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The World Happiness Report was released on March 20, which, in case you didn\u2019t know, was the UN\u2019s International Day of Happiness.\u00a0 The big reveal is who is the happiest country of them all. And who is up or down.
\nThe media works itself into a frenzy. After all, everyone loves lists, and who doesn\u2019t want to be happy?
\nIf you are an American, it\u2019s damn depressing.\u00a0 Yet again, the report finds we\u2019re not the happiest country by far, and worse yet, says we keep getting less happy. People under thirty are apparently very unhappy.\u00a0 The NYTimes headline says, \u201cAmericans are unhappier than ever. Solo dining may be a sign.\u201d
\nDon\u2019t blame it on the election.
\nEvery year, Gallup surveys around 1000 people in every country for the report. It asks them to rank how happy they are on a scale of 1-10. Then, the surveys for the preceding three years are pooled to get the score for the current year. It compares the scores across countries. The 2025 report combines 2022, 2023 and 2024.\u00a0
\nYou\u2019ve probably seen the headlines. Finland is the winner for the 8th year running.
\nThis leads to lots of stories about what Americans and everyone else can learn from the blissful Finns. It\u2019s a great tourist draw. Finland promotes master classes to Find Your Inner Finn. It seems to involve taking a lot of saunas.
\nHold on, folks: it is time to rethink that trip to Helsinki. And maybe say \u201cAloha\u201d instead.
\nTo begin with, why should America, with a diverse population of 340 million people, spread across 50 states, from sea to shining sea and then some, compare itself to a place with 5.6 million people on a sliver of land?
\nFinland is one of the 27 Member States of the European Union. The EU has 449 million people, which is more than the U.S., but in the same football stadium as large jurisdictions go.\u00a0 EU citizens can live and work anywhere in the EU just like U.S. residents can in the U.S. Next to India, the EU is the largest democracy in the world.
\nA fairer comparison would be between the U.S. and the entire European Union. And guess what happens then?
\nThe U.S. is the WINNER!
\nThe U.S. posted a happiness score of 6.724, beating the EU at only 6.610. It also beat India, which came in at 118 with a score of 4.389. We topped the two largest democracies in the world!\u00a0 (The EU score is a population-weighted average of the individual Member State scores.)
\nAmerica wins the Happiest Large Democracy Award.
\nNow, a difference of 0.114 might seem like a whisker. In the WHR approach, though, that can be many differences in rankings \u2014 and bragging rights.
\nThe U.S. also leads the world\u2019s superpowers. It trounced Russia at 5.945 and China at 5.921, to win the Happiest Superpower Award.
\nYou cannot beat the U.S. if you want to live in the happiest superpower or one of the three largest democracies.
\nMuch of the media coverage for the 2025 WHR talks about how unhappy Americans are getting even less happy.\u00a0
\nThat\u2019s not true based on data for 2021-2024.
\nThe U.S. scored 6.724 in the 2025 WHR rankings and 6.725 in the 2024 WHR rankings.
\nThose are arithmetically and statistically virtually indistinguishable.
\nIn fact, according to the WHR surveys, Americans were just as happy in 2024 as they were in 2021.\u00a0 To see why, we need a detour into moving averages.\u00a0
\nThe 2025 and 2024 three-year averages have 2022 and 2023 in common. The 2025 score swapped out 2021 for 2024. The score barely changed, meaning the scores from the 2024 and 2021 surveys must have been virtually identical.\u00a0
\n(The U.S. scores were trending down before 2021 and an inspection of the moving averages suggests that was a big drop in happiness between the 2020 and 2021 surveys, which has persisted.)
\nYes, Finland is the happiest country on Earth with a whopping score of 7.736 \u2014 more than a full point ahead of the U.S. on the 10-scale.\u00a0 Before you pack your bags to find your inner Finn, you might want to see if you can find happiness closer to home.
\nIf we\u2019re going to compare Finland to the United States, why not compare it to an individual state?
\nWe expect a lot of variation in happiness across U.S. states, just as there is across EU Member States.\u00a0 According to the WHR 2025 report, Greece was one of the unhappiest countries in Europe. It came in at 5.776, which is almost two full points below Finland, and almost a full point below Germany.
\nUnfortunately, the WHR report lumps the U.S. states together.\u00a0 It does the same 1,000-person survey for the entire U.S., with 340 million people, as it does in Finland, with 5.8 million people.
\nA study based on 2008-2017 data, however, found that many U.S. states had a higher level of happiness than Finland and other Nordic countries.
\n\u00a0Two economists combined 1.9 million Gallup survey responses for the U.S. and 3.5 million for other countries and crunched the numbers. (See my 2024 happiness article for more details.) They supplemented the 10-step measure the WHR survey uses with several other positive and negative indicators of happiness \u2014 such as, did you enjoy your day yesterday and were you in pain yesterday.
\nAloha! The happiest state was Hawaii. U.S. states captured 9 of the top 10 spots. Finland was down at 51 right behind Connecticut.
\nOf course, the study is dated. It is still likely, though, that Hawaii ranks much higher in the U.S. on the happiness charts and may even still be happier than Finland. World Population Review scores U.S. states on a scale from 0-100 based on 31 metrics.\u00a0 It documents the same tremendous variation in happiness as we saw in the EHR for the EU. The state scores varied from a low of 30.0 to a high of 68.7.
\nSo maybe you should ditch the sauna and try a luau.\u00a0 Instead of finding your Inner Finn, get the Aloha Spirit.\u00a0
\nIn the 1950s, American physiologist Ancel Keys noticed that people in several relatively poor Mediterranean countries with similar diets had much better health outcomes than those in wealthier countries. This led to his ground-breaking seven-country study. It confirmed the health benefits of following what we now call the Mediterranean diet.
\nOther observational and randomized studies confirmed his findings.\u00a0 If you follow the diet, you are likely to have a longer and healthier life than if you eat a meat-heavy diet. This research led to practical results based on rigorous research.\u00a0
\nIf you switch from a typical American diet to a Mediterranean diet, you will add years to your life. Whether you\u2019ll be happier with fewer burgers and fries, I can\u2019t say.
\nBy contrast, the happiness rankings are about as solid as the latest self-help book or diet fad.
\nMeasuring happiness by asking people to rank it on a 10-point scale is sketchy, as I showed in my article last year. The economists who did the 2008-2017 study found that the rankings changed a lot when they simply supplemented the 10-point question with other positive and negative indicators of well-being.\u00a0
\nMexico\u2019s happiness rankings make you wonder what\u2019s going on.\u00a0 Mexico has shot up the happiness scale in the last three years from 6.330 to 6.979, vaulting from 36 to 10th place with the Nordics in its sights.
\nThat burst of happiness must mean their score for the calendar year 2024 was off the charts to pull the 3-year averages up that much. \u00a0Yet Mexico ranks 76th in GDP per capita (adjusted for purchasing power).
\nThere is no scientific basis for concluding that Americans should be more like the Finns.\u00a0 No serious researcher would claim that you\u2019ll be happier if you buy a sauna, move to Finland, or take Inner Finn classes. Or that Greeks should have luaus or move to Mexico.
\nAccording to the Finnish ambassador, one reason Finns are so happy is their \u201cweekly sauna sessions.\u201d He even uses them for diplomatic meetings in DC: \u201cWhen you are half-naked or even sometimes completely naked, it allows for deeper discussion.\u201d
\nI don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019d rather throw on a loud Hawaiian shirt, head to Maui, and try a luau. Better yet, take my dog for a walk after a healthy dinner of fresh fish and veggies \u2014 fully clothed, thank you very much.
\n\n
Dr. David S. Evans is an economist who has\u00a0published more than\u00a010\u00a0books and 200 articles, many related to entrepreneurship, platforms, and the digital economy.\u00a0He is\u00a0Chairman,\u00a0Market\u00a0Platform Dynamics and Managing\u00a0Director,\u00a0Berkeley\u00a0Research Group.\u00a0He has taught at the University College London and the University of Chicago Law School. For\u00a0more\u00a0details\u00a0see\u00a0davidsevans.org.
