PYMNTS

APRIL 1, 2019

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

Accounting 85

Accounting Securities Retail Technology 85

CFA Institute

APRIL 3, 2019

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

Performance Measuring 52

Performance Measuring Economics Investments 52

PYMNTS

APRIL 2, 2019

Wells Fargo announced Tuesday (April 2) the launch of contactless consumer credit and debit cards. In a press release , Wells Fargo said the new cards will enable customers to complete transactions quickly and with a single tap at millions of merchants and transit systems that accept contactless payments. The bank said it will enable customers to tap to initiate an ATM transaction at more than 13,000 ATMs around the country later this year.

Communication 83

Communication Securities Technology Banking 83

PYMNTS

APRIL 5, 2019

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

Accounting 81

Accounting 81

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

APRIL 2, 2019

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

Treasury 80

Treasury Leverage Banking 80

PYMNTS

MARCH 31, 2019

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

Planning 76

Planning Securities 76

PYMNTS

APRIL 5, 2019

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.

Securities 76

Securities Accounting Investments 76

PYMNTS

APRIL 5, 2019

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

Startups 75

Startups Technology Banking 75

PYMNTS

APRIL 5, 2019

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

Banking 73

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

APRIL 4, 2019

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.

eCommerce 73

eCommerce Education Finance Technology 73

PYMNTS

APRIL 1, 2019

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. .

Healthcare 73

Healthcare Education Compliance Currencies 73

PYMNTS

APRIL 1, 2019

FinTech has revolutionized the way traditional banks can implement and roll out new products and services to their customers, with banks’ complex infrastructures positioning “out-of-the-box” solutions as a competitive proposition for FinTech firms to offer their bank clients. Yet, not all financial services can — or should — be a one-size-fits-all tool.

Finance 73

Finance Accounts Payable Invoicing Benchmarking 73

PYMNTS

APRIL 4, 2019

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

Budgeting 72

Budgeting Marketing Finance B2B 72

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

APRIL 1, 2019

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.

Numbers 72

Numbers Marketing 72

PYMNTS

APRIL 1, 2019

Three years ago, I wrote a piece in which I said Apple had become the kind of company that Steve Jobs once said he never wanted it to be: one that follows the lead of others. Jobs felt so strongly that he said he’d rather gamble Apple’s future instead of trying to one-up everyone else after the fact. Today, Apple seems to be gambling its future by doing just that: being like someone else, often years after others have led the way.

Manufacturing 71

Manufacturing Startups Marketing Securities 71

PYMNTS

APRIL 4, 2019

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

Retail Technology Marketing Sales 71

PYMNTS

APRIL 4, 2019

FinTech firms are creating offerings to make it easier for retailers to handle their payments on the back end. Modo , for example, designed its new /Checkout product with “the end in mind,” Brian Billingsley, the company’s chief revenue officer, told PYMNTS in an interview. He explained that much of the industry is focused on creating beautiful experiences on the front end, but funds still have to flow back to the merchant and be reconciled at the end of the day.

Reconciliations 70

Reconciliations Finance Retail Numbers 70

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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

APRIL 2, 2019

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

B2B Banking Compliance Transportation 70

PYMNTS

APRIL 5, 2019

Probably every shopper knows the thrill of the retail treasure hunt — that odd, unexpected, but perfect product discovered on a shelf; that highly desired item almost hidden in some corner, but found via serendipity or determined effort. Probably every shopper also knows the frustration of the hunt — the time-consuming, wasted effort to locate a shirt or skirt in a specific color or size; an item that’s supposed to be on the retail floor, according to inventory software, but is nowhere to be fou

Sales 69

Sales Retail Technology eCommerce 69

PYMNTS

APRIL 3, 2019

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

SAP Finance Banking Technology 68

PYMNTS

APRIL 2, 2019

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

Retail Leadership Accounting Technology 68

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

APRIL 4, 2019

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

Banking Leverage Securities Education 67

PYMNTS

APRIL 4, 2019

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.

Securities 67

Securities Retail 67

PYMNTS

MARCH 31, 2019

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.

Valuation 67

Valuation Startups Planning Banking 67

PYMNTS

APRIL 4, 2019

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

Banking Retail Finance 67

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