Rearranging risk
Pushing more complex products towards mandatory central clearing may increase the risks to which CCPs and clearing members are exposed. Frances Faulds examines whether CCPs can continue pooling risks in a safe and efficient way
Features
Keeping it real
Global interoperability of real-time payments systems will require harmonisation of market practices and standards.
Chips off the old blockchain
The distributed ledger is one of the hottest topics in financial services. Born out of the crypto-currency bitcoin, the blockchain concept has gone mainstream and the first area to feel the impact is likely to be payments.
ISO 20022: Working in Harmony
Despite celebrating its 10th birthday in 2014 – or perhaps because of it – the number of variations of ISO 20022 being deployed is prompting concerns that it is rapidly becoming less useful as a standard. There is increasing recognition that differences in implementation and market practices could lead to a fragmentation of the standard.
Coming in from the cold
Fostering innovation in financial technology has become a much more collaborative affair: global banking giants are courting small technology start-ups in the hopes of gaining a competitive edge in financial services …
Caught in the crossfire
Cyber attacks cost little to perpetrate, but plenty to prevent. A focus on external and internal factors will help financial institutions to mitigate the threat.
Europe’s unsettling times
T2S, Europe’s harmonised settlement platform, is live. With a series of migration waves scheduled up until full live operation in July 2017, the next few years are likely to be characterised by intense activity as market participants finalise their strategies …
The Big Red Dot: a guide to Singapore
A prosperous, clean and safe place to visit, Singapore also offers a wide variety of culinary delights.
European Parliament Passes PSD2 by Landslide (Oct. 8, 2015)
The yeas have it. The European Parliament today has passed the second major payments regulation in 2015, with 578 votes in favor of the Revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2).
Defendants Appeal Judge’s Refusal to Dismiss McDonald’s Class-Action Suit in PA (Oct. 8, 2015)
Two McDonald’s franchise owners have appealed a judge’s refusal to dismiss a class-action lawsuit alleging they illegally mandated employees be paid via prepaid cards.
CFPB Draws Line in Sand Regarding Arbitration Clauses (Oct. 7, 2015)
Prior to today’s field hearing in Denver, the CFPB has announced it’s considering proposing rules that would restrict consumer financial companies from using certain types of arbitration clauses that block consumers from forming class action lawsuits to obtain compensation.
ECJ’s Takedown of Safe Harbor Spells Trouble for U.S. Firms (Oct. 7, 2015)
Europe’s top court has struck down a longstanding agreement that enabled U.S. companies to handle the personal data of users in the European Union without being subjected to EU privacy rules, in a decision that will significantly affect not only tech giants like Google and Facebook, but payments and financial services companies, as well.
Fintech for corporates: partnering for success
With global investment into the fintech arena growing at an astonishing rate, it is only a matter of time before the corporate sector begins to feel its true force. Fred DiCocco, head of market management, BNY Mellon Treasury Services, discusses how banks are adapting. Fintech is triggering a monumental shift in the payments space, with […]
Rep. Tipton, CFPB Director Cordray Square off on Prepaid (Oct. 1, 2015)
Rep. Scott Tipton (R-Colo.) and more than 40 other lawmakers are urging CFPB Director Richard Cordray to be cautious in prepaid rulemaking and to make sure the government Direct Express program is not adversely affected by the forthcoming rule.
EC Seeks Input on Simplifying Cross-Border VAT Payments (Sept. 28, 2015)
With European Union law now requiring merchants to tax digital goods based on which country the buyer is located in—instead of where the seller is located—the European Commission (EC) is canvassing interested parties for feedback on the system of reconciling and paying taxes to national governments.
Roundtable: a world of real-time payments
Call it immediate, instant, fast(er) or real-time, the drive to speed up payments is being discussed in almost every country. As part of that discussion Banking Technology and ACI Worldwide brought together international participants from Australia, Europe, the UK and the US review the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Singapore slings (and arrows)
For those who attend Sibos every year, it can seem as though the conference never actually ends – it simply adjourns until the following year. This year, the rise of distributed ledgers and the role of non-bank players in financial services look set to top the agenda – but there will also be a strong focus on innovation, women in finance and millennials.
UKGCVA: Ireland’s Proposed Gift Card Expiry Ban Too Broad
UKGCVA’s reply to Ireland’s proposal to ban expiration dates on gift cards and vouchers.
