Episodes

The next iteration in the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence has arrived, and organizations are racing to harness the potential of AI agents to create a dynamic new shopping experience. However, as powerful as agentic commerce can be, the road to adoption won’t be without hiccups—many of which will lead to a surge in disputes. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Joseph McLean, CEO and Co-Founder of Quavo, and Christopher Miller, Emerging Payments Analyst at Javelin Strategy & Research,...

Across shopping, streaming, and social media, consumers have grown used to receiving personalized recommendations powered by artificial intelligence. While some may feel less comfortable with AI taking on a similar role in their banking experience, a hyper-personalized digital banking platform can deliver far greater value than simply suggesting the next show to binge. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Fiserv’s Whitney Stewart Russell, President of Digital and Financial Solutions, and Sean C...

Different payment methods have gained popularity in different parts of the world. For example, buy now, pay later is widely used in Australia and the Nordics, while account-to-account payments lead the way in the Netherlands and Brazil. As commerce becomes increasingly globalized, merchants everywhere must adapt to these local payment preferences—or risk losing customers. In a PaymentsJournal Podcast, Tulio Gambogi, Head of Alternative Payment Methods at Worldpay, David Sykes, Chief Commercial...

Cybercriminals have been after personal data for years, but new technology is giving them a dangerous boost. Infostealers—malware that extracts sensitive data like passwords and credit card numbers—are becoming one of today’s biggest online threats because they are easy to use and hard to spot. While conversations about online safety often peak during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the reality is that vigilance is needed year-round. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Tracy Goldberg, Director ...

As dynamic technologies continue to revolutionize the payments space, conferences have become a critical way for payments professionals to stay informed and share their expertise. One of the signature events of the payments space is Nacha’s Smarter Faster Payments 2026, which will take place in San Diego from April 26-29, 2026. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Stephanie Prebish, AAP, AFPP, APRP, CTP, Senior Managing Director of Association Services at Nacha, and Brian Riley, Director of Cre...

Gift cards have evolved from being a thoughtful, last-minute birthday gift into a mature industry that’s helping companies build loyalty both inside and outside their organizations. Their use cases are expanding rapidly, offering innovative ways for business to not only reward employees but also strengthen their bottom line. In a PaymentsJournal Podcast, Samara Swenson, U.S. Senior Marketing Manager at Prezzee, and Jordan Hirschfield, Director of Prepaid at Javelin Strategy & Research, discusse...

For decades, typically large regional or money center banks served as correspondent banks that enabled smaller banks to offer cross-border payments. It was rare for credit unions, community banks, and other smaller financial institutions to offer cross-border payments. And if they did, it was a money-losing proposition, offered out of necessity to prevent their customers from leaving for larger banks. It’s notable that the problem for originating institutions has become much worse. Over the pas...

As more people choose to bank online, the role of the traditional branch has undergone a transformation. Once the go-to place for every financial need, the branch is now primarily a hub for more complex transactions that can’t be completed digitally or at an ATM. At the center of this evolution is the interactive teller machine (ITM), which enables customers to connect with a live teller at any time of day, regardless of their distance from a physical branch. In a PaymentsJournal Podcast, Fiser...

Almost without notice, disappearing payments have shifted from novelty to expectation in small business transactions. A traveler arrives at an airport, books a rideshare, and checks into a hotel—never pulling out a wallet or handing over a card. The transaction happens seamlessly, almost invisibly. The same technology fueling consumer-facing apps is now within reach for small businesses. Research from Worldpay shows that 90% of small businesses consider embedded finance—the integration of finan...

Customers signing up for new accounts and services can feel frustrated by the hoops they have to go through, assembling information and entering it in complicated, sometimes multiple forms, whether on paper or online. What they may not realize is that the process can be just as frustrating for the people working at financial institutions, or other businesses performing underwriting functions. Too often, technology forces both consumers and businesses to adapt to outdated onboarding processes ra...

Amid the rise of subscriptions and digital services, consumers are juggling more bills than ever. In fact, the average U.S. household now pays around 10 bills each month—a growing list that can be tricky to track and manage. While more consumers are turning to their financial institution for help managing these responsibilities, many banks have continued to direct their innovation investments elsewhere. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Shilpi Mittal, Director of Product Management at Fiserv...

In just the first half of the year, ACH payment volume grew by 5.5% on a daily average basis, reaching roughly 17.25 billion payments. The growth is even more pronounced in terms of dollar value, with the ACH Network processing $45 trillion in the first half of 2025—a 6.8% increase compared to the same period last year. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Michael Herd, Executive Vice President of ACH Network Administration at Nacha, and Brian Riley, Director of Credit and Co-Head of Payments a...