\nThe post Cheer Up America, You Get Some of the Most Happy Awards, Too appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "The World Happiness Report was released on March 20, which, in case you didn\u2019t know, was the UN\u2019s International Day of Happiness.\u00a0 The big reveal is who is the happiest country of them all. And who is up or down.\nThe media works itself into a frenzy. After all, everyone loves lists, and who doesn\u2019t want to be happy?\nIf you are an American, it\u2019s damn depressing.\u00a0 Yet again, the report finds we\u2019re not the happiest country by far, and worse yet, says we keep getting less happy. People under thirty are apparently very unhappy.\u00a0 The NYTimes headline says, \u201cAmericans are unhappier than ever. Solo dining may be a sign.\u201d\nDon\u2019t blame it on the election. \nEvery year, Gallup surveys around 1000 people in every country for the report. It asks them to rank how happy they are on a scale of 1-10. Then, the surveys for the preceding three years are pooled to get the score for the current year. It compares the scores across countries. The 2025 report combines 2022, 2023 and 2024.\u00a0 \nYou\u2019ve probably seen the headlines. Finland is the winner for the 8th year running. \nThis leads to lots of stories about what Americans and everyone else can learn from the blissful Finns. It\u2019s a great tourist draw. Finland promotes master classes to Find Your Inner Finn. It seems to involve taking a lot of saunas. \nHold on, folks: it is time to rethink that trip to Helsinki. And maybe say \u201cAloha\u201d instead.\nCheer Up, America\nTo begin with, why should America, with a diverse population of 340 million people, spread across 50 states, from sea to shining sea and then some, compare itself to a place with 5.6 million people on a sliver of land?\nFinland is one of the 27 Member States of the European Union. The EU has 449 million people, which is more than the U.S., but in the same football stadium as large jurisdictions go.\u00a0 EU citizens can live and work anywhere in the EU just like U.S. residents can in the U.S. Next to India, the EU is the largest democracy in the world.\nA fairer comparison would be between the U.S. and the entire European Union. And guess what happens then?\nThe U.S. is the WINNER!\nAmerica Wins Two Most Happy Awards\nThe U.S. posted a happiness score of 6.724, beating the EU at only 6.610. It also beat India, which came in at 118 with a score of 4.389. We topped the two largest democracies in the world!\u00a0 (The EU score is a population-weighted average of the individual Member State scores.)\n America wins the Happiest Large Democracy Award. \nNow, a difference of 0.114 might seem like a whisker. In the WHR approach, though, that can be many differences in rankings \u2014 and bragging rights.\n The U.S. also leads the world\u2019s superpowers. It trounced Russia at 5.945 and China at 5.921, to win the Happiest Superpower Award.\nYou cannot beat the U.S. if you want to live in the happiest superpower or one of the three largest democracies. \nAmericans Could be Happier, but they Aren\u2019t Less Happy\nMuch of the media coverage for the 2025 WHR talks about how unhappy Americans are getting even less happy.\u00a0 \nThat\u2019s not true based on data for 2021-2024. \nThe U.S. scored 6.724 in the 2025 WHR rankings and 6.725 in the 2024 WHR rankings.\nThose are arithmetically and statistically virtually indistinguishable.\nIn fact, according to the WHR surveys, Americans were just as happy in 2024 as they were in 2021.\u00a0 To see why, we need a detour into moving averages.\u00a0 \nThe 2025 and 2024 three-year averages have 2022 and 2023 in common. The 2025 score swapped out 2021 for 2024. The score barely changed, meaning the scores from the 2024 and 2021 surveys must have been virtually identical.\u00a0 \n(The U.S. scores were trending down before 2021 and an inspection of the moving averages suggests that was a big drop in happiness between the 2020 and 2021 surveys, which has persisted.) \nFind Your Inner Finn or Get the Aloha Spirit?\nYes, Finland is the happiest country on Earth with a whopping score of 7.736 \u2014 more than a full point ahead of the U.S. on the 10-scale.\u00a0 Before you pack your bags to find your inner Finn, you might want to see if you can find happiness closer to home.\nIf we\u2019re going to compare Finland to the United States, why not compare it to an individual state?\nWe expect a lot of variation in happiness across U.S. states, just as there is across EU Member States.\u00a0 According to the WHR 2025 report, Greece was one of the unhappiest countries in Europe. It came in at 5.776, which is almost two full points below Finland, and almost a full point below Germany. \nUnfortunately, the WHR report lumps the U.S. states together.\u00a0 It does the same 1,000-person survey for the entire U.S., with 340 million people, as it does in Finland, with 5.8 million people. \nA study based on 2008-2017 data, however, found that many U.S. states had a higher level of happiness than Finland and other Nordic countries.\n\u00a0Two economists combined 1.9 million Gallup survey responses for the U.S. and 3.5 million for other countries and crunched the numbers. (See my 2024 happiness article for more details.) They supplemented the 10-step measure the WHR survey uses with several other positive and negative indicators of happiness \u2014 such as, did you enjoy your day yesterday and were you in pain yesterday.\nAloha! The happiest state was Hawaii. U.S. states captured 9 of the top 10 spots. Finland was down at 51 right behind Connecticut.\nOf course, the study is dated. It is still likely, though, that Hawaii ranks much higher in the U.S. on the happiness charts and may even still be happier than Finland. World Population Review scores U.S. states on a scale from 0-100 based on 31 metrics.\u00a0 It documents the same tremendous variation in happiness as we saw in the EHR for the EU. The state scores varied from a low of 30.0 to a high of 68.7.\nSo maybe you should ditch the sauna and try a luau.\u00a0 Instead of finding your Inner Finn, get the Aloha Spirit.\u00a0 \nThe Science of Happiness (Or Lack Thereof)\nIn the 1950s, American physiologist Ancel Keys noticed that people in several relatively poor Mediterranean countries with similar diets had much better health outcomes than those in wealthier countries. This led to his ground-breaking seven-country study. It confirmed the health benefits of following what we now call the Mediterranean diet. \nOther observational and randomized studies confirmed his findings.\u00a0 If you follow the diet, you are likely to have a longer and healthier life than if you eat a meat-heavy diet. This research led to practical results based on rigorous research.\u00a0 \nIf you switch from a typical American diet to a Mediterranean diet, you will add years to your life. Whether you\u2019ll be happier with fewer burgers and fries, I can\u2019t say.\nBy contrast, the happiness rankings are about as solid as the latest self-help book or diet fad. \n Measuring happiness by asking people to rank it on a 10-point scale is sketchy, as I showed in my article last year. The economists who did the 2008-2017 study found that the rankings changed a lot when they simply supplemented the 10-point question with other positive and negative indicators of well-being.\u00a0 \nMexico\u2019s happiness rankings make you wonder what\u2019s going on.\u00a0 Mexico has shot up the happiness scale in the last three years from 6.330 to 6.979, vaulting from 36 to 10th place with the Nordics in its sights. \nThat burst of happiness must mean their score for the calendar year 2024 was off the charts to pull the 3-year averages up that much. \u00a0Yet Mexico ranks 76th in GDP per capita (adjusted for purchasing power).\nThere is no scientific basis for concluding that Americans should be more like the Finns.\u00a0 No serious researcher would claim that you\u2019ll be happier if you buy a sauna, move to Finland, or take Inner Finn classes. Or that Greeks should have luaus or move to Mexico.\nNaked with Strangers, or a Walk with the Dog\nAccording to the Finnish ambassador, one reason Finns are so happy is their \u201cweekly sauna sessions.\u201d He even uses them for diplomatic meetings in DC: \u201cWhen you are half-naked or even sometimes completely naked, it allows for deeper discussion.\u201d \nI don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019d rather throw on a loud Hawaiian shirt, head to Maui, and try a luau. Better yet, take my dog for a walk after a healthy dinner of fresh fish and veggies \u2014 fully clothed, thank you very much.\n \nDr. David S. Evans is an economist who has\u00a0published more than\u00a010\u00a0books and 200 articles, many related to entrepreneurship, platforms, and the digital economy.\u00a0He is\u00a0Chairman,\u00a0Market\u00a0Platform Dynamics and Managing\u00a0Director,\u00a0Berkeley\u00a0Research Group.\u00a0He has taught at the University College London and the University of Chicago Law School. For\u00a0more\u00a0details\u00a0see\u00a0davidsevans.org.\nThe post Cheer Up America, You Get Some of the Most Happy Awards, Too appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-04-11T04:00:41-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-04-10T19:09:05-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "David S. Evans", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/devans/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/32c0ac7195e006168d3af2dd4d10fe18?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "David S. Evans", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/devans/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/32c0ac7195e006168d3af2dd4d10fe18?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Happiness-report-david-evans.jpg", "tags": [ "Connected Economy", "David S. Evans", "economy", "GDP", "Main Feature", "News", "PYMNTS News", "World Happiness Report", "Opinion" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2565366", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/opinion/2025/uncertainty-overload-tariffs-cast-shadow-on-fintech-funding-and-growth/", "title": "Uncertainty Overload: Tariffs Cast Shadow on FinTech Funding and Growth", "content_html": "So far, there have been 10 Mondays in the Trump administration, each possessing its own variety of manic behavior. \u201cManic Mondays,\u201d we\u2019ve been calling them. For example, there was the Monday when the CFPB looked like it was going to be deleted. Then there was the Monday where it wasn\u2019t. Then there was the Monday following the nomination hearing for the CFPB director-designate Jonathan McKernan. He\u2019s still the designate. No vote on his nomination has been scheduled.
\nBut as PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster pointed out at the beginning of this week\u2019s Washington Weekly conversation with QED Investor Amias Gerety, this Monday (April 7) just might be the most manic yet. A menu of stiff tariffs was introduced on Wednesday, April 2, and the stock market, along with most economist guidance for the balance of the year, went south almost immediately. In fact, on this most manic of Mondays, Gerety might have uttered a candidate for the greatest understatement of the year when he told Webster: \u201cNot since the financial crisis have people needed to pay this close attention to the news. And I must tell you, figuring out tariffs is not a good extracurricular activity for CEOs.\u201d
\nBut it is the reality. As of this writing, the Dow was off 700 points, and the watercooler talk had turned to a 90-day tariff postponement, which the White House later said was \u201cfake news.\u201d\u00a0For FinTech companies, especially those considering public offerings, the impact has been especially pronounced. Gerety, a former assistant treasury secretary in the Obama administration, noted that many FinTech firms poised to enter the IPO market have abruptly reversed course or put plans on indefinite hold. This shift marks a significant disruption for these companies, which view IPOs not just as milestones but as crucial events for raising capital and fueling aggressive expansion.
