Sat.Jun 13, 2020 - Fri.Jun 19, 2020

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Celebrity Event Planner Colin Cowie On How ‘Hospertainment’ Can Save The Events Business

PYMNTS

It hasn’t been a good year for hospitality and events, with the pandemic shutting down travel, large gatherings, venues and the desire to be physically close to other people. Burning Man has been canceled, Coachella was delayed and then canceled, there will be no Iowa State Fair and the $300 billion global wedding industry is almost entirely stalled.

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Post Crisis Business Ideas: Create New Ways of Thinking With a Mixed Table

RLLeaders

“Two heads are better than one,” is an axiom for a reason. In today’s specialized world, we are encouraged to have a laser focus on our individual areas of expertise. Although such specialization is a critical component of our education system; there is a high risk of falling into groupthink and overlooking creative solutions when every member of a team has homogenous experiences.

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On-Demand Webinar: PPP Loan Forgiveness Updates for Manufacturers

Katz,Sapper&Miller

The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 was recently signed into law, and it significantly changes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness options. Borrowers now have more time to use funds, the time to satisfy safe harbors has been extended, and payroll requirements have been relaxed.

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What Forms Do New Employees Need to Fill Out?

Patriot Software

New employee forms are a staple of the onboarding process. Before an employee can legally begin working for your business, they need to fill out required forms. What forms do new employees need to fill out? What forms do new employees need to fill out? Overview The government requires some new hire forms. Others are […]. The post What Forms Do New Employees Need to Fill Out?

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Planning Your Restaurants Path to Profitability

Speaker: James Kahler, COO of Full Course

Ever wondered where to splurge and where to safely conserve when it comes to operating and growing your restaurant? 🤔 Join James Kahler, COO of Full Course and industry visionary, in this new webinar where he'll talk all about best practices to invest in your restaurant's success! Whether you're a new business or an established restaurant, a seasoned pro or a rookie, you'll learn the keys to sustainable success in this competitive industry.

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Walmart Tests Store Without Cashiers As COVID-19 Accelerates Change

PYMNTS

Whether cashiers go the way of the horse and buggy could hinge on an experiment Walmart is running in Arkansas. The largest brick-and-mortar retailer in the United States is replacing its traditional, cashier-staffed checkouts with self-checkout registers at its store in Fayetteville, Ark., according to local news reports. The aim is to speed up checkout lines while reducing contact, a Walmart spokesperson told KNWA/KFTA, with employees stationed nearby to help shoppers who run into any problems

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Visa, Facebook Link Up For Payments On WhatsApp

PYMNTS

Visa is working with Facebook so that consumers can fully use the new payments feature on WhatsApp in Brazil, the global digital payments giant announced on Monday (June 15). “As digital becomes the epicenter of daily life during the global pandemic, being able to move money in real-time is increasingly critical for consumers and businesses,” said Jack Forestell, Visa’s chief product officer, in a statement.

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PayID: Bid For Universal Payments — Or Crypto Legitimacy?

PYMNTS

Universality is, well, universally, desired in business — particularly when it comes to technology and especially when it comes to person-to-person (P2P) payments. At a high level, allowing disparate and far-flung customers to interact with ease and pay one another across different types of devices, wallets and currencies means that commerce gets a bit more fluid.

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Dr. Annamaria Lusardi: FinTech Is Great, But No Substitute For Teaching Kids Financial Literacy

PYMNTS

Everyone in a modern society needs to know how to read, so America spends an awful lot of time, treasure and talent developing literacy curricula for kids. We take a similar attitude when it comes basic math and science — but when it comes to financial literacy, only 21 states require financial education, Dr. Annamaria Lusardi recently told Karen Webster.

