Sat.Sep 17, 2016 - Fri.Sep 23, 2016

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Yahoo’s Massive Breach Could Affect Hundreds Of Millions Of Users

PYMNTS

If recent emerging reports are accurate, the team at Yahoo is about to bring new meaning to the phrase “having a tough morning.” Yahoo is apparently on the verge of reporting a massive data breach of its service — a giant hack that has exposed the data behind hundreds of millions of user accounts. At this point, that is about all that is known on the hack: Several sources close to the situation were not able to say much more about it other than commenting on its scale and the fact th

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Is Your Real Estate Fund a True Investment Company or Just an Operator?

Katz,Sapper&Miller

As the stock market has shown volatility over the last several years, many high-net worth, sophisticated and institutional investors have used various forms of alternative investments to supplement their portfolios. A popular investment choice has been real estate-related funds.

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Fraud, In A Factory Setting

PYMNTS

Meet the newest factory worker: the fraudster. In the latest iteration of the Meet The Fraudster Podcast Series, Forter fraud analyst Gilit Saporta takes PYMNTS inside another class of cybercriminals, those known simply as the “factory fraudsters.”. The name conjures up, as Karen Webster noted, rows of workers populating a literal factory floor, with activity humming day in and day out — in this case, on the prowl to lure merchants into fraudulent transactions for goods to be sent, yet no legiti

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The Dawn Of The Connected Baby?

PYMNTS

Internet of Things technology has been credited with saving people time and money in recent years, but potentially helping parents save their baby’s life? Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) claimed the lives of about 1,500 babies in 2014, according to the CDC , and is among some of the most serious concerns first-time parents may have for their newborn.

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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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Facebook Expands Payments Options And Its Obsession With Snapchat

PYMNTS

Facebook is trying hard to stamp its ground in the mobile space. In March 2015, Facebook Messenger began accepting payments. This marked the first P2P payments system within a communication platform. Facebook hired Paypal’s David Marcus to lead the charge, and Forbes predicted that Facebook’s revenues from payments would soar. In 2010, Facebook offered Facebook Credits, with which users could buy virtual goods in games, and created a subsidiary to manage the payments.

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Meet HeroPay, The Startup That Wants To Be Small Business’ Payments Hero

PYMNTS

The payments industry is a fairly large pie, but the way things are currently set up is skewed to favor larger vendors and businesses — a $4 trillion industry in the U.S. alone. Of that $4 trillion pie, the U.S.’s 7.2 million small businesses make up about 26 percent of the overall payments industry but are responsible for 79 percent of its total fees.

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One Year In, Removing The Masking Tape From EMV

PYMNTS

Regardless of the event, anniversaries serve to remind us of what happened, how far we’ve come and what lies ahead. As the payments industry nears the one-year anniversary of the United States’ transition to EMV, of course, it’s an opportune time to take stock of progress and what remains to be done. High on that list, Jeremy Gumbley, CTO of Creditcall, says is removing the masking tape that now covers the card slots of many of the upgraded EMV terminals that now grace merchant countertops.

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Global Payments Cybersecurity Task Force A Go

PYMNTS

With the pressure of cybercrime mounting in the financial services space, several central banks of the globe are joining together to figure out a strategy. Reports on Friday (Sept. 16) said several central banks have confirmed the formation of a task force to explore cybersecurity of cross-border payments and banking to protect interbank transactions.

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Chatbot Tracker: Pizza, Fashion & Cloud Computing

PYMNTS

Dare you. Nay, double dare you to find an industry without a bot. It’s true: bots have squeezed their way in and they’re changing the way companies interact with consumers online. . Recently, PYMNTS’ Karen Webster discussed if it’s time to jump on the “ Bot Bandwagon ” this week , and perhaps it is. Over the past week, bots are joining the fashion industry at runway events, delivering pizza without hopping off Facebook and peeking through in cloud technology.

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Bitcoin For Night Owls

PYMNTS

Now You Can Trade Bitcoin Any Time. The Winklevoss twins want to trade bitcoin, and they want to do it now. Growing impatient waiting for their ETF fund to be listed and to boost bitcoin trading, the cofounders of the Gemini Trust Company, a digital currency exchange based in the U.S., are introducing a daily bitcoin auction so that the currency can be traded any time.

