Strategy & Trends

Cash continues to grow in Europe

Wed, Feb, 10 2010

A new study from UK information and research provider RBR has found that, despite the best efforts of banks, payment networks and governments to wean consumers off cash, it remains the predominant retail payment method in Europe.

The never-ending fight against fraud

Wed, Feb, 10 2010

Fraud is a booming business. Perhaps no other group understands this better than retailers, for whom the true cost of fraud exceeds $191 billion a year in the US alone.

Europe on track for EMV deadline

Wed, Feb, 10 2010

Good progress is being made in the realisation of a Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA) for cards, according to new data from the European Commission and the European Payments Council.

Latin America embraces EMV

Wed, Feb, 10 2010

Across the Latin America region, payment card usage is growing at reassuringly healthy rates despite recent economic upheaval. Now that banks and their customers are getting up to speed in terms of card issuance and usage, the emphasis is switching to the roll-out of EMV-enabled cards.

Promising growth on the eastern front

Wed, Feb, 10 2010

If anyone needed convincing that the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region represents the future growth hotspots for credit and debit cards, one only needs to look at the numbers concerning card issuance and transaction volumes to be certain.

Freedom brings its own rewards

Wed, Feb, 10 2010

Barclaycard’s Freedom scheme will be launched in the UK in March, and is being lauded as the broadest retail rewards scheme in the marketplace. Over eight million cardholders will be able to earn rewards on every purchase in over 30,000 merchant outlets who have been invited to participate in the scheme, including small, medium and large merchants across a range of sectors including shops, restaurants and online outlets.

Prepaid enters gaming rewards realm

Sun, Jan, 31 2010

With the US now out of recession, the nation’s biggest credit card lenders are reporting that delinquency rates are starting to contract after hitting record highs in recent months. But as Charles Davis reports, there are still some troubling signs that issuers need to pay heed to before they consider themselves over the worst.

Falling delinquencies bring optimism

Sun, Jan, 31 2010

With the US now out of recession, the nation’s biggest credit card lenders are reporting that delinquency rates are starting to contract after hitting record highs in recent months. But as Charles Davis reports, there are still some troubling signs that issuers need to pay heed to before they consider themselves over the worst.

First Data sets sights on Middle East

Sun, Jan, 31 2010

Cash accounts for around 90 percent of most transactions in the Middle Eastern region, while cards as a payment method are generally distrusted by the local populations. Brian Quarrie, managing director of First Data in the Middle East, speaks to John Hill about the region’s card market development.

Visa aims for prepaid penetration

Sun, Jan, 31 2010

As prepaid solutions make their way to Middle Eastern markets, payment networks, banks and other stakeholders are joining forces to smooth the path ahead. Visa CEMEA recently launched one of the first prepaid gift cards in the region and is confident many more will be rolled out soon. Victoria Conroy reports.