The passage of the GENIUS Act in the U.S. has brought stablecoin interest to a fever pitch in recent months. However, even as more of the world’s leading organizations consider launching stablecoin, the use cases for these fiat-backed assets are still being unlocked. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Nabil Manji, SVP, Head of Fintech Growth and Financial Partnerships at Worldpay, and James Wester, Director of Cryptocurrency and Co-Head of Payments at Javelin Strategy & Research, highlighted ...

One of the most effective tools in the fight against cybercrime is information sharing—particularly through anonymized consortium data signals—a practice increasingly referred to as cyber fusion. Despite its promise, many institutions remain wary of collaborating in this way, often even within their own organizations. Greater cooperation—through shared data and interoperable fraud, anti-money laundering, and cyber tools—not only enhances the ability to detect and prevent financial crime, but al...

Many organizations treat their reconciliation and reporting as mere check-the-box activities, investing only the bare minimum to remain compliant. However, companies that deprioritize these critical back-office functions risk being caught unprepared when faced with a more stringent regulatory environment. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Roger Binks, Chief Commercial Officer at Kani, and James Wester, Co-Head of Payments at Javelin Strategy & Research, explored the current state of the back...

When credit unions look for ways to improve service for their members, accounting systems may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But when Texans Credit Union upgraded its accounting platform, the benefits cascaded throughout the organization—saving money, streamlining operations, and even boosting morale. In a PaymentsJournal Podcast, Tracy Montez, SVP, Controller at Texans Credit Union, and LaChrisha Dourisseau, Vice President of Solution Consulting at Fiserv, shared a behind-the-scene...

As the technology behind payments processing accelerates, it’s also reshaping how merchants need to think about the ways their customers pay. Increasingly, acquirers are discovering that by focusing on areas like reconciliation and streamlining the payments workflow, they can build stronger relationships—not only with their customers, but also with their employees. In a PaymentsJournal podcast, Highnote’s Chief Revenue Officer, TJ Grissom, and James Wester, Co-Head of Payments at Javelin Strate...

A consumer purchases a product and receives exactly what was described. However, they experience buyer’s remorse and want to return it. Unsure if they’ll be refunded, they falsely report the transaction as fraudulent instead. This kind of misuse may seem minor on its own, but it is part of consumer-engaged fraud—a category often mislabeled and misunderstood. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Nicole Reyes, Managing Vice President of Risk Operations at Velera, and Suzanne Sando, Lead Fraud Ma...

Financial institutions are among the most trusted entities in the world. Consumers believe their banks act in their best interests—especially when it comes to protecting them from fraud. They expect strong, effective solutions that support their everyday financial activities, safeguard their accounts, and secure their identities. But trust isn’t automatic—it must be earned. Nowhere is this more true than in the fraud dispute process. In a PaymentsJournal Podcast, Ryan Sorrels, CRO at Quavo, and...

One of the most important resources for any card portfolio manager is understanding cardholders’ spending patterns. This requires not just full access to data, but also the ability to interpret what the data reveals. Growing business intelligence tools like Card ExpertSM from Fiserv are helping issuers gain deeper insight into their customer base, allowing them to serve cardholders more effectively. In a PaymentsJournal Podcast, Janine Wilson, Director of Data Solutions at Fiserv, discussed in...

At best, an inefficient accounts payable process can result in delayed payments or limited visibility into spending. At worst, it could lead to misrouted payments and an increased probability of fraud. Yet many organizations still rely on outdated AP processes—jeopardizing relationships with the suppliers that keep their business moving. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Marchelle Becher, Business Development Executive at B4B Payments, and Hugh Thomas, Lead Commercial Payments Analyst at Jav...

Digital cards saw a significant boost in adoption during the pandemic, initially driven by necessity. However, it quickly became clear that hygiene was just one of many benefits—and not even the most compelling one. Both consumers and retailers have found digital to be faster, more cost-effective, and more efficient than traditional physical options. In a PaymentsJournal podcast, Fiserv’s Wesley Suter, Senior Director of Product, and Kush Patel, Senior Product Advisor, as well as Brian Riley, C...

When a financial institution’s customer is tricked into sending a payment, there has often been little recourse for the victim. As credit push fraud becomes increasingly prevalent—amplified by sophisticated technologies—the financial services industry must strengthen its protections. This is why Nacha has developed a framework of fraud management rules that will go into effect next year. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Devon Marsh, Managing Director, ACH Network Rules & Risk Management at ...

For years, many businesses proclaimed they would never transition their payments to SaaS. Even as everything else moved to the cloud, financial professionals remained adamant that payment services and data would stay in-house. The data was considered highly sensitive, and few were willing to risk storing it outside their walls. But the benefits of Payments-as-a-Service (PaaS) have upended that thinking. More organizations are now realizing that leveraging external providers is transforming thei...