Research

The year bodes well as 2026 approaches the end of the first quarter.  Economic indicators are strong, the credit card market is growing at a healthy rate, and credit cards remain the dominant payment method as inflationary pressures drive h...

As open banking and new privacy regulations accelerate, financial institutions face rising pressure to enhance privacy and cybersecurity transparency to strengthen consumer trust. Clear privacy disclosures, consistent cybersecurity communication...

Financial data aggregators are losing ground as connectivity becomes a commodity and banks reassert control. The real battleground now lies in who can turn permissioned data into superior intelligence—fraud, risk, and analytics—while navigating ...

The 2025 tariff regime triggered sharp, policy driven shifts in U.S. import patterns, with tariffs reliably pushing trade away from high duty lanes and toward lower duty or exempted alternatives. With the tariff framework subsequently overturned...

Rather than competing with banks on loan volume or profitability, Chime’s lending playbook focuses on solving basic consumer cash flow issues through proactive decisioning, frictionless access, and community-oriented features like SpotMe Boosts....

Electronic payments are increasingly important to businesses of all types and were one of the first value-added features software companies brought to their platforms. Ironically, even as independent software vendors recognize the growing import...

Cryptocurrency investment scams have evolved into organized, global operations that are stealing billions of dollars from consumers. Recent enforcement actions and platform disruptions highlight the scale of the problem. This report outlines how...

Despite headwinds that include significant financial strain on consumers despite a broadly stable economy, debit remains resilient—especially among younger consumers and lower income households. Furthermore, co-branded rewards debit and small bu...

Investment in fintechs’ payment technology in 2026 is being shaped by a strong shift toward “bridging technologies” that connect legacy systems with emerging capabilities. Investors are prioritizing startups with clear revenue paths, enterprise-...

Public websites at banks routinely miss the opportunity to position digital banking as a compelling differentiator as prospective customers shop for accounts. A review of leading institutions shows that public sites often default to commoditized...