Visa Sets Deadline for Issuers in Target Settlement
Visa set a deadline for its debit card issuers to request extra payment on top of the monies the issuers will receive in accordance with an earlier settlement reached with Target related to the 2013 breach.
Visa, MasterCard Urge Approval of Settlement, Despite Attorney Misconduct
Litigation involves a $7.25 billion settlement deal with retailers, after it was disclosed that a defense attorney shared information with an attorney for the plaintiffs.
Litigation: Retail Gift Card Updates
Abercrombie & Fitch and RadioShack class action decisions involving closed-loop gift cards warrant attention.
Aussie Central Bank Eyes Amex Regulation (Sept. 2, 2015)
Australia’s central bank may begin regulating American Express cards in the country, putting at risk the generous rewards points cardholders earn on so-called “companion cards”— credit card accounts linked to two different credit card networks, thus enabling cardholders to earn the benefits of whichever one they choose to use at the point of purchase.
Blackhawk Research: Speed, Convenience Drive E-Gifting
Digital gifting continues to make inroads, with more than half of consumers surveyed by Blackhawk Network reporting the purchase of an e-gift over the previous year.
Court Upholds FTC’s Authority to Protect Consumer Data (Aug. 27, 2015)
A U.S. appeals court this week determined that the FTC has authority to regulate corporate cybersecurity and can pursue a lawsuit against hotel operator Wyndham Worldwide Corp. for allegedly failing to properly safeguard consumers’ information.
Texas Merchants Continue to Fight State’s Surcharge Law
Surcharges vs. discounts.
One-Sided Gift Card Arbitration Clause May Be Unconscionable in California
Changing terms of an agreement.
Judge Denies Bid by Citi, First Data to Reconsider Liability Cap in Data Breach Case
Three-party agreements causes problems.
N.Y. and Texas AGs Request RadioShack to Notify Gift Card Holders
Rights of gift card holders.
Dave & Buster’s Faces Class Action over Gift Card Practices
Redeeming for dollars.
Viewpoint: A Regulatory Snapshot for Payment Services and E-Money in Europe
Payment opportunities in the EU come with complex requirements, which is why it’s important to understand the ever-changing legislative issues.
Debit Caps: Fed Explains Transaction-Monitoring Rationale (Aug. 13, 2015)
The last lingering issue in the long-running legal dispute between merchants and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors over debit interchange fee caps took a step toward resolution this week, with the Fed detailing how it calculated a controversial aspect of the fee limit.
Sen. Blumenthal Asks MCX to Explain M-Payments Exclusivity Policy (Aug. 6, 2015)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) this week sent a letter to the retail consortium Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX), which is readying the launch of its CurrentC mobile payments service, demanding details about its exclusivity policy requiring participants to block rival mobile wallets, along with other information.
BofI Gains OCC Approval to Acquire H&R Block Bank (Aug. 6, 2015)
BofI Federal Bank has received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to acquire certain assets and liabilities from H&R Block Bank.
OCC Issues Guidance for Tax Refund Prepaid Issuers (Aug. 6, 2015)
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has released new guidance for banks issuing tax refund-related products, including prepaid cards.
CVS Hack Highlights Importance of Vendor Selection
Another warning to check that your vendors apply appropriate security measures.
Google and RadioShack Face Challenges from Gift Card Holders
Both Google and RadioShack are engaged in legal battles with consumers holding unused balances on the respective company’s gift cards.
U.K. Payments Study Shows Consumers’ Need for Speed
Faster payments could be the key factor in getting U.K. consumers to switch bank accounts, a new report says. In a study commissioned by ACI Worldwide, 45 percent of 2,000 of consumers polled in the U.K. said the prospect of faster and more convenient electronic payments would encourage them to consider moving their accounts to a different bank.
Silver lining? Consumer confidence in banks improves along with economic recovery
Recent studies suggest that banks in the UK are rebuilding their reputation among consumers and investments in mobile and digital are at least in part responsible –though trust remains fragile and other studies highlight concerns over pricing and transparency. Customer satisfaction across all sectors in the UK has flat-lined over the past six months, but some that regularly attract scrutiny – including banking – have shown signs of improvement,
Authorities Smash Hacking ‘Hornet’s Nest’ (July 16, 2015)
A major online hacking forum and malware marketplace has been shut down in a coordinated operation by law enforcement officials in 20 countries.
Viewpoint: Canada’s Digital Privacy Act Receives Royal Assent, but Breach Notification Provisions Lag Behind
It’s now law, but not all of the act is in force yet.