\n\u201cIPOs are not the destination,\u201d Gerety said, \u201cbut they are a massive capital formation moment. It empowers companies that go public, allowing them to be more aggressive, to acquire companies, hire more, and lower their cost of capital. All these benefits are going away.\u201d
\nGerety emphasized a clear divergence in advice given to FinTechs based on their stage of growth. Early-stage companies, he noted, should stay narrowly focused on customer acquisition and product development, largely insulated from macroeconomic uncertainty. \u201cThe early stage, the classic advice is you\u2019re so small, the only way you win is by winning,\u201d Gerety said. \u201cGet the next customer, make the next great product, delight the next consumer. That\u2019s the only thing you can do. It\u2019s the only thing you should do.\u201d
\nLate-stage FinTech companies, however, find themselves in a starkly different situation, grappling directly with the consequences of market upheaval and the collapsing prospects for IPOs. In terms of capital raising, the current climate demands adaptability. Gerety suggested that while exceptional companies can still attract capital from patient, long-term investors, the broader market has significantly thinned. High-profile FinTechs such as Klarna and Chime, both sizable enterprises with revenues in the billions, now face limited opportunities to secure additional funding.
\n\u201cThese are big, real companies,\u201d Gerety said, \u201cbut can they be aggressive right now? No. Everyone\u2019s sitting on their hands and saying, \u2018Let\u2019s wait and see.\u2019\u201d
\nUncertainty, according to Gerety, remains the critical element undermining financial services. By their nature, financial institutions rely heavily on stability to provide loans, extend credit and make long-term investments. Current conditions make it difficult for businesses to make long-term commitments, whether building factories, expanding supply chains, or launching major projects. \u201cFinancial services need certainty,\u201d Gerety said. \u201cIf you\u2019re planning for 10 or 14 years, uncertainty is devastating.\u201d
\nAs companies approach earnings season, investors and executives brace for troubling guidance. Gerety expected sharp downward revisions in forecasts and increased volatility. Although first-quarter results may appear stable due to prior benign conditions, they now bear little predictive power given the swiftly altered economic landscape. Major financial institutions, including JPMorgan, have already adjusted their forecasts toward predicting recessionary conditions.
\n\u201cQ1 was still a benign environment,\u201d Gerety said, adding, \u201cbut the environment has changed dramatically, and even guidance will reflect that heightened uncertainty.\u201d
\nDespite the turmoil, Gerety finds one potential silver lining. As he and Webster mused, \u00a0this crisis is self-inflicted. And by nature, it could, theoretically, be reversed swiftly. However, the damage in terms of global trust and long-term economic positioning could take longer to recover. \u00a0Even if tariffs were reversed immediately, Gerety cautioned, the U.S. has already signaled unpredictability, prompting global partners to reconsider alliances and investment strategies.
\n\u201cEven if tariffs were to evaporate tomorrow,\u201d he noted, \u201cit would still change economic arrangements worldwide. Europeans, South Asians and Latin Americans are already reconsidering their investments, pushing closer to competitors like China.\u201d
\nGerety concluded that while the U.S. economy is strong enough to weather storms, the unnecessary volatility introduced by tariffs has deeply damaged investor confidence, disrupted markets, and potentially triggered a recession. The damage will leave lasting scars on the economy. \u201cWe have real competition in industries like electric vehicles, and we should be uniting with global democracies and allies,\u201d Gerety said. \u201cInstead, we\u2019ve disrupted essential partnerships, inadvertently driving our allies closer to economic rivals.\u201d
\nThe post Uncertainty Overload: Tariffs Cast Shadow on FinTech Funding and Growth appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "So far, there have been 10 Mondays in the Trump administration, each possessing its own variety of manic behavior. \u201cManic Mondays,\u201d we\u2019ve been calling them. For example, there was the Monday when the CFPB looked like it was going to be deleted. Then there was the Monday where it wasn\u2019t. Then there was the Monday following the nomination hearing for the CFPB director-designate Jonathan McKernan. He\u2019s still the designate. No vote on his nomination has been scheduled. \nBut as PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster pointed out at the beginning of this week\u2019s Washington Weekly conversation with QED Investor Amias Gerety, this Monday (April 7) just might be the most manic yet. A menu of stiff tariffs was introduced on Wednesday, April 2, and the stock market, along with most economist guidance for the balance of the year, went south almost immediately. In fact, on this most manic of Mondays, Gerety might have uttered a candidate for the greatest understatement of the year when he told Webster: \u201cNot since the financial crisis have people needed to pay this close attention to the news. And I must tell you, figuring out tariffs is not a good extracurricular activity for CEOs.\u201d\nBut it is the reality. As of this writing, the Dow was off 700 points, and the watercooler talk had turned to a 90-day tariff postponement, which the White House later said was \u201cfake news.\u201d\u00a0For FinTech companies, especially those considering public offerings, the impact has been especially pronounced. Gerety, a former assistant treasury secretary in the Obama administration, noted that many FinTech firms poised to enter the IPO market have abruptly reversed course or put plans on indefinite hold. This shift marks a significant disruption for these companies, which view IPOs not just as milestones but as crucial events for raising capital and fueling aggressive expansion.\n\u201cIPOs are not the destination,\u201d Gerety said, \u201cbut they are a massive capital formation moment. It empowers companies that go public, allowing them to be more aggressive, to acquire companies, hire more, and lower their cost of capital. All these benefits are going away.\u201d\nFinTech Growing Pains\nGerety emphasized a clear divergence in advice given to FinTechs based on their stage of growth. Early-stage companies, he noted, should stay narrowly focused on customer acquisition and product development, largely insulated from macroeconomic uncertainty. \u201cThe early stage, the classic advice is you\u2019re so small, the only way you win is by winning,\u201d Gerety said. \u201cGet the next customer, make the next great product, delight the next consumer. That\u2019s the only thing you can do. It\u2019s the only thing you should do.\u201d\nLate-stage FinTech companies, however, find themselves in a starkly different situation, grappling directly with the consequences of market upheaval and the collapsing prospects for IPOs. In terms of capital raising, the current climate demands adaptability. Gerety suggested that while exceptional companies can still attract capital from patient, long-term investors, the broader market has significantly thinned. High-profile FinTechs such as Klarna and Chime, both sizable enterprises with revenues in the billions, now face limited opportunities to secure additional funding. \n\u201cThese are big, real companies,\u201d Gerety said, \u201cbut can they be aggressive right now? No. Everyone\u2019s sitting on their hands and saying, \u2018Let\u2019s wait and see.\u2019\u201d\nThe Uncertainty Factor\nUncertainty, according to Gerety, remains the critical element undermining financial services. By their nature, financial institutions rely heavily on stability to provide loans, extend credit and make long-term investments. Current conditions make it difficult for businesses to make long-term commitments, whether building factories, expanding supply chains, or launching major projects. \u201cFinancial services need certainty,\u201d Gerety said. \u201cIf you\u2019re planning for 10 or 14 years, uncertainty is devastating.\u201d\nAs companies approach earnings season, investors and executives brace for troubling guidance. Gerety expected sharp downward revisions in forecasts and increased volatility. Although first-quarter results may appear stable due to prior benign conditions, they now bear little predictive power given the swiftly altered economic landscape. Major financial institutions, including JPMorgan, have already adjusted their forecasts toward predicting recessionary conditions. \n\u201cQ1 was still a benign environment,\u201d Gerety said, adding, \u201cbut the environment has changed dramatically, and even guidance will reflect that heightened uncertainty.\u201d\nDespite the turmoil, Gerety finds one potential silver lining. As he and Webster mused, \u00a0this crisis is self-inflicted. And by nature, it could, theoretically, be reversed swiftly. However, the damage in terms of global trust and long-term economic positioning could take longer to recover. \u00a0Even if tariffs were reversed immediately, Gerety cautioned, the U.S. has already signaled unpredictability, prompting global partners to reconsider alliances and investment strategies. \n\u201cEven if tariffs were to evaporate tomorrow,\u201d he noted, \u201cit would still change economic arrangements worldwide. Europeans, South Asians and Latin Americans are already reconsidering their investments, pushing closer to competitors like China.\u201d\nGerety concluded that while the U.S. economy is strong enough to weather storms, the unnecessary volatility introduced by tariffs has deeply damaged investor confidence, disrupted markets, and potentially triggered a recession. The damage will leave lasting scars on the economy. \u201cWe have real competition in industries like electric vehicles, and we should be uniting with global democracies and allies,\u201d Gerety said. \u201cInstead, we\u2019ve disrupted essential partnerships, inadvertently driving our allies closer to economic rivals.\u201d\nThe post Uncertainty Overload: Tariffs Cast Shadow on FinTech Funding and Growth appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-04-07T14:15:05-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-04-08T22:23:07-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/washington-weekly-tariffs.jpg", "tags": [ "B2B", "B2B Payments", "commercial payments", "Connected Economy", "Editor's Picks", "Featured News", "FinTechs", "ipo", "News", "PYMNTS News", "pymnts tv", "regulation", "tariffs", "Venture Capital", "video", "Washington Weekly", "Opinion" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2425045", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/opinion/2025/credit-unions-embrace-business-as-unusual-through-collaboration-and-innovation/", "title": "Credit Unions Embrace \u2018Business as Unusual\u2019 Through Collaboration and Innovation", "content_html": "Innovation and collaboration lead to new ways to meet credit union needs, Velera\u00a0Chief Service Officer\u00a0Dean Young writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d
\n\n
There is no doubt that the past five years have presented unprecedented challenges to the financial services world, primarily stemming from the pandemic. Since that time, we have all navigated the years that followed with new approaches, mindsets and perspectives. In Duncan Wardle\u2019s words, we have returned to \u201cbusiness as unusual,\u201d and those who failed to adjust to post-pandemic shifts or innovate accordingly have likely learned the importance of being nimble and open to change.
