Mastercard expands sonic branding with 'Priceless' album

The multi-artist album, a first-time marketing move by the card company, features original songs that incorporate Mastercard’s brand sound.

By Chris Kelly • June 22, 2022

Discover eyes benefits of downturn

As smaller fintechs grapple with restructuring challenges, the card company expects there will be more opportunities for it in hiring talent and acquiring businesses.

By Caitlin Mullen • June 21, 2022

Walmart, Roku partner to evolve shoppable streaming ads 'beyond the QR code'

The mega-retailer is the exclusive partner on a new Roku feature that allows people to purchase products by clicking on ads with their remote.

By Peter Adams • June 17, 2022

Grubhub adds instant pay option for delivery drivers

Food delivery company GrubHub will make an instant payout option available to its couriers, with an assist from PayPal and Visa, so drivers can deposit earnings to a debit card.

By Alicia Kelso • June 15, 2022

Toast heats up restaurant payments competition

As Toast adds services, the Boston startup is taking business from larger rivals and fintech peers, analysts say.

By Jonathan Berr • June 8, 2022

Amex isn't afraid of inflation

American Express CEO Steve Squeri is bullish on his cardholders' financial health and the broader economic situation, saying Thursday he expects inflation to moderate in 2023.

By Caitlin Mullen • June 3, 2022

Block offers Apple tap-to-pay for merchants

Block wants to attract more business clientele as fintech firms experience economic volatility. Offering tap-to-pay on the iPhone advances that goal.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 3, 2022

NMI aims to equip banks with modern payments tech

As banks try to fend off competition from fintechs in merchant acquiring and processing, payments gateway NMI aims to capitalize by offering to bolster their services.

By Caitlin Mullen • June 1, 2022

Adyen targets North America for growth

Upstart Dutch payments processor Adyen is increasing its competition against FIS, Fiserv and Stripe on their home turf in the U.S.

By Lynne Marek • May 27, 2022

SoundHound, Square launch tool for restaurant orders

The voice app company SoundHound AI is rolling out a service for restaurants with Block's Square that answers phone calls, takes  orders, accepts modifications and sends confirmations to complete payments.

By Alicia Kelso • May 19, 2022

Restaurant payments startup SpotOn raises $300M

SpotOn plans to use the capital to develop new products and services, the San Francisco-based company said. The funding round was led by Dragoneer Investment Group. 

By Jonathan Berr • May 19, 2022

Block bets on bitcoin

“We are no longer just a payments company,” Block CEO Jack Dorsey said at the company’s investor day Wednesday.

By Caitlin Mullen • May 18, 2022

Are restaurant operators eating too many fees?

"I’ve been disappointed to see how the payments industry is constantly looking for ways to profit off of small businesses in sneaky ways," says Copper CEO Dickson Chu.

By Dickson Chu • May 16, 2022

Three US cash trends persist, Fed report says

The COVID-19 pandemic led U.S. consumers to change up their payment habits, but three long-term cash trends have mainly persisted, according to a Federal Reserve Bank report issued this month.

By Lynne Marek • May 16, 2022

Fed delivers mixed credit card data

While first-quarter consumer credit card debt rose relative to the same period last year, it dropped compared to the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, consumers' outlook on the availability of credit deteriorated.

By Jonathan Berr • May 12, 2022

VizyPay carves out a niche catering to rural America

Austin Mac Nab, the CEO and cofounder of Waukee, Iowa-based payments processing firm VizyPay, said the company aims to disrupt the payments landscape by catering to small town businesses.

By Caitlin Mullen • May 11, 2022

EMVCo invites input on new contactless standard

The firm controlled by the card companies has drafted a new contactless technology standard and it's seeking public comment on the specifications. Their plan is to implement a change by yearend.

By Lynne Marek • May 10, 2022

Digital food orders persist beyond pandemic

"Some in the foodservice industry feared that online ordering would ‘kill restaurants,’ but it’s becoming increasingly clear that these orders have done just the opposite, acting as a lifeline,” a recent Paytronix report says. Digital payments are rising alongside off-site eating.

By Jonathan Berr • May 9, 2022

Grubhub launches corporate pay card

Employers with a Grubhub Corporate Account can set parameters on when workers can use the pay card or choose to give them a daily or weekly credit to use when ordering from partner restaurants on the delivery marketplace.

By Alicia Kelso • May 5, 2022

Toast checks into hotels

Restaurant software company Toast on Tuesday announced its move into the hotel market with Toast for Hotel Restaurants, which it says will provide tools to streamline operations, increase revenue and process room charges directly from its suite of features.

By Alicia Kelso • May 3, 2022

2022's restaurant payment tech push includes QR codes, kiosks

From QR codes to advanced mobile apps and robots, restaurants are planning to adopt more technology within their operations — including payments — in the year ahead.

By Julie Littman • April 20, 2022

Inflation hands cards a mixed bag

Higher spending due to inflation is poised to drive up credit card volumes, according to an S&P Global Market Intelligence report. Card issuers have been eager to see stronger loan growth, but if delinquencies rise, that could be concerning for the industry.

By Caitlin Mullen • April 13, 2022

Chipotle teams with Cash App for Guac Mode promotion

The quick service restaurant and the money transfer app are encouraging people to join Chipotle Rewards with the chance to win free guacamole and cash.

By Sara Karlovitch • April 4, 2022

Sbarro adds same-day pay option for employees

The restaurant industry has experienced significant labor pressure amid the pandemic, and the pizza chain hopes provider DailyPay will bolster recruitment and retention efforts by helping workers avoid payday bills and overdraft fees. 

By Alicia Kelso • March 23, 2022

Retail, financial trade groups beg for coins

A U.S. coin shortage subsided for a bit early last year, but the problem is back. That led a group of trade organizations to complain to the Treasury Department this week, and to ask for help in making consumers aware of the coin crisis.

By Lynne Marek • March 22, 2022