What's New in Payments

First Direct lets customers make payments in social media apps

First Direct leading the way with social media payments — First Direct — “First Direct customers are now able to make secure peer-to-peer payments seamlessly while using social media apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger… Customers can now use the in-app PayKey technology to simply tap a payment icon on the phone’s keyboard within a conversation and manage a payment within seconds without having to open the banking app… On pressing the fd button, customers are securely authenticated via the app and are able to make a payment.”


NFC World

Slikhaar adds NFC tags to mens’ hair products

Thinfilm customer Slikhaar to launch interactive products in beauty and personal care market — Thinfilm — “Shoppers and existing customers will be able to touch their smartphone to the connected products — either in-store, at home, or on the go — to instantly join the Slikhaar community, view hairstyling videos, watch product tutorials, learn about the latest fashion trends, share content via social, and make online purchases.”


NFC World

The Conran Shop and Pinterest deploy NFC tags that let shoppers add products to wishlists

The Conran Shop and Pinterest collaborate to create an immersive and personalised shopping experience — Pinterest — “Customers will also be able to use their smartphones to explore the products and activate unique digital experiences via integrated near-field communication (NFC) technology. The NFC tags, powered by printed-electronics specialist, Thinfilm, are activated by tapping a smartphone on a featured hero product, which will automatically be added to a bespoke ‘Conran Wishlist’ on the customer’s personal Pinterest board.”


What's New in Payments

Australian banks launch Beem It P2P payments app

Big bank-backed Beem It launches Aussie payments app — ZDNet — “The Commonwealth Bank, NAB, and Westpac joined forces to create Beem It, allowing the real-time transfer of funds… The app enables sending and receiving money, with an interface reminiscent of a social media app… ‘It’s using Eftpos, and Visa debit card payment rails,’ Beem It chief product and development officer Deepesh Banerji said.”


What's New in Payments

Samsung Pay to add social sharing features?

You may soon be able to share your Samsung Pay transactions — SamMobile — “Samsung has built a feature for Samsung Pay that allows users to view a list of all their past transactions and share them to various social networks, including Facebook and Twitter, according to a patent spotted on Kipris’ database. Samsung Pay Story, which the firm describes as a ‘system for sharing buying experiences,’ is expected to be introduced in a future update for Samsung Pay, in an attempt to spread awareness of the payment platform using social media.”


What's New in Payments

Chatbots to issue over 1bn coupons a year by 2022

Digital coupon redemptions to surpass $90bn by 2022 — Juniper Research — “Juniper has quantified the volume of chatbot coupons as 25m this year, with this set to reach 1.1bn by 2022. The technology will enable greater personalisation of offers; particularly through use via social media, and at a fraction of the cost of using human operatives, and will aid in driving commerce transactions both online and in-store… Mobile will account for nearly 80% of all coupon redemptions by 2022.”


What's New in Payments

PayPal lets customers group together to raise funds and buy gifts

A better way to collect money from friends — PayPal — “With PayPal Money Pools, you can create a page that lets people easily chip in for group gifts