28 Jun 16 @ 16:20

SWIFT says that 73 banks worldwide have now joined its global payments initiative, designed to improve the cross-border payments experience. Recent banks to join the initiative include, Alfa-Bank, Axis Bank, Banco... read more

24 Jun 16 @ 10:57

Following Britain’s momentous decision to leave the European Union our thoughts must inevitably turn to the potential impact on UK consumer payments. In this blog we provide some early thoughts... read more

18 Apr 16 @ 09:33

Russia is reported to have drawn up plans to launch an integrated e-commerce platform in response to President Putin’s call to connect Russian manufacturers with foreign buyers. Russia’s Ministry of... read more

11 Jan 16 @ 13:17

A new study has found that UK banks charge small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) nearly £4bn in hidden transfer fees each year to make international money transfer payments. 96% of... read more

15 Dec 15 @ 10:53

Mobile Payments 2016 is set to be a defining year for mobile payment providers. It looks as though Apple Pay is planning a major European launch in 2016; an event... read more

19 Oct 15 @ 12:23

Historically, banks have dominated the entire market, but times are changing and the FinTech invaders are beginning to disrupt the space. Banks certainly have their place, but their share is... read more

09 Jul 15 @ 14:54

The European Commission has sent a Statement of Objections to MasterCard. The Statement of Objections outlines the Commission’s preliminary view that MasterCard’s rules prevent banks from offering lower interchange fees... read more

08 Jul 15 @ 15:58

The Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB) is seeking to drive greater P2P mobile payment interoperability with providers across the continent working closer together. Following its latest meeting, the ERPB (set up... read more

07 Jul 15 @ 13:54

The card networks, Visa and MasterCard have grown significantly and altered their market approaches since their initial public offerings (Visa in 2008, MasterCard in 2006). While market headwinds, including the... read more

30 Jun 15 @ 10:28

In as little as a decade we will look back at the fractured banking and payments sector with utter astonishment at just how long traditional banking services weren’t challenged –... read more

24 Apr 15 @ 10:36

The total value of the digital currency Bitcoin is now approximately $3.4 billion, and many companies and investors are working to prove that the technology can make financial services cheaper... read more

30 Jan 15 @ 10:59

“Everything changes but change itself. You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters and yet others go flowing ever on,” observed Heraclitus of Ephesus (circa 535 –... read more

23 Dec 14 @ 09:46

Bitcoin’s ongoing evolution draws comparisons to how Napster, while unsuccessful as an organization, upended an entire music industry and propelled it into the digital age. Bitcoin truly is the Napster... read more

19 Dec 14 @ 11:29

Suddenly the key EU’s stakeholders (ECB/EC) are talking again about technical payments interoperability and new payments networks.  Many may ask why, for they have struggled over 10 years to fully... read more

18 Dec 14 @ 11:33

Interchange fees to process debit and credit card transactions are to be capped under an EU law that attempts to wrap-up a protracted battle with payment groups such as Visa... read more

19 Nov 14 @ 09:00

As mobile money transfer services like Pingit and Paym gain traction, how will mobile remittances help drive mobile commerce? With all the focus on mobile payments and wallets, and the... read more

29 Oct 14 @ 12:03

The European Central Bank (ECB) has flexed its muscles in the payment systems oversight area for the first time through the exercise of new powers by identifying 4 payment systems that... read more

10 Oct 14 @ 13:57

E-commerce merchants based outside of the UK could be losing out on vital global sales from Generation Y by failing to convert browsers into buyers at the checkout. New research[1]... read more

10 Oct 14 @ 11:00

As mobile money transfer services like Pingit and Paym gain traction, how will mobile remittances help drive mobile commerce? With all the focus on mobile payments and wallets, and the... read more

26 Jun 14 @ 17:09

US payments provider Stripe announced a deal with industry giant Alipay that will enable merchants in the UK and Europe to accept payments from Chinese consumers. The US firm hopes... read more