All articles by Verdict Staff
Verdict Staff
NBS lacked ambition – Greaves
Colin Greaves, the former operations director of Newcastle Building Society (NBS), has accepted the role of CEO of European prepaid card issuer Transact Network, in a bid to become more involved with innovation and development in the prepaid market.
Lawmakers target interchange fees
The payments industry was caught on the hop by an amendment to an appropriations bill that would require credit card payments at government agencies to be given the lowest available market interchange fees. The surprise move has seen consumer groups pushing for further reform. Charles Davis reports.
Up to the same old tricks
Credit card executives have railed against new regulations that have limited their ability to charge higher fees and interest rates to consumers As Charles Davis reports, however, there are signs some US credit card issuers are up to the same old tricks.
Industry viewpoint: The next big thing in loyalty
The first time I saw “Become a fan on Facebook” on a sign in a restaurant here in Singapore, I had an instant flashback to the early 1990s and the first billboard I saw in the US with a website address. I remember thinking then that the web truly was on the verge of going mainstream. My feeling today is that Facebook pages for local businesses will be even bigger.
VocaLink recasts as electronic payments player
With Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) objectives taking longer to implement than first thought and payments giants fighting with local networks over debit card acceptance, a number of less obvious providers are moving into the European payments sphere.
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Asia switching to domestic debit
There is a growing movement towards domestic processing of payment transactions across Asia, mirroring trends in markets across the world. Japans JCB and Chinas CUP have also demonstrated they are not content with their own markets, branching out internationally. Richard Hartung reports.
Comment: East Africa’s proposed currency bloc could deliver stellar returns
The Kenyan payments market is known for the success of M-Pesa, the m-payments provider which has taken the country by storm The value of mobile payments in the country is equivalent to 11% of the countrys GDP, a figure which looks likely to grow A survey conducted by CI on Kenya (see Kenya: A launchpad for financial inclusion) indicates mobile will surpass debit as the countrys preferred payment option by the end of this year.
Country survey: Kenya
The success of m-payments in Kenya can provide a blueprint for its east African neighbours, driving electronic payments in a region that has struggled with its payments infrastructure for years. A currency bloc, slated to be implemented by 2012, could speed the process. Will Cain reports.
Women and card benefits: Which work?
Women are in control of 79.2% of all private purchase decisions in Europe and 80% in the US key reasons why many banks have women-specific credit card options. As Louise Naughton reports, specialised card benefits can attract female customers and may help credit issuers reduce NPLs.
Collaboration needed in LatAm prepaid
New MasterCard research predicts prepaid card spending in Latin America will rise from $8.7bn to $71bn in 2017 It is a huge opportunity to provide prepaid cards to unbanked Latin American consumers, but the market will only achieve its potential if all participants collaborate, writes Robin Arnfield. Regulators in Latin America are facing a choice which will shape development of the prepaid market across the continent