\nIn keeping with Wardle\u2019s core tenets of encouraging innovation and growth, we at Velera actively seek to shift the \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d mindset to a \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d approach, both internally and in our interactions with our credit unions and other industry stakeholders. Internally, this transformation is driven using innovative tools and collaborative practices that empower our teams to say \u201cyes\u201d to opportunities and challenges while building on them with the solutions at our disposal.
\nA prime example is our Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) tool, which enhances transparency and capacity management by automating labor tracking, billing and reporting processes. This innovation allows teams to focus on finding ways to meet credit union needs rather than highlighting barriers. Similarly, the introduction of our self-service Project Management Page, powered by ServiceNow, enables credit unions to manage onboarding and project management more efficiently by viewing project demand and active project requests in real time \u2014 and all in one place. Credit unions benefit from improved transparency and collaboration through the use of this engagement tool, which also paves the way for further generative artificial intelligence (AI) integration.
\nImportantly, Velera uses a collaborative approach to develop new solutions and foster continuous improvement. Through interactions with our Advisory Councils, Co-Creation Collectives and client focus groups, we are able to address client concerns not with a definitive “no, because” response, but instead with a solution-focused response. This approach also enables us to build solutions and services not just for our clients, but with them, enabling a collaborative journey.
\nOn the service side of Velera\u2019s business, we implement Wardle\u2019s core tenet of asking \u201cwhat if\u201d every single day. A pivotal \u201cwhat if\u201d that Velera is considering as we close out 2024 and look ahead to 2025: \u201cWhat if we began to leverage AI as a core driver for future innovation and efficiency across our organization?\u201d Like many, Velera is carefully and strategically integrating AI capabilities across our business, led by Velera\u2019s Strategic AI Advisory Council, which guides our exploration and investment in the technology.
\nIn the ever-changing landscape of the financial services industry, \u201cwhat if\u201d is an ideology that any innovative organization should adopt and integrate within its daily discussions. It\u2019s a question that drives almost everything we do at Velera, from determining how to best implement AI into our business to evaluating other exciting opportunities and innovations to come.
\n
The post Credit Unions Embrace \u2018Business as Unusual\u2019 Through Collaboration and Innovation appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Innovation and collaboration lead to new ways to meet credit union needs, Velera\u00a0Chief Service Officer\u00a0Dean Young writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d\n \nThere is no doubt that the past five years have presented unprecedented challenges to the financial services world, primarily stemming from the pandemic. Since that time, we have all navigated the years that followed with new approaches, mindsets and perspectives. In Duncan Wardle\u2019s words, we have returned to \u201cbusiness as unusual,\u201d and those who failed to adjust to post-pandemic shifts or innovate accordingly have likely learned the importance of being nimble and open to change.\nIn keeping with Wardle\u2019s core tenets of encouraging innovation and growth, we at Velera actively seek to shift the \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d mindset to a \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d approach, both internally and in our interactions with our credit unions and other industry stakeholders. Internally, this transformation is driven using innovative tools and collaborative practices that empower our teams to say \u201cyes\u201d to opportunities and challenges while building on them with the solutions at our disposal.\nA prime example is our Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) tool, which enhances transparency and capacity management by automating labor tracking, billing and reporting processes. This innovation allows teams to focus on finding ways to meet credit union needs rather than highlighting barriers. Similarly, the introduction of our self-service Project Management Page, powered by ServiceNow, enables credit unions to manage onboarding and project management more efficiently by viewing project demand and active project requests in real time \u2014 and all in one place. Credit unions benefit from improved transparency and collaboration through the use of this engagement tool, which also paves the way for further generative artificial intelligence (AI) integration.\nImportantly, Velera uses a collaborative approach to develop new solutions and foster continuous improvement. Through interactions with our Advisory Councils, Co-Creation Collectives and client focus groups, we are able to address client concerns not with a definitive “no, because” response, but instead with a solution-focused response. This approach also enables us to build solutions and services not just for our clients, but with them, enabling a collaborative journey.\nOn the service side of Velera\u2019s business, we implement Wardle\u2019s core tenet of asking \u201cwhat if\u201d every single day. A pivotal \u201cwhat if\u201d that Velera is considering as we close out 2024 and look ahead to 2025: \u201cWhat if we began to leverage AI as a core driver for future innovation and efficiency across our organization?\u201d Like many, Velera is carefully and strategically integrating AI capabilities across our business, led by Velera\u2019s Strategic AI Advisory Council, which guides our exploration and investment in the technology.\nIn the ever-changing landscape of the financial services industry, \u201cwhat if\u201d is an ideology that any innovative organization should adopt and integrate within its daily discussions. It\u2019s a question that drives almost everything we do at Velera, from determining how to best implement AI into our business to evaluating other exciting opportunities and innovations to come.\n\nThe post Credit Unions Embrace \u2018Business as Unusual\u2019 Through Collaboration and Innovation appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-02-05T04:00:08-05:00", "date_modified": "2025-02-04T21:26:33-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Q4-eBook-Velera.jpg", "tags": [ "banking", "banking technology", "credit unions", "ebook", "Featured News", "financial services", "Innovation", "News", "payments", "PYMNTS eBook", "PYMNTS News", "Technology", "Velera", "Opinion" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2424995", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/opinion/2025/us-bank-focuses-on-totality-of-the-customer/", "title": "US Bank Focuses on \u2018Totality of the Customer\u2019", "content_html": "Understanding customers and providing them with personalized banking solutions is key, U.S. Bank SVP and Chief Product Officer Rob Seidman writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d
\n\n
One way U.S. Bank is moving from a \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d to a \u201cyes and \u2026\u201d mindset is by breaking silos and empowering teams to see the whole person. Until you see the totality of a customer, you cannot understand their stresses and needs or offer the right solutions. We are also investing in re-skilling teams in new ways of working that encourages and incentivizes that behavior.
\nTo bring about that change for our customers, we are recognizing who they are, identifying what they need or hope to get our help, and then, in a highly transparent way, providing them solutions that are real-time and personalized.
\nThe technologies that will move the payments and banking industry to an innovation mindset are exciting ones for us. This includes any technological shift that creates trust outside of the banking and payments framework but enables similar features and benefits. When others can do what people have looked to banking to do for hundreds of years with equal trust, faster speed, better experience and more readily available portability and control, it is a wake-up call. Questioning foundational beliefs through reflection and honest self-assessment is more necessary than mindset shifts.
\nOur customers have embraced new technologies that will push us to innovate to stay relevant. We must embrace the change while protecting our customers from the risks.
\nWe ask \u201cWhat if \u2026\u201d every day. Our business launching is an example of what you can accomplish if you just have the tenacity to stick it out.
\n
The post US Bank Focuses on \u2018Totality of the Customer\u2019 appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Understanding customers and providing them with personalized banking solutions is key, U.S. Bank SVP and Chief Product Officer Rob Seidman writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d\n \nOne way U.S. Bank is moving from a \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d to a \u201cyes and \u2026\u201d mindset is by breaking silos and empowering teams to see the whole person. Until you see the totality of a customer, you cannot understand their stresses and needs or offer the right solutions. We are also investing in re-skilling teams in new ways of working that encourages and incentivizes that behavior.\nTo bring about that change for our customers, we are recognizing who they are, identifying what they need or hope to get our help, and then, in a highly transparent way, providing them solutions that are real-time and personalized.\nUsing Technology to Embrace an Innovation Mindset\nThe technologies that will move the payments and banking industry to an innovation mindset are exciting ones for us. This includes any technological shift that creates trust outside of the banking and payments framework but enables similar features and benefits. When others can do what people have looked to banking to do for hundreds of years with equal trust, faster speed, better experience and more readily available portability and control, it is a wake-up call. Questioning foundational beliefs through reflection and honest self-assessment is more necessary than mindset shifts.\nOur customers have embraced new technologies that will push us to innovate to stay relevant. We must embrace the change while protecting our customers from the risks.\nThe \u2018What If\u2019 Question\nWe ask \u201cWhat if \u2026\u201d every day. Our business launching is an example of what you can accomplish if you just have the tenacity to stick it out.\n\nThe post US Bank Focuses on \u2018Totality of the Customer\u2019 appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-01-28T04:00:08-05:00", "date_modified": "2025-01-27T20:51:09-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Q4-eBook-US-Bank.jpg", "tags": [ "banking", "banking technology", "Banks", "ebook", "Featured News", "Innovation", "News", "payments", "PYMNTS eBook", "PYMNTS News", "Technology", "U.S. Bank", "U.S. Bank Avvance", "Opinion" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2424619", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/opinion/2025/how-wallets-are-changing-cross-border-payments/", "title": "How Wallets Are Changing Cross-Border Payments", "content_html": "Digital wallets have altered money movement, especially cross-border payments, TerraPay Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer Ani Sane writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d
\n\n
The evolution of cross-border money movement, especially over the last few years, has been shaped by shifting consumer behaviors and needs, an unannounced global health crisis, technological advancements and the rapid rise of eCommerce. It\u2019s safe to say that innovation is no longer optional, especially in a world characterized by change. One of the strongest and most effective ways to enable innovation is to pinch an idea that works elsewhere and apply it to your business. This \u201cwhat if\u201d approach is what led to the birth of TerraPay, and nearly a decade later it is what continues to drive our outlook toward the challenges we\u2019re committed to solving. After all, there was a time when the word instant was not associated with cross-border money transfers. The commitment to innovate and challenge the status quo brought that vision to life. Our ambitions as a global money movement company also stem from this commitment. We asked ourselves: if an SMS can reach anyone, anywhere in the world, instantly, cost-effectively, without any interruptions, why can\u2019t money?