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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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Sandbox Bill Announced For FinTech, Gov Regulations

PYMNTS

The FinTech industry is undoubtedly a competitive one — never mind the cross-country rivalry. As digital currencies, like bitcoin, expand their reach and more people pay using their smartphone, there are concerns that the U.S. may fall behind to other leading countries, specifically the U.K, which is making strides in the space. To make sure the U.S. doesn’t lose potential FinTech business opportunities to the U.K., Rep.

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Cheap Flights The Ticket To Corporate Travel Growth

PYMNTS

International companies are pulling back their spend on corporate travel, according to recent analysis. But the latest data from Advito finds the key to corporate travel spend increases. According to the firm’s 2017 industry forecast report, outlined by Skift , cheaper airfare is the ticket to expanding business travel in the year ahead. Analysis predicts hotel fares to rise slightly, but airline prices to stay flat for 2017.

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Task Force Formed On Cybersecurity

PYMNTS

On Friday (Sept. 16), the world’s major central banks launched a task force focused on cybersecurity in cross-border banking and protecting interbank payments. In a statement, Benoit Coeure, chairman of the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures, part of the Bank for International Settlements, said that recent incidents of cyberfraud have become a concern for the central banking community.

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Surviving And Thriving Off Of Data In The Omni Era

PYMNTS

With big-box retailers, like Walmart, expected to spend more than $1 billion on eCommerce this year, merchants are making a concerted effort to bolster their omnichannel strategies. But significant investments aren’t just made on a whim, as retailers rely heavily on analytics to craft winning omnicommerce strategies. Interpreting data correctly, however, can make all the difference between success and failure in the retail industry.

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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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B2B Check Use Rising Despite Approach Of Same Day ACH

PYMNTS

Same Day ACH is ready for its debut at the end of the week, and for some, its launch signals the next step for the payments industry to become faster and more digital. In B2B payments, those characteristics could have a significant impact on supplier payments and other B2B payment habits. But a new report finds that, even as Same Day ACH is fast-approaching, businesses are actually increasing their use of paper checks.

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SWIFT Sets Sights On Smart Contracts

PYMNTS

SWIFT is the latest FinTech player to perk up at the thought of using distributed ledger technology for business transactions. In an announcement on Thursday (Sept. 22), SWIFT released a new paper exploring the use of distributed ledger technologies, like blockchain, and their potential implications for smart contracts , a more enforceable and secure contract that could have significant implications for corporate trade and other business processes. “The promise of DLT [distributed ledger

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Breaking Down The Faster Payments Construct

PYMNTS

[link]. In just a matter of days, the payments industry will see a significant — and ubiquitous — change in the way payments are sent and received. Same Day ACH will create a new option for faster payments for all the banks and credit unions across the U.S. Two new same-day settlement windows will be added to the ACH Network, which will increase the actual movement of funds between all those financial institutions from once a day (at the beginning of the day) to three times a day.

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Have Consumer Privacy And Matchmakers Reached A Crossroads?

PYMNTS

[link]. Friction, and the elimination of it, is what successful matchmakers solve — and solve for successfully. Sometimes, those frictions are how hard it is to find suppliers to meet a demand or finding an easy way to make a payment inside of a marketplace. Other times, it is how much control consumers have over their personal information and whether that lack of control keeps them from getting on board.

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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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USAA, Banking On A Digital Future?

PYMNTS

As active members of the military and military families, USAA Bank members are especially dependent on digital and mobile services. But these digital and mobile solutions are not popular just among those deployed overseas. According to recently released research from the American Bankers Association, mobile banking is becoming increasingly popular among consumers of young ages.

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US Shoppers Want To Finish Their Holiday Shopping Sooner This Year

PYMNTS

It looks like more U.S. shoppers want to be able to enjoy their turkey and pumpkin pie this holiday season without having to fret about finishing up their shopping. More holiday shoppers don’t appear to be putting off purchases this year or waiting for big Black Friday deals or last-minute sales, according to new data. In a survey by Market Track , a Chicago-based market intelligence firm, almost a third of respondents said they planned to do most of their shopping before the calendar even hits

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Here’s What’s Up In Corporate Spend

PYMNTS

Corporate spending habits are in flux. New research reports find the good news and bad news in those changes. Wasted spending, for instance, is on the rise — in one area of the enterprise in particular. On the other hand, electronic invoice use is also up, so corporates may also be increasingly encouraged to spend digitally. Corporate demand for working capital similarly rose, according to some reports.