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Airlines Are Using Frequent-Flyer Programs As Collateral For Loans To Stay Alive

PYMNTS

In times of crisis, we mortgage what we have to get to where we need to be. The pandemic has seen a flurry of capital raising as firms across all verticals have sought to shore up their balance sheets. By getting cash on the books, there’s the chance to keep going — to continue operating and pay expenses until the horizon is a bit clearer. Along the way, pledging assets that aren’t in use now can be an effective strategy.

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Open Payments Coalition Launches Universal Payment ID

PYMNTS

More than 40 different FinTechs, digital currency companies and nonprofits are teaming up to launch a universal payment ID in a bid to make transferring money akin to sending an email. Members of the newly-formed Open Payments Coalition, which include GoPay, Ripple, Blockchain.com, BitPay, Brave, Flutterwave, and Mercy Corps, say the newly minted PayID will enable customers to send and receive money across any of their payment networks without the hassle of dealing with credit card or bank routi

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How Automation is Driving Efficiency Through the Last Mile of Reporting

Speaker: Jamie Eagan

As organizations strive for agility and efficiency, it's imperative for finance leaders to embrace innovative technologies and redefine traditional processes. Join us as we explore the pivotal role of digitalization and automation in reshaping what is commonly referred to as the “last mile of reporting”. We’ll deep-dive into why digitalization is no longer a choice, but a necessity for finance departments to stay competitive in a fast-paced environment touching on: 2024 trends for the Office of

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FIS Launches Pay By Bank Payments Through Its Open Banking Hub

PYMNTS

A new service from FIS , Open Banking Hub, will allow customers to pay for items directly from their bank account, which has the benefit of never making them enter information through a third-party site, a press release says. The service will also allow customers to check their bank accounts during the process. Asif Ramji , chief growth officer at FIS, said that the simplicity was a draw for customers.

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Bank Of Thailand Plans Digital Payments System Prototype

PYMNTS

The Bank of Thailand plans to work on a new payment system for businesses using Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), according to a press release , which will be a step toward readying the business sector for the digital age. The release says the step will help CBDC reach wider audiences, beginning with corporate entities. The platform will enable businesses to access better payment efficiency, including more flexibility for fund transfers and faster payments between suppliers.

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How Digital-First Banking Gets SMBs On The Road To Recovery

PYMNTS

Supply chain disruptions and economic volatility have elevated risk exposure for many enterprises, but for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) operating globally, that risk of exposure can be catastrophic. Indeed, for some SMBs, it already has, with economists anticipating a wave of bankruptcies and permanent SMB closures ahead. B2B FinTechs continue to step up to introduce new solutions for their customers with an eye on helping business owners survive this market crisis and persevere into

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Monzo Sees 40 Percent Drop In Valuation In VC Deal

PYMNTS

Online U.K. bank Monzo , fresh off a round of layoffs, has taken a major hit from the coronavirus pandemic, as shown by a funding valuation that is 40 percent lower than its valuation last year. Monzo’s precipitous drop in value was revealed when the virtual bank recently landed $75 million in new funding to weather the coronavirus crisis from a group of investors that reportedly includes Vanderbilt University and Swiss fund Reference Capital.

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No-Code Technology: The Key to Unlock the Future of Your Business

Global economies are reeling from recent upheavals—pandemic aftershocks, geopolitical conflicts, and a tech sector crunch. Mark Zuckerberg's 2023 "Year of Efficiency" ethos extends into 2024, with leaders seeking cost reductions without stunting growth. No-code technology emerges as a beacon of hope, fostering resilience and adaptability. Platforms like Make.com and Zapier empower even non-technical staff to automate and innovate, freeing IT for strategic tasks.

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Uber Inks First Deal To Manage Public Transit

PYMNTS

With ridesharing having taken a hit from the pandemic, Uber is pushing into a new sector: public transportation. Uber — or Uber’s software, to be exact — will soon be managing public transportation for Marin County in the San Francisco Bay area, the Financial Times (FT) reported. Uber has inked a deal with county officials under which residents of Marin, population 250,000, will be able to use Uber’s app to book rides on minibuses in Marin.