\nOf course, the complexities are compounded when it comes to cross-border money movement. But within these complexities are the biggest opportunities to reimagine how money flows.
\nOne of the strongest opportunities that has stood out for us is digital wallets. Over the last decade, digital wallets have fundamentally altered the financial landscape, bringing millions of unbanked and underbanked into the formal financial system. They have proved to be especially important for instant small-value cross-border transfers, which as we have witnessed over the years, are often far more critical in nature. By 2026, wallets will have 5.2 billion users globally, with transaction volumes predicted to exceed $12 trillion. The numbers reflect the massive impact of wallets, but I believe they also urge the financial industry to recognize the opportunity in waiting. How can we bring cross-border capabilities to digital wallets across geographies? What does the future of payments with wallets at the center look like? Where can we leverage collaboration to create a win-win situation for every stakeholder? Our joint initiative with Swift and our Wallet Interoperability Council (WIC) \u2014 founded in 2024 together with Airtel, bKash, M-PESA, Nequi and Sama Money \u2014 are the result of exploring such questions. Putting collaboration at the core, both these initiatives align with our vision to simplify global money movement for all. WIC aims to address interoperability and interconnectivity challenges, enabling users across the globe to make cross-border remittances and merchant payments more easily. Our Swift collaboration allows banks to cater to the rising demand for instant payments with wallet-based cross-border payment services, supporting their innovation efforts.
\nAs the global appetite for digital and instant payments grows, we need to collectively rethink how we can build a stronger ecosystem. This demands working together as an industry to shed limiting beliefs and solve the existing obstacles facing the payment landscape today including the lack of interoperability, regulatory, integration and infrastructural challenges across multiple markets and more.
\n![\"PYMNTS](\"https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Q4-eBook-download-button_c3a331.jpg\")
The post How Wallets Are Changing Cross-Border Payments appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Digital wallets have altered money movement, especially cross-border payments, TerraPay Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer Ani Sane writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d\n \nThe evolution of cross-border money movement, especially over the last few years, has been shaped by shifting consumer behaviors and needs, an unannounced global health crisis, technological advancements and the rapid rise of eCommerce. It\u2019s safe to say that innovation is no longer optional, especially in a world characterized by change. One of the strongest and most effective ways to enable innovation is to pinch an idea that works elsewhere and apply it to your business. This \u201cwhat if\u201d approach is what led to the birth of TerraPay, and nearly a decade later it is what continues to drive our outlook toward the challenges we\u2019re committed to solving. After all, there was a time when the word instant was not associated with cross-border money transfers. The commitment to innovate and challenge the status quo brought that vision to life. Our ambitions as a global money movement company also stem from this commitment. We asked ourselves: if an SMS can reach anyone, anywhere in the world, instantly, cost-effectively, without any interruptions, why can\u2019t money?\nOf course, the complexities are compounded when it comes to cross-border money movement. But within these complexities are the biggest opportunities to reimagine how money flows.\nOne of the strongest opportunities that has stood out for us is digital wallets. Over the last decade, digital wallets have fundamentally altered the financial landscape, bringing millions of unbanked and underbanked into the formal financial system. They have proved to be especially important for instant small-value cross-border transfers, which as we have witnessed over the years, are often far more critical in nature. By 2026, wallets will have 5.2 billion users globally, with transaction volumes predicted to exceed $12 trillion. The numbers reflect the massive impact of wallets, but I believe they also urge the financial industry to recognize the opportunity in waiting. How can we bring cross-border capabilities to digital wallets across geographies? What does the future of payments with wallets at the center look like? Where can we leverage collaboration to create a win-win situation for every stakeholder? Our joint initiative with Swift and our Wallet Interoperability Council (WIC) \u2014 founded in 2024 together with Airtel, bKash, M-PESA, Nequi and Sama Money \u2014 are the result of exploring such questions. Putting collaboration at the core, both these initiatives align with our vision to simplify global money movement for all. WIC aims to address interoperability and interconnectivity challenges, enabling users across the globe to make cross-border remittances and merchant payments more easily. Our Swift collaboration allows banks to cater to the rising demand for instant payments with wallet-based cross-border payment services, supporting their innovation efforts.\nAs the global appetite for digital and instant payments grows, we need to collectively rethink how we can build a stronger ecosystem. This demands working together as an industry to shed limiting beliefs and solve the existing obstacles facing the payment landscape today including the lack of interoperability, regulatory, integration and infrastructural challenges across multiple markets and more.\n\nThe post How Wallets Are Changing Cross-Border Payments appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-01-27T04:00:02-05:00", "date_modified": "2025-01-26T22:37:11-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Q4-eBook-Terrapay.jpg", "tags": [ "cross-border payments", "digital wallets", "ebook", "Featured News", "FinTech", "Innovation", "instant payments", "News", "payments", "PYMNTS eBook", "PYMNTS News", "SWIFT", "Technology", "TerraPay", "Opinion" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2423849", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/opinion/2025/why-listening-is-innovations-best-technology/", "title": "Why Listening Is Innovation\u2019s Best Technology", "content_html": "Listening is crucial to innovation, Boost Payment Solutions founder and CEO Dean M. Leavitt writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d
\n\n
At Boost Payment Solutions, innovation has always been our foundation. We thrive on a \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d mindset, constantly asking, \u201cWhat if?\u201d to explore possibilities and drive meaningful change. Guided by curiosity, collaboration and a commitment to pushing boundaries, we refuse to be confined by traditional methods or legacy processes. Instead, we continuously seek smarter, better ways to create value for our customers and partners.
\nThis mindset starts with our people. We prioritize hiring individuals who are not only skilled but inherently curious and driven to challenge the status quo. For us, innovation isn\u2019t disruption for its own sake \u2014 it\u2019s about reimagining what\u2019s possible to solve real-world challenges. By fostering a culture where assumptions are questioned, ideas are welcomed and collaboration is key, we\u2019ve created an environment where transformative thinking thrives. Empowered to ask \u201cwhat if\u201d daily, our team brings fresh perspectives and groundbreaking ideas that drive meaningful results.
\nFor our customers, innovation begins with listening. As an \u201cears first\u201d organization, we know our customers understand their businesses better than anyone else. By identifying their challenges, pain points and goals, we create bespoke solutions that streamline operations, reduce friction and deliver measurable value. Listening isn\u2019t just about solving immediate problems \u2014 it\u2019s about forming meaningful, lasting partnerships that empower our customers to innovate, thrive and grow. Through collaboration, we ensure that our solutions are not only practical but transformative.
\nIn the broader payments and banking landscape, a new mindset is imperative. Inertia \u2014 the tendency to cling to familiar systems and processes \u2014 remains a significant barrier to progress, especially in large institutions. Yet, with the emergence of younger, digitally native decision-makers, this is beginning to change. These leaders, raised in a digital-first world, are more open to exploring new ideas and embracing technologies that drive efficiency and innovation. This generational shift presents a unique opportunity for companies like Boost to deliver forward-thinking solutions that resonate with this evolving audience.
\nAnother question, a close cousin to \u201cwhat if,\u201d that is constantly in the mix at Boost is, \u201cwhy not?\u201d It\u2019s a mindset across the organization and serves as a companion force to drive innovation. Together, these questions \u2014 \u201cwhat if?\u201d and \u201cwhy not?\u201d \u2014 form a powerful combination that challenges assumptions, inspires action and opens new possibilities.
\nFor example, our cross-border payments solution, Boost 100XB, emerged from asking, \u201cWhat if global B2B payments could be as seamless as domestic ones?\u201d and following that with, \u201cWhy not?\u201d This led to the creation of an industry-first solution enabling enterprise businesses to use existing U.S.-issued commercial cards for payments to suppliers in over 180 countries. By continually challenging ourselves, we ensure that innovation remains at the heart of our business while making our customers\u2019 lives easier.
\nThis shift from \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d to \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d is more than a cultural adjustment \u2014 it\u2019s a necessity for organizations looking to thrive in today\u2019s rapidly changing world. At Boost, this mindset fuels everything we do, from empowering our team to how we partner with our customers. It\u2019s how we\u2019re shaping the future of payments and delivering solutions that truly make a difference.
