The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI tools like ChatGPT, is ushering in a new era of financial fraud. Malicious actors are leveraging these technologies to craft more convincing and sophisticated scams, putting consumers and institutions at greater risk than ever.
Topics: A.I., Artificial Intelligence, fraud
One Year Into FedNow: An Unvarnished View of Instant Payments
Although instant payments have been available in the United States since 2017 – via The Clearing House’s RTP rails – many in the industry treated last month as their first anniversary. That’s because in July 2023, the Federal Reserve launched its FedNow service, kicking off market competition in earnest.
Topics: FedNow, RTP, instant payments, Payments Landscape, Emerging Payments
With success comes additional scrutiny. A recent Federal Reserve survey indicates that three-quarters of Americans are familiar with Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services, and nearly 10% had accepted such a deferred payment offer in the past 30 days. A modernized take on installment lending for the digital age, BNPL's rapid rise has attracted the attention of lawmakers, regulators, and companies with various stakes in the payments ecosystem.
Topics: Apple Pay, Chase Pay, Buy Now Pay Later, BNPL, CFPB, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Bank Regulation, Credit Union Regulation
The State of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2024: Navigating New Regulations and Industry Dynamics
The landscape of US financial regulation is continually evolving. At the heart of this transformation is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), an agency tasked with overseeing and enforcing consumer protection laws within the financial sector.
Topics: Technology, Regulations, CFPB, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Financial Institutions, Data Protection
Tracking Opportunity and Growth in the Commercial Payments Market
The outlook for the commercial payments market is strong. Volumes are projected to grow at a 14% average annual rate over the next five years, offering a prime opportunity for financial institutions to drive margin and deepen corporate customer relationships amid an uncertain economic environment marked by margin pressures and increasing regulatory headwinds.
Topics: FedNow, RTP, instant payments, Commercial Payments, B2B Payments
Examining the EU’s AI Act & Its Broader Implications
Aspects of artificial intelligence have been gradually introduced into business settings for years, starting with robotic process automation and continuing into fraud detection systems, CRM tools, and other varieties of knowledge management.
Topics: AI, Artificial Intelligence, Financial Services, EU, European Union, Financial Institutions
Any bank or credit union executive who’s taken part in critical vendor contract reviews, RFPs, negotiations, and renewals knows that the process can be cumbersome at best.
Topics: Vendor Contract Negotiation, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, Bank Contracts, Credit Union Contracts, Contract Optimiziation
What’s at Stake in Banking & Payments with Capital One’s Purchase of Discover?
Plenty of ink has been spilled on Capital One’s bold move to acquire Discover Financial Services, with most of it revolving around combining two large credit card issuers and the odds of the deal securing regulatory approval.
Topics: Interchange, Mergers, Credit Cards, Durbin, Debit Cards, Capital One, Debit Network, Discover
Setting the Table for Balance Sheet Growth When Interest Rates Fall
Though it is unclear how far the Federal Reserve might go, or when it might act, there is a growing consensus that interest rates will start to come down later this year.
Topics: Deposits, Loans, Customer Experience, Balance Sheet Management, Interest Rates, CDs, Money Market Accounts
We made the case in a recent blog that banks and credit unions should take a closer look at their consumer lending strategies. With $32 billion of volume in 2023, there has been no shortage of opportunity, spanning existing and prospective customers.
Topics: Regulation, Compliance, Efficiency, Credit Union, Customer Experience, Outcomes Bank