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eCommerce Takes Half Of Pandemic-Driven Retail Growth

PYMNTS

The dramatic consumer shift to Digital 3.0 — predicted months ago by the PYMNTS COVID-19 tracker work — is accounting for almost half of the retail growth in the US. That’s the key finding from a new report from Deloitte, whose data is actually lacking the May sales spike of 17 percent. It found that eCommerce growth as of May 1 was up 68 percent, surpassing 40 percent of total retail sales.

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Jobless Americans Can’t Afford Doctor Visits 

PYMNTS

While many patients are avoiding office visits over fears they could catch COVID-19, doctors say the primary reason jobless Americans are staying away from healthcare providers is because they can’t afford to seek medical care, The New York Times reported. Kristina Hartman of Texas should know. The 58-year-old North Garland resident lost her job as administrator and had little choice but to cut back on health appointments.

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Proposal Would Allow SMBs To Get Another PPP Loan 

PYMNTS

More help for certain small business owners could be on the way if Congress approves another round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The Prioritized Paycheck Protection Program (P4) Act would allow businesses with fewer than 100 employees to get a second loan. To qualify, they must have spent or expect to exhaust their first PPP loan and can demonstrate a 50 percent revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yahoo!

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Register Now: Sneak Peek Into Close Automation SkyStem Web Demo

Technology is rapidly changing the way accountants perform and manage month-end activities. Spreadsheets, email, and shared drives no longer have to slow us down. Join us as we present a "sneak peek" recorded demo of SkyStem's month-end close solution – ART. In under four weeks, your team can start reaping the benefits of month-end close automation by vastly reducing spreadsheets, cut down on reconciliation work, speed up the month-end close, and better manage your remote team.

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Experts: US House Examines Legislative Actions To Combat Cybercriminals

PYMNTS

Cyberattacks against the financial industry have jumped by 238 percent in just the first five months of the year, VMware, Inc. Head of Cybersecurity Strategy Tom Kellermann said, testifying before a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on Tuesday (June 16). “Cybercriminals are capitalizing on COVID-19, and they are doing so in tandem with the news cycle,” he said during the virtual hearing.

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European Union Hits Apple With A One-Two Antitrust Punch

PYMNTS

Tuesday (June 16) is marking a bit of a one-two punch on the Continent for Apple. The European Union announced that it is opening not one but two antitrust investigations into the tech giant, focusing on the company’s App Store and Apple Pay. “It appears that Apple sets the conditions on how Apple Pay should be used in merchants’ apps and websites,” European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, who focuses on competition policy, said in a statement announcing the probes.

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China Proposes East-Asian Digital Currency, Taking Aim At The US Dollar

PYMNTS

A growing number of nations are looking to develop digital versions of their currencies, and now there might be regional initiatives taking shape to target the U.S. dollar’s supremacy on the global stage. For instance, Nikkei Asian Review recently reported that Chinese officials are mulling developing an “East Asia digital currency” in what might be a new front in the race among nations to issue fiat rendered in bits and bytes.

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How Chairish Helped Its Marketplace Sellers Stay Open — And Recover

PYMNTS

The year was off to a flying start for Chairish CEO Gregg Brockway. He said he felt good about the state of the high-end home decor market and his place in what was a rapidly growing eCommerce segment. In January and February, sales were in line with expectations, and good things were about to unfold. Then came March. “It was a really challenging, scary, crazy time,” he told PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster.

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Recruit and Retain New Blue-Collar Talent

Blue-collar jobs have a branding problem. One company, GEON, partnered with Paycor to find the solution. Learn how to attract, engage, and retain blue-collar employees, helping them build meaningful careers – and support your company’s goals.