\n
The post Why Listening Is Innovation\u2019s Best Technology appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Listening is crucial to innovation, Boost Payment Solutions founder and CEO Dean M. Leavitt writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d\n \nAt Boost Payment Solutions, innovation has always been our foundation. We thrive on a \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d mindset, constantly asking, \u201cWhat if?\u201d to explore possibilities and drive meaningful change. Guided by curiosity, collaboration and a commitment to pushing boundaries, we refuse to be confined by traditional methods or legacy processes. Instead, we continuously seek smarter, better ways to create value for our customers and partners.\nThis mindset starts with our people. We prioritize hiring individuals who are not only skilled but inherently curious and driven to challenge the status quo. For us, innovation isn\u2019t disruption for its own sake \u2014 it\u2019s about reimagining what\u2019s possible to solve real-world challenges. By fostering a culture where assumptions are questioned, ideas are welcomed and collaboration is key, we\u2019ve created an environment where transformative thinking thrives. Empowered to ask \u201cwhat if\u201d daily, our team brings fresh perspectives and groundbreaking ideas that drive meaningful results.\nFor our customers, innovation begins with listening. As an \u201cears first\u201d organization, we know our customers understand their businesses better than anyone else. By identifying their challenges, pain points and goals, we create bespoke solutions that streamline operations, reduce friction and deliver measurable value. Listening isn\u2019t just about solving immediate problems \u2014 it\u2019s about forming meaningful, lasting partnerships that empower our customers to innovate, thrive and grow. Through collaboration, we ensure that our solutions are not only practical but transformative.\nIn the broader payments and banking landscape, a new mindset is imperative. Inertia \u2014 the tendency to cling to familiar systems and processes \u2014 remains a significant barrier to progress, especially in large institutions. Yet, with the emergence of younger, digitally native decision-makers, this is beginning to change. These leaders, raised in a digital-first world, are more open to exploring new ideas and embracing technologies that drive efficiency and innovation. This generational shift presents a unique opportunity for companies like Boost to deliver forward-thinking solutions that resonate with this evolving audience.\nAnother question, a close cousin to \u201cwhat if,\u201d that is constantly in the mix at Boost is, \u201cwhy not?\u201d It\u2019s a mindset across the organization and serves as a companion force to drive innovation. Together, these questions \u2014 \u201cwhat if?\u201d and \u201cwhy not?\u201d \u2014 form a powerful combination that challenges assumptions, inspires action and opens new possibilities.\nFor example, our cross-border payments solution, Boost 100XB, emerged from asking, \u201cWhat if global B2B payments could be as seamless as domestic ones?\u201d and following that with, \u201cWhy not?\u201d This led to the creation of an industry-first solution enabling enterprise businesses to use existing U.S.-issued commercial cards for payments to suppliers in over 180 countries. By continually challenging ourselves, we ensure that innovation remains at the heart of our business while making our customers\u2019 lives easier.\nThis shift from \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d to \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d is more than a cultural adjustment \u2014 it\u2019s a necessity for organizations looking to thrive in today\u2019s rapidly changing world. At Boost, this mindset fuels everything we do, from empowering our team to how we partner with our customers. It\u2019s how we\u2019re shaping the future of payments and delivering solutions that truly make a difference.\n\nThe post Why Listening Is Innovation\u2019s Best Technology appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-01-24T04:00:52-05:00", "date_modified": "2025-01-26T22:05:43-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Q4-eBook-Boost-Payment.jpg", "tags": [ "B2B", "B2B Payments", "Boost Payment Solutions", "commercial payments", "cross-border payments", "ebook", "Featured News", "FinTech", "Innovation", "News", "payments", "PYMNTS eBook", "PYMNTS News", "Technology", "What's Hot In B2B", "Opinion" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2424517", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/opinion/2025/cto-interview-mindset-shift-is-vital-to-future-of-financial-services/", "title": "CTO Interview: Mindset Shift Is \u2018Vital\u2019 to Future of Financial Services", "content_html": "Data management makes for a unified ecosystem that fosters collaboration, Stax Chief Technology Officer Mark Sundt writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d
\n\n
At Stax, we are committed to fostering growth and innovation, not just for ourselves, but for our partners and merchants. Following two strategic acquisitions and the addition of several key experienced leaders, we\u2019re evolving into a true end-to-end payments processor and partner. Central to this evolution is embracing a \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d mindset \u2014 focusing on collaboration to unlock greater value.
\nA core area of transformation is how we leverage the vast data resources at our disposal. Historically, we have not leveraged this tool in a way that can be shared with our independent software vendor (ISV) partners and potentially even their merchants. Now, we are moving to empower our ISV partners with actionable insights in real-time from our data ecosystem. This collaborative approach enables them to create innovative solutions that enhance their offerings while driving mutual growth.
\nTo achieve this, we\u2019ve prioritized master data management (MDM) as the foundation for innovation. By standardizing and consolidating our data, we\u2019re creating a single source of truth \u2014 eliminating silos and ensuring consistent, reliable insights. This unified data ecosystem enables our partners and their customers to make better-informed decisions, unlocking opportunities for growth across the value chain.
\nAnother transformative force is artificial intelligence (AI), which we are integrating to enhance efficiency and uncover hidden patterns in complex datasets. By adopting a \u201cyes, and\u201d approach with AI, we can:
\nThese efforts are designed to not only drive technological innovation but also address the real needs of our partners and merchants. For example, in conversations with existing ISV partners, we discovered an opportunity around enabling our ISVs to offer miscellaneous billing services on behalf of their customers. We recognized the increasing demand for flexible billing solutions that cater to a wide range of their needs. By empowering our ISVs to handle one-time charges, custom invoices and other unique billing scenarios, we can significantly enhance their value proposition and strengthen their customer relationships. This initiative could unlock new revenue streams for our ISVs while streamlining billing processes for their customers, creating a win-win situation for all stakeholders.\u00a0
\nAs a company, asking \u201cwhat if\u201d is integral to our culture. It ensures we continually challenge assumptions and explore new ways to support our partners and customers. By following through on these questions, we\u2019ve discovered new approaches to shared success \u2014 moving beyond a \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d mindset to one that prioritizes possibilities.
\nIn the payments and banking industry, embracing this mindset shift is vital. Technologies like AI, advanced data analytics and real-time processing are key to enabling it. But innovation isn\u2019t just about adopting new tools; it\u2019s about adopting a culture of curiosity, collaboration and execution. At Stax, we believe this approach drives not only our success but the success of those we serve.
\n
The post CTO Interview: Mindset Shift Is \u2018Vital\u2019 to Future of Financial Services appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Data management makes for a unified ecosystem that fosters collaboration, Stax Chief Technology Officer Mark Sundt writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d\n \nAt Stax, we are committed to fostering growth and innovation, not just for ourselves, but for our partners and merchants. Following two strategic acquisitions and the addition of several key experienced leaders, we\u2019re evolving into a true end-to-end payments processor and partner. Central to this evolution is embracing a \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d mindset \u2014 focusing on collaboration to unlock greater value.\nA core area of transformation is how we leverage the vast data resources at our disposal. Historically, we have not leveraged this tool in a way that can be shared with our independent software vendor (ISV) partners and potentially even their merchants. Now, we are moving to empower our ISV partners with actionable insights in real-time from our data ecosystem. This collaborative approach enables them to create innovative solutions that enhance their offerings while driving mutual growth.\nTo achieve this, we\u2019ve prioritized master data management (MDM) as the foundation for innovation. By standardizing and consolidating our data, we\u2019re creating a single source of truth \u2014 eliminating silos and ensuring consistent, reliable insights. This unified data ecosystem enables our partners and their customers to make better-informed decisions, unlocking opportunities for growth across the value chain.\nAnother transformative force is artificial intelligence (AI), which we are integrating to enhance efficiency and uncover hidden patterns in complex datasets. By adopting a \u201cyes, and\u201d approach with AI, we can:\n\nIdentify unexpected correlations, such as emerging customer behaviors or market trends, to refine technology and improve the partner experience.\nEnhance predictive capabilities, allowing us and our partners to make smarter business decisions.\nDeliver advanced analytics that empowers ISVs to build smarter applications and offer more valuable services.\n\nThese efforts are designed to not only drive technological innovation but also address the real needs of our partners and merchants. For example, in conversations with existing ISV partners, we discovered an opportunity around enabling our ISVs to offer miscellaneous billing services on behalf of their customers. We recognized the increasing demand for flexible billing solutions that cater to a wide range of their needs. By empowering our ISVs to handle one-time charges, custom invoices and other unique billing scenarios, we can significantly enhance their value proposition and strengthen their customer relationships. This initiative could unlock new revenue streams for our ISVs while streamlining billing processes for their customers, creating a win-win situation for all stakeholders.\u00a0\nAs a company, asking \u201cwhat if\u201d is integral to our culture. It ensures we continually challenge assumptions and explore new ways to support our partners and customers. By following through on these questions, we\u2019ve discovered new approaches to shared success \u2014 moving beyond a \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d mindset to one that prioritizes possibilities.\nIn the payments and banking industry, embracing this mindset shift is vital. Technologies like AI, advanced data analytics and real-time processing are key to enabling it. But innovation isn\u2019t just about adopting new tools; it\u2019s about adopting a culture of curiosity, collaboration and execution. At Stax, we believe this approach drives not only our success but the success of those we serve.\n\nThe post CTO Interview: Mindset Shift Is \u2018Vital\u2019 to Future of Financial Services appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-01-23T04:00:39-05:00", "date_modified": "2025-01-22T21:13:16-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Q4-eBook-Stax.jpg", "tags": [ "banking", "billing", "data", "data management", "ebook", "Featured News", "FinTech", "independent software vendors", "Innovation", "ISVs", "News", "payment processing", "payments", "PYMNTS eBook", "PYMNTS News", "Stax", "Technology", "Opinion" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2424446", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/opinion/2025/i2c-credits-what-if-approach-for-new-payment-hub/", "title": "i2c Credits \u2018What If?\u2019 Approach for New Payment Hub", "content_html": "Technology plays a vital role in enabling innovation in banking and payments, i2c Global Head of Product Seth Perlman writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d
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The financial services industry has experienced a significant transformation over the past few years \u2014 digital payments have surged, AI has become commonplace and real-time payment systems are growing exponentially \u2014 all due to the rise of FinTech and pandemic-driven behavior shifts. Fostering a culture of innovation is no longer a luxury, it\u2019s a necessity. At i2c, we are committed to moving from a \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d to a \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d mindset, both internally and for our clients. This approach empowers us to embrace new ideas, experiment strategically and deliver industry-leading banking and payment solutions.
