What shapes consumer transactions and payment technologies, and where is it going?
Any conventional wisdom about payments—how they’re made, the currencies being used, the cards presently in favor—doesn’t last long before the next wave of technology, innovation, and regulation. Javelin’s analysts conduct research at the forefront of payments, identifying the emerging trends for financial services companies and payments providers and offering insight into how they can best position themselves not just for what is current but also for what is coming.
Payments Research
Reports
Buy Now, Pay Later: Sales or Cost Driver?
A confluence of factors in our COVID economy have come together to make Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) installment options attractive for consumers. Merchants, of course, are drawn to anything that resonates with shoppers and has the potential to pro...
2021 Mid-Year Credit Card Health Checkup: Strong Performance but Watch Headwinds
At the mid-year point of 2021, credit card profits are steady, despite decreases in revolving debt, thanks to recovered loan loss reserves held back from the risk associated with COVID-19. With record-low delinquency rates, and spending on the r...
Co-branded Credit Cards: Reinventing Themselves Post Covid Losses
Network cards less affected by BNPL than private label cards, according to new report by Mercator Advisory Group.
Square’s Deal for Afterpay Accelerates the Threat of BNPL
Square’s move to acquire Afterpay for $29 billion dramatically alters the futures of the two companies as well as the BNPL industry and its competitors. Square is gaining a payment option that bolsters its seller and Cash App businesses, while A...
Open Banking Goes Worldwide: U.S. Inroads are Keeping Pace with Global Efforts
New report from Mercator Advisory Group evaluates the worldwide expansion of open banking initiatives, reviewing approaches taken by each country including the API standards they embrace. Some countries have focused on payments, others on data e...
Necessity as the Mother of Invention: Prepaid Cards Find New Use Cases in the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic radically changed the way that people shopped and paid for purchases. Under these new circumstances, the U.S. prepaid market experienced significant innovation and developed new use cases for its products. As vaccines have ...
2021 Annual U.S. Debit Card Market Data Review: Unprecedented Double-Digit Growth
Mercator Advisory Group releases new research tracking the strong debit card volume growth and provides a near-term forecast for the U.S. market.
Commercial Credit Cards: International Markets Review and Forecast, 2020-2025; COVID Bounce Back Not Expected Until 2023
A new Mercator Advisory Group research report reviews developments and spending estimates for commercial credit cards in markets outside of North America, where business travel downturns will delay full spending recovery until 2023-24.
Lifestyle Commerce Drives Expanding Mobile Sales Channel For Merchants
A new Mercator Advisory Group research report assesses how mobile shopping amplifies the customer experience.
A Lesson for the U.S: How EU Open Banking APIs Have Stabilized to Support Alternative Networks
Mercator Advisory Group evaluates the difficulties of standing up production level API platforms, identifies key workarounds that were needed to establish alternative payment network solutions, and provides six snapshots of these alternative pay...