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Chargeback Fears Prompts Delay Of Merchant Funds

PYMNTS

Like many small businesses, Bluebonnet Photography has been hurt by the pandemic as customers have canceled photo shoots, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. Now, the Tacoma, Washington, portrait studio is facing another challenge. Square , the San Francisco-based ePayment company, recently started holding 30 percent for every transaction for four months “to protect you and Square from unexpected loss events,” according to WSJ.

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Why Digital’s 3.0 Shift May Take Longer Than We Think

PYMNTS

There is an out-and-out frenzy to capitalize on the pandemic-fueled digital shift that gave consumers few options for accessing products and services over the last twelve weeks. Miss this shift and miss it now, and pundits say it probably won’t be long before you’re just another piece of roadkill on the highway of companies who couldn’t adjust with the times and changing consumer and business demand.

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Will ‘Zombie Companies’ Eat The US Economy?

PYMNTS

You know the setup — the one that’s part of seemingly every horror movie ever made. Would-be victims use their wits to outrun hordes of moaning zombies, but a few folks always get caught and disappear in a grisly, lip-smacking, bone-crunching gore-fest. Will so-called “zombie companies” soon do the same to parts of the U.S. economy? Zombie companies are those that remain in business but are so deeply in debt that they’ll never catch up.

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US Consumers Defer Payments On More Than 100 Million Loans

PYMNTS

There are now more than 100 million skipped payments on student loans, auto loans and other kinds of debt, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. At 106 million total by the end of May, the number of skipped payments, deferments or other types of relief is now three times what it was in April. Student loans represented the biggest increase in non-payments, with 79 million accounts in some type of relief status, a massive upswing from the 18 million just a month before.

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Join the Instant Payment Revolution: Read 7 Must-Know Facts for Small Businesses

Technology evolves at lightning speed, and as finance keeps changing, instant payments emerge as a game-changer for small businesses. By 2030, instant payments are projected to surge by 289% and will become the new norm in financial transactions. Our whitepaper reveals seven must-know facts about instant payments, offering to help you navigate this financial revolution effectively.

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Mastercard Adds Tool For Easier Shopping On Amazon

PYMNTS

Amazon customers in 12 countries across North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe will have their stored credit card credentials tokenized, Mastercard announced Wednesday (June 17). By replacing a shopper’s card number with a token, payment information is unique to each individual transaction and can be used only by the merchant that requested it, the company said.

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Tailored Brands Might Seek Bankruptcy Due To Pandemic

PYMNTS

Men’s Wearhouse owner Tailored Brands might be the next significant retail company in the United States to make a bankruptcy filing as the COVID-19 crisis unfolds. Tailored — also the owner of K&G and Jos. A. Bank — included the potential for bankruptcy, or even the closing of operations, in a recent filing, CNN reported. The filing reportedly said: “If the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are protracted and we are unable to increase liquidity and/or effectively address our debt position, we

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Western Union, French Insurer AXA Partner On Life Insurance Pilot Program

PYMNTS

Some residents of France who use Western Union online services to wire money to friends and family in certain African countries will be offered free one-month, 1,000-euro life and disability policies benefiting those recipients under a pilot program, according to a press release. The Transfer Protect service offered by Western Union and French insurer AXA includes numerous features aimed at benefitting immigrant workers who send remittances to family members and friends in their origin countries

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UK Financial Regulator Proposes Extended Grace Period Amid COVID-19

PYMNTS

A top British financial services regulator Friday proposed new regulations that could help borrowers bracing for the end of consumer protections implemented as COVID-19 bore down on the country. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced proposed guidelines for firms that issue credit cards and some other forms of consumer debt that could take effect as early as next week.

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How CPA Firms Can Profit From Payroll Services Without the Extra Work

"Offer payroll and do it yourself,” they said. “It’ll be fun!” Spoiler alert: It was not fun. Most CPA firms know that they need to offer payroll services to their clients or risk losing them to another firm that will. However, many don’t really want to. It is often time-consuming and complex due to changing tax laws and regulations, and with the growing staffing shortages, most just don’t have the resources.