Crowdfunding: A must-have for FIs?

by Dan Kramer — Senior Vice President, Marketing & Merchant Servic, SHAZAM

In a recently released report, economists argue that the financial industry is facing a dramatic transformation due to increased online and mobile device…

Is it curtains for cash 'down under'?

August 16, 2013

Cash payment could soon be finished in Australia, according to that nation's central bank. The Reserve Bank of Australia said the decline of cash was indicated…

DPAs will challenge traditional business models

by Terry Dooley — SVP & CIO, ITS, Inc

According to a recent Gartner report, device-based applications —  also known as digital payment advisors — that recommend the most appropriate payment product…

EFTA previews the ATM & Mobile Executive Summit

Kurt Helwig, president of the Electronic Funds Transfer Association, talks about some of the speakers and topics lined up for this month's inaugural ATM …

As authorities move on Bitcoin, crooks move on to other digital currencies

August 13, 2013

Who could've seen this coming? In May, authorities charged the principals of Cost Rica-based digital currency exchange Liberty Reserve with laundering $…

Travelex, MasterCard team up on multicurrency prepaid card

August 13, 2013

Foreign exchange provider Travelex has joined with MasterCard and Access Prepaid to introduce the new Multi-Currency Cash Passport Prepaid MasterCard. The…

Cash as an investment

by atm Atom — blogger, atmatom

In an interesting twist on the "death of cash" argument, a July bankrate.com survey identified cash as the most popular long-term investment. Yes, you did read…

Consumers increase card spending in July

August 12, 2013

Payment processing provider First Data Corp. has issued its First Data SpendTrend analysis for July 2–30 compared with July 3–31 of last year. Year over year…

ATM focus shifting from hardware to software

by Dominic Hirsch — manager, Retail Banking Research

People often ask me if ATM hardware is commoditised. The answer, perhaps surprisingly for a product that is nearly 46 years old, is no. ATM hardware continues…

Cash: Europe's payment scheme

by Ron Delnevo — Chairman, Cash and Card World

The European Commission has for many years been concerned that the two international card schemes — Visa and MasterCard — are controlled from outside Europe.

Study: Fiserv looks at mobile and tablet banking trends

August 8, 2013

Consumers are increasingly banking through mobile and tablet devices, but this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to changes in how consumers use…

Contactless at the ATM: The need for standards and interoperability

by David Tente — Executive Director, USA, ATM Industry Association

"What about mobile and contactless at the ATM?" It doesn't take long before most conversations about the future of the ATM channel generate this question.

SA ATM withdrawals weaken in July

August 8, 2013

ATM withdrawal activity in South Africa metered a decrease in July, pulling back from a holiday high in June. This according to the Spark Cash Index, which…

For life's simple pleasures, cash

by Brendan Burge

There is a definite imbalance in the advertising war on cash. We have seen the credit card companies, debit card providers, e-payment companies and even fringe…

Study: Revisiting the Prepaid Financial Services Value Chain

August 7, 2013

The prepaid value chain has evolved in response to regulatory changes and market volatility. However, with no one "right way" to maximize its utility…

Millennials want fewer fees, more flexibility

by Dan Kramer — Senior Vice President, Marketing & Merchant Servic, SHAZAM

Millennials are looking to financial services providers for lower, more transparent fees and convenient access to their money. In order to meet their needs…

Is your ATM location worth $1M?

by Todd Nuttall — CEO of Better ATM Services, Better ATM Services

Coinstar (now called Outer Wall) recently purchased a creative kiosk/ATM fleet of about 400 locations for more than $350 million. Not your typical acquisition…

It's official: MasterCard and Visa will share EMV debit solutions

August 1, 2013

You can check the "plays well with others" box on next quarter's report cards. MasterCard and Visa have announced an agreement to license their common U.S.

What's in your wallet, and is that your coffee?

by Richard Buckle — Founder and CEO, Pyalla Technologies, LLC

It's good to be back behind my desk after a couple of weeks off. The July 4th week was spent alongside a lake in Minnesota — something I have wanted to do ever…

Next generation cash management in the cloud

by Brendan Burge

Editor’s Note: Counting on Currency offers the following blog not as a recommendation or confirmation of the solution, but simply as a newsworthy new idea.