Rippleshot Blog

At the end of April, US Payments Forum released its "Spring 2017 Market Watch Snapshot." The Forum is a cross-industry body created to address issues that require broad cooperation across the payments industry, including the introduction of EMV chip technology and other payment technologies in the U.S. Their report's top three topics of focus included merchant EMV chip adoption, clarifying CNP fraud status, and increasing focus on transit payments.

Here's a peek into US Payment Forum's recently released key insights on the subjects.

As recently as 2009, prepaid debit cards were widely considered an undesirable fee-ridden option primarily used by the underbanked. Flash forward to present day, and they're making a surprising comeback. As of 2015,  a full quarter of Americans reported having used a reloadable prepaid debit card. And according to a white paper published by TMG, that same year prepaid debit cards accounted for $23.8 billion of the total $341 billion in online sales.

The New Normal

You walk into a grocery store, pick up the few things you’re missing for tonight’s dinner and head to checkout. The cashier rings up your groceries and you reach for your wallet…will you take out a debit card, a credit card or cold, hard cash?

If you’re like a growing number of Americans, you probably find yourself reaching for that debit card more and more often.

By definition, “instant payments” refers to guaranteed year-round payment processing where transactions are processed in a matter of seconds. For banks, implementing an instant payment system has become a top priority in order to meet customers’ expectations, increase convenience, and to keep up with emerging financial technology platforms. Modern customers increasingly want financial services that can keep up with the quick pace of their life.

Although version 3.2 of the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) was released over half a year ago, its impact will stretch much further into the future. In a way, the strategic introduction of the standard is the most noteworthy element about it. There are a few essential changes, but the projected runway provides more than enough time for organizations to brace themselves. As Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council's CTO Troy Leach stated in an interview, he believes the postponed update will give organizations the time they need to effectively implement security processes that help mitigate against cyberattacks. However, this does not mean that companies are off the hook, as today’s “most advanced” security technology can become a vulnerability to exploit for tomorrow’s cyber criminals. Follow along as the Rippleshot Team looks at The Key Highlights of PCI DSS 3.2.

It’s safe to say that 2016 has been a year of heightened turmoil for the payments and security industry. With the aftermath of EMV implementation, a sharp rise in data breaches, and unprecedented fraud losses by issuers, we know that this year has kept you busy. The good news is, we’re here to help. In order to save you time, we have compiled a list of key statistics that paint the bigger picture of the industry as a whole. Follow the Rippleshot Team as we take you through the Top 11 Stats of 2016.

A hidden gem, the Monthly Complaint Report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) helps uncover problem areas impacting the financial products and services industry in the eyes of the consumer. Whether it be consumer loans, bank accounts/ services, payment cards, debt collection, payday loans, or fraud, the CFPB has handled over 930,700 consumer complaints as of July 2016, including 24,500 in June itself. Through a careful compilation and analysis of such consumer complaints, the CFPB has been able to discern a “high-level snapshot of trends in consumer complaints”. Follow the Rippleshot Team as we review highlights from the report and discuss customer sentiments surrounding financial products and services.