers are tapping into digital platforms seeking top-notch customer support and seamless service. By 2021, close to 90 million – or 86.5 million – consumers will be participating in the digital platform ecosystem, per the PYMNTS and the Platform Economy Playbook.

Communication 63

Communication eCommerce Retail Technology 63

PYMNTS

MAY 28, 2019

Call it the great purge of 2019? Amazon is reportedly in the midst of reshaping relationships with several of its longtime vendors, according to Bloomberg. The lasting effect will be that bulk orders “dry up” for many suppliers, most of them classified as smaller firms. The latest actions come after an initial halt, the news outlet reported, that occurred months ago.

eCommerce 63

eCommerce Forecasting Sales 63

Speaker: Mark Stovel

When it comes to automating, many firms focus on finding the latest tech, believing that efficiency is something achieved through new tools. Yet true efficiency is achieved by delivering real value to clients, not merely by upgraded systems. Without a clear approach, no level of automation can overcome the complexities of serving every client’s needs.

Marketing