Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a mobile-based instant payment system in India, has grown substantially in the last few years. Indians initially used UPI for person-to-person (P2P) payments, but today use UPI more for person-to-merchant (P2M) payments. Nonbanks and fintechs have contributed to the rapid growth of UPI P2M payments by providing third-party apps, merchant services, and consumer credit, as well as enabling UPI P2M payments to expand beyond India’s borders.
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Aditi Routh
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August 30, 2024
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Earned wage access (EWA) services have grown in popularity as more providers offer them and more businesses and consumers use them. However, the complex fee structures and high costs of EWA, as well as some users’ heavy reliance on these services, have raised concerns. Regulatory and legislative bodies have begun to respond to these concerns, with states taking the lead in proposing or passing EWA legislation.
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Terri Bradford
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May 15, 2024
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Core banking services providers play key roles helping depository institutions (DIs) offer instant payments. Specifically, core providers process transactions in real time and connect DIs to instant payments system operators, upgrade customer-facing solutions, and facilitate open banking and embedded finance. As the United States implements instant payments systems, the market structure surrounding core providers may evolve, and competition between fintechs and DIs for end users may intensify.
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Julian Alcazar
Sam Baird
Emma Cronenweth
Fumiko Hayashi
Ken Isaacson
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May 8, 2024
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Three retail central bank digital currencies (rCBDCs) have been issued in the Caribbean, but thus far all have struggled to achieve expected adoption from both consumers and merchants. The efforts to launch these rCDBCs offer three takeaways: 1) the underlying technologies of rCBDCs may have little effect on adoption; 2) an rCBDC may need to demonstrate value added to entice consumers to use it; and 3) an rCBDC platform may need to be integrated into the larger financial ecosystem to be widely adopted.
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Franklin Noll
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April 10, 2024
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Three core providers dominate the market for core banking systems for depository institutions (DIs). These providers also have a large presence in vertically related markets, such as card network services; payment processing services for DIs, merchants, or governments; and banking-as-a-service. This market structure may make it difficult for DIs to switch their core providers, affecting their ability to offer new services and stay competitive.
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Julian Alcazar
Sam Baird
Emma Cronenweth
Fumiko Hayashi
Ken Isaacson
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March 27, 2024
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Each U.S. depository institution (DI)—including banks and credit unions—uses a back-end information technology system to process daily transactions and manage financial accounts. Many of these “core banking systems” are outdated and unable to fully accommodate modern services, such as open banking and instant payments. Modernizing these systems is a complex process, and DIs may consider a full replacement, a component-based replacement, or augmenting their existing system.
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Julian Alcazar
Sam Baird
Emma Cronenweth
Fumiko Hayashi
Ken Isaacson
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February 28, 2024
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Nonbank transaction accounts—such as prepaid card accounts or accounts with online payment service providers—can help unbanked households make safe and affordable digital payments. But data suggest that they may not be sufficient to achieve digital payments inclusion. Less than half of unbanked households had these accounts in 2021; the rest either used paper-based transaction products or relied solely on cash.
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Ying Lei Toh
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November 29, 2023
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Younger generations—specifically, millennials and Gen Z—increasingly turn to social media for personal finance purposes, such as making and receiving payments, crowdfunding, shopping, and financial education. While the financial tools provided by social media offer benefits, such as convenience and community, they also come with risks, such as increased fraud and misinformation.
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Sam Baird
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October 11, 2023
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Bitcoin ATMs, standalone machines that convert cash to cryptocurrency, are a relatively new and less examined part of the cryptocurrency world. This controversial industry has garnered criticism in the press as well as the U.S. government for its association with illegal or financially predatory practices. However, despite the recent downturn in cryptocurrency prices, some U.S. consumers are still using Bitcoin ATMs, suggesting the industry meets a demand from consumers who want an alternative to crypto exchanges.
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Franklin Noll
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August 30, 2023
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Fintechs, credit bureaus, and financial institutions are collecting alternative data to develop new scoring models that supplement traditional credit reports. Studies, providers, and pilot programs suggest that these alternative data can improve credit reporting and thereby expand access to fair credit. However, use of alternative data is still low due to both uncertainty about the benefits relative to the cost and consumer concerns about use and privacy.
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Terri Bradford
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June 28, 2023
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