\nWe partner with our clients to adopt agile development methodologies that prioritize rapid iteration and experimentation. This allows us to quickly test new concepts, gather feedback and refine our solutions.
\nInnovation is core to our organizational DNA. It has consistently been a priority to invest the maximum possible number of man hours each year to bring our clients\u2019 visions to life. Nearly 30% of our associates are dedicated to R&D.
\nWhile a positive mindset is crucial, technology plays a vital role in enabling an innovation mindset. Some key technologies that we see transforming the banking and payments industry:
\nAt i2c, we are on a continuous journey to cultivate a culture of innovation, constantly asking \u201cwhat if.\u201d A recent example is the launch of our Payment Hub solution. We explored the idea of streamlining multiple payment network connections using APIs and our unified platform and asked ourselves: \u201cWhat if our clients had a more efficient and scalable way to build out their payments program?\u201d As a result, we now have the most advanced offering on the market, giving financial institutions and FinTechs the flexibility to launch new, innovative solutions that drive long-term profitability.
\nAt i2c, we believe \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d is more than a mindset; it\u2019s what drives innovation and our clients\u2019 growth. We\u2019re committed to this approach, and we believe it is key to our success and our clients\u2019 success in the second half of the decade.
\n
The post i2c Credits \u2018What If?\u2019 Approach for New Payment Hub appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Technology plays a vital role in enabling innovation in banking and payments, i2c Global Head of Product Seth Perlman writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d\n \nThe financial services industry has experienced a significant transformation over the past few years \u2014 digital payments have surged, AI has become commonplace and real-time payment systems are growing exponentially \u2014 all due to the rise of FinTech and pandemic-driven behavior shifts. Fostering a culture of innovation is no longer a luxury, it\u2019s a necessity. At i2c, we are committed to moving from a \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d to a \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d mindset, both internally and for our clients. This approach empowers us to embrace new ideas, experiment strategically and deliver industry-leading banking and payment solutions.\nEmpowering Our Clients\nWe partner with our clients to adopt agile development methodologies that prioritize rapid iteration and experimentation. This allows us to quickly test new concepts, gather feedback and refine our solutions.\nInnovation is core to our organizational DNA. It has consistently been a priority to invest the maximum possible number of man hours each year to bring our clients\u2019 visions to life. Nearly 30% of our associates are dedicated to R&D.\nTechnology as a Catalyst\nWhile a positive mindset is crucial, technology plays a vital role in enabling an innovation mindset. Some key technologies that we see transforming the banking and payments industry:\n\nCloud Computing provides financial institutions with the scalability, agility and cost-effectiveness needed to experiment with new technologies and business models.\nArtificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) can be used to personalize experiences, identify fraud and automate back-office processes.\u00a0\nOpen Banking and APIs foster a more collaborative and innovative ecosystem.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nFostering Innovation\nAt i2c, we are on a continuous journey to cultivate a culture of innovation, constantly asking \u201cwhat if.\u201d A recent example is the launch of our Payment Hub solution. We explored the idea of streamlining multiple payment network connections using APIs and our unified platform and asked ourselves: \u201cWhat if our clients had a more efficient and scalable way to build out their payments program?\u201d As a result, we now have the most advanced offering on the market, giving financial institutions and FinTechs the flexibility to launch new, innovative solutions that drive long-term profitability.\nEmbracing \u2018What If?\u2019\n\nHead in the Cloud: i2c\u2019s platform is a full SaaS solution, which enables rapid deployment of enhancements that benefit every client. Our semi-monthly releases allow clients to maximize new functionality throughout the year.\nAPIs at Every Turn: Our entire platform is API-based, allowing clients to code and test integrations rapidly, and also enabling us to combine building blocks into new functionality. We can prototype and test quickly.\u00a0\u00a0\nBuilt for Innovation: Being fully composable means we can create new products using existing components. Our core banking solution, built on the same stack as card processing, uses account management, fraud, and other functionality already in production.\u00a0\n\nAt i2c, we believe \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d is more than a mindset; it\u2019s what drives innovation and our clients\u2019 growth. We\u2019re committed to this approach, and we believe it is key to our success and our clients\u2019 success in the second half of the decade.\n\nThe post i2c Credits \u2018What If?\u2019 Approach for New Payment Hub appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-01-22T04:00:11-05:00", "date_modified": "2025-01-21T21:31:27-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Q4-eBook-i2c.jpg", "tags": [ "APIs", "banking", "Banks", "cloud computing", "ebook", "Featured News", "FinTech", "i2C", "Innovation", "News", "Open Banking", "payments", "PYMNTS eBook", "PYMNTS News", "Technology", "Opinion" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2424369", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/opinion/2025/regional-bank-focuses-on-delivering-a-yes-and-customer-experience/", "title": "Regional Bank Focuses on Delivering a \u2018Yes and \u2026\u2019 Customer Experience", "content_html": "Banking must focus on creating secure, fraud-resistant environments while maintaining personal relationships, Tammy Trilli, SVP Commercial Payments at FNBO, writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d
\n\n
FNBO\u2019s secret sauce has always been our relationships. We are proud to be \u201cthe great big, small bank,\u201d delivering the capabilities of a large institution while preserving the personal touch that is central to our service. We know our customers by name, and they know us. By keeping the customer at the center of everything we do, we have been able to not only retain but also grow our business, even in the face of increased competition. Customer interactions are based on relationships \u2014 not transactions \u2014 and long-term relationships are built on shared values, transparency and trust. We understand our customers\u2019 needs because we have lived side by side with them in the communities we all call home for the past 167 years. Our strategy to deliver a holistic payment experience is the key to being a trusted partner, saying \u201cYes, and here\u2019s how we can help.\u201d
\nIn today\u2019s environment, a relationship built on just one product or service is fleeting. However, when you create a more comprehensive collaboration \u2014 one that spans multiple payment products and ancillary solutions \u2014 the partnership becomes much stronger and stickier. This approach helps us provide solutions that not only meet our customers\u2019 immediate needs but also anticipate future challenges, making us an indispensable part of their business.
\nFraud is an area that has been rapidly changing. The advent of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) has enabled more sophisticated fraudulent activities and better fraud mitigation. This requires a shift in mindset where employees feel empowered to ask questions, report suspicious activities and actively engage in fraud mitigation.
\nFraud prevention isn\u2019t just about solving problems in the present; it\u2019s about anticipating future threats and preparing accordingly. Forward-thinking leaders look ahead to the next one, five or even 10 years, planning how their organization can stay both secure and innovative. As the banking industry moves forward, the focus should be on creating secure, fraud-resistant environments while maintaining the personal relationships that make banking so much more than just numbers and technology.\u00a0 We have to bring our customers along with us in the mindset shift from \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d in their processes that are vulnerable to \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d to increase adoption of cutting-edge fraud prevention and mitigation tools. This \u201cyes and \u2026\u201d mindset shift takes processes that they once avoided because they were an inconvenience to now a critical security strategy.
\n\u201cWhat if?\u201d is a question that drives FNBO\u2019s strategy every day. As a privately held organization, we consistently think long-term: What must we do today to ensure our success a decade from now? These considerations shape decisions about efficiency, succession planning and long-term sustainability.
\nBy embedding \u201cwhat if?\u201d thinking into our daily decisions, FNBO ensures we\u2019re always prepared to adapt and innovate. This forward-thinking mindset, combined with our \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d approach, empowers us to remain a trusted partner in an era of unprecedented change.