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Here’s How Millennials Are Shopping This Holiday Season

PYMNTS

The saying that it’s better to give than receive might not be totally lost on millennials , because most millennials are planning on spending significantly more this holiday season than last year. So, what are millennials going to spend their money on this holiday season? According to Rubicon Project’s second annual Holiday Consumer Pulse Poll , nearly a third of shoppers began their holiday shopping before Labor Day, and millennials are even further ahead of the curve when it comes to getting a

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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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Bitcoin Is Money — For The Purposes Of Facing Criminal Charges

PYMNTS

While various criminals have tried it, the “bitcoin isn’t money, therefore I can not be guilty of a financial crime” defense never really works out. While the federal government has declared that bitcoin is not legal tender or currency in the same sense that the dollar is currency (the IRS treats bitcoin more like a taxable asset), judges have no problem dinging defendants who use it in a manner consistent with money laundering.

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Embracing The D-Word In The Omni Era

PYMNTS

With big-box retailer Walmart planning to spend more than $1 billion on eCommerce in 2017, large retailers have shown they aren’t shying away from bolstering their omnichannel strategies. Before retailers make significant investments, however, they typically rely on analytics to help shape sound omnicommerce campaigns. That’s why interpreting data the right way can make all the difference between success and failure in today’s competitive retail marketplace.

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Forty Is The New Faster (Payments)

PYMNTS

Forty is the new faster — payments, that is. More than 40 years after its debut, the Automated Clearing House Network becomes the first payments system in the country to offer ubiquitous faster payments to every consumer and business in the U.S. via all banks and credit unions. Today (Sept. 23) marks the launch of Same Day ACH, with three settlement windows enabling consumers and businesses to receive credit, same day, for payments made to them.

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Voice-Activated Banking: Mobile Vs. Smart Home Devices

PYMNTS

The use of devices supporting hands-free banking is on the rise. But which devices are consumers actually using — smartphones or smart home devices? According to a recent blog post from Nadia Benaissa, a marketing manager at CR2, smart home devices seem to be taking the lead in the battle for attention in the voice-activated banking space. “The campaign to establish a market leader in the smart home device market really began when Amazon launched its Echo smart home device two years ago,” Benais

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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 Send Speeds Up With Stripe Instant Payouts

PYMNTS

Mastercard announced today (Sept. 19) a new partnership with Stripe to speed up payments for marketplaces. The two payments players are teaming up to help sellers on Stripe marketplaces get paid faster and easier in today’s shareconomy. Mastercard Send ’s real-time payments will now use the instant payouts feature from Stripe to ensure U.S. sellers can receive funds quickly and securely.

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Regulation, Corporate Demands Force Banks To Hustle

PYMNTS

Know Your Customer regulations can mean corporations have to wait as long as three months — yes, months — to get onboarded to a new bank. Part of the problem, says Pegasystems Senior Director of Risk, Compliance and Onboarding for Financial Services Reetu Khosla, is that KYC and other regulations change so frequently and are so numerous that it’s a major undertaking to remain compliant.

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Domino’s Pizza Customers Can Now Order Via Facebook Messenger

PYMNTS

There’s a reason millennials like Domino’s : It makes it really easy to order pizza on the go or on social media. And that ease of use just got even easier with the addition of placing orders via Facebook. According to the company, U.S.-based customers can order pizza through Facebook Messenger without having to talk to a human being. Those with an existing Pizza Profile can reorder their most recent pizza order or they can place an Easy Order, which enables them to manually configure thei

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Why Retailers Are Watching Gmail’s Latest Updates Closely

PYMNTS

In a world where apps and chatbots are fighting for user dominance, there can be something almost quaint-seeming about email commerce. Who cares about email marketing, after all? It’s so 10 years ago. But Google — with its dominantly powerful Gmail services — cares very much about email and its potential for marketers, hence its announcement of responsive design for email earlier this 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.