\n
The post Regional Bank Focuses on Delivering a \u2018Yes and \u2026\u2019 Customer Experience appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Banking must focus on creating secure, fraud-resistant environments while maintaining personal relationships, Tammy Trilli, SVP Commercial Payments at FNBO, writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d\n \nFNBO\u2019s secret sauce has always been our relationships. We are proud to be \u201cthe great big, small bank,\u201d delivering the capabilities of a large institution while preserving the personal touch that is central to our service. We know our customers by name, and they know us. By keeping the customer at the center of everything we do, we have been able to not only retain but also grow our business, even in the face of increased competition. Customer interactions are based on relationships \u2014 not transactions \u2014 and long-term relationships are built on shared values, transparency and trust. We understand our customers\u2019 needs because we have lived side by side with them in the communities we all call home for the past 167 years. Our strategy to deliver a holistic payment experience is the key to being a trusted partner, saying \u201cYes, and here\u2019s how we can help.\u201d\nIn today\u2019s environment, a relationship built on just one product or service is fleeting. However, when you create a more comprehensive collaboration \u2014 one that spans multiple payment products and ancillary solutions \u2014 the partnership becomes much stronger and stickier. This approach helps us provide solutions that not only meet our customers\u2019 immediate needs but also anticipate future challenges, making us an indispensable part of their business.\nFraud is an area that has been rapidly changing. The advent of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) has enabled more sophisticated fraudulent activities and better fraud mitigation. This requires a shift in mindset where employees feel empowered to ask questions, report suspicious activities and actively engage in fraud mitigation.\nFraud prevention isn\u2019t just about solving problems in the present; it\u2019s about anticipating future threats and preparing accordingly. Forward-thinking leaders look ahead to the next one, five or even 10 years, planning how their organization can stay both secure and innovative. As the banking industry moves forward, the focus should be on creating secure, fraud-resistant environments while maintaining the personal relationships that make banking so much more than just numbers and technology.\u00a0 We have to bring our customers along with us in the mindset shift from \u201cno, because \u2026\u201d in their processes that are vulnerable to \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d to increase adoption of cutting-edge fraud prevention and mitigation tools. This \u201cyes and \u2026\u201d mindset shift takes processes that they once avoided because they were an inconvenience to now a critical security strategy.\n\u201cWhat if?\u201d is a question that drives FNBO\u2019s strategy every day. As a privately held organization, we consistently think long-term: What must we do today to ensure our success a decade from now? These considerations shape decisions about efficiency, succession planning and long-term sustainability.\nBy embedding \u201cwhat if?\u201d thinking into our daily decisions, FNBO ensures we\u2019re always prepared to adapt and innovate. This forward-thinking mindset, combined with our \u201cyes, and \u2026\u201d approach, empowers us to remain a trusted partner in an era of unprecedented change.\n\nThe post Regional Bank Focuses on Delivering a \u2018Yes and \u2026\u2019 Customer Experience appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-01-21T04:00:39-05:00", "date_modified": "2025-01-20T21:57:02-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Q4-eBook-FNBO.jpg", "tags": [ "banking", "Banks", "ebook", "Featured News", "fnbo", "fraud", "Fraud Prevention", "Innovation", "News", "payments", "PYMNTS eBook", "PYMNTS News", "Security", "Technology", "Opinion" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2424330", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/opinion/2025/fiserv-envisions-future-forward-approach-to-payments/", "title": "Fiserv Envisions \u2018Future Forward\u2019 Approach to Payments", "content_html": "Businesses need a payments strategy that extends beyond moving money, Fiserv SVP and GM, Global eCommerce and Carat Platform Casey Klyszeiko writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d
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The payments ecosystem is transforming. With more purchasing options than ever and a voracious appetite for convenience, commerce is becoming increasingly complex. Coupled with technological innovation, shifting consumer expectations, regulatory changes and global challenges, companies must depart from their traditional approach to payments and embrace the ever-changing future with innovative technology in mind. Failure to adapt can put any business at risk of falling behind, giving those who seize opportunities to innovate a prime position to grow brand loyalty as we enter this transformative era of commerce.
\nTo thrive in today\u2019s dynamic landscape, businesses need more than just a payment solution \u2014 they need a future-forward approach to commerce. A business\u2019 payments strategy can and should extend beyond simply moving money and should place the customer experience at the center. Creating consistent customer experiences across channels and geographies is the new normal and should form part of a strategy to build customer loyalty and drive revenue growth.
\nAt Fiserv, we innovate with our clients to build differentiated customer experiences that create efficiencies and can scale. A few examples include:
\nWe continue to make investments at Fiserv with a commitment to bring relevant and innovative capabilities to the market. We are focused on simplifying the way our clients do business with us, making it faster to bring new services to market.
\nWhile payments have become a linchpin to the buying experience, our clients are also challenging us to bring efficiency to their business in ways that create revenue and lower costs\u00a0\u00a0
\nAt Fiserv, we are unique in our role at the intersection between merchant and banking \u2014 a position that provides data advantages. How we leverage our own data and how we make merchant data available to our clients is a central underpinning of our strategy.
\nTo that end, we\u2019re using data to supercharge our optimization engine to strengthen authorization rates and thwart fraud at the point of purchase, critical levers that grow revenue and manage expenses. We\u2019re helping our clients to share more of the data they collect at the point of purchase \u2014 such as device IDs and geo-location \u2014 with issuers, to enhance their decision logic and increase approval rates.
\nThis shift in mindset is no longer optional \u2014 it\u2019s essential. The payments and commerce market must embrace a forward-thinking approach to be successful. The ability to leverage data to deliver innovative customer experiences will position payments technology as a catalyst for transformation. In the spirit of Wardle\u2019s teachings, now is the time to challenge tradition and seize new opportunities. By adopting a \u201cyes, and …\u201d approach and leveraging technology, partnerships and industry and expertise, businesses will be able to navigate the complexities of today\u2019s world and thrive in tomorrow\u2019s.
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The post Fiserv Envisions \u2018Future Forward\u2019 Approach to Payments appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Businesses need a payments strategy that extends beyond moving money, Fiserv SVP and GM, Global eCommerce and Carat Platform Casey Klyszeiko writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, \u201cThe Innovation Mindset: How to Achieve It in 2025.\u201d\n \nThe payments ecosystem is transforming. With more purchasing options than ever and a voracious appetite for convenience, commerce is becoming increasingly complex. Coupled with technological innovation, shifting consumer expectations, regulatory changes and global challenges, companies must depart from their traditional approach to payments and embrace the ever-changing future with innovative technology in mind. Failure to adapt can put any business at risk of falling behind, giving those who seize opportunities to innovate a prime position to grow brand loyalty as we enter this transformative era of commerce.\nFocusing on the Customer Experience\nTo thrive in today\u2019s dynamic landscape, businesses need more than just a payment solution \u2014 they need a future-forward approach to commerce. A business\u2019 payments strategy can and should extend beyond simply moving money and should place the customer experience at the center. Creating consistent customer experiences across channels and geographies is the new normal and should form part of a strategy to build customer loyalty and drive revenue growth.\nAt Fiserv, we innovate with our clients to build differentiated customer experiences that create efficiencies and can scale. A few examples include:\n\nBlurring the lines between banking and commerce by embedding financial services directly into purchasing experiences to deepen customer relationships and deliver new services.\nLeveraging stored value to deliver new wallet experiences that drive loyalty programs and keep customers engaged and coming back.\nOffering alternative payment methods, such as Pay by Bank, which have benefits for the consumer and merchant alike.\n\nWe continue to make investments at Fiserv with a commitment to bring relevant and innovative capabilities to the market. We are focused on simplifying the way our clients do business with us, making it faster to bring new services to market.\nLeveraging Data to Optimize the Movement of Money\nWhile payments have become a linchpin to the buying experience, our clients are also challenging us to bring efficiency to their business in ways that create revenue and lower costs\u00a0\u00a0\nAt Fiserv, we are unique in our role at the intersection between merchant and banking \u2014 a position that provides data advantages. How we leverage our own data and how we make merchant data available to our clients is a central underpinning of our strategy.\nTo that end, we\u2019re using data to supercharge our optimization engine to strengthen authorization rates and thwart fraud at the point of purchase, critical levers that grow revenue and manage expenses. We\u2019re helping our clients to share more of the data they collect at the point of purchase \u2014 such as device IDs and geo-location \u2014 with issuers, to enhance their decision logic and increase approval rates.\nA New Mindset\nThis shift in mindset is no longer optional \u2014 it\u2019s essential. The payments and commerce market must embrace a forward-thinking approach to be successful. The ability to leverage data to deliver innovative customer experiences will position payments technology as a catalyst for transformation. In the spirit of Wardle\u2019s teachings, now is the time to challenge tradition and seize new opportunities. By adopting a \u201cyes, and …\u201d approach and leveraging technology, partnerships and industry and expertise, businesses will be able to navigate the complexities of today\u2019s world and thrive in tomorrow\u2019s.\n\nThe post Fiserv Envisions \u2018Future Forward\u2019 Approach to Payments appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-01-20T04:00:18-05:00", "date_modified": "2025-01-19T22:38:56-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f05cc0fdcc9e387e4f3570c17158c503?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Q4-eBook-Fiserv.jpg", "tags": [ "banking", "Carat by Fiserv", "data", "ebook", "ecommerce", "embedded finance", "Featured News", "FinTech", "Fiserv", "Innovation", "News", "payments", "PYMNTS eBook", "PYMNTS News", "Technology", "Opinion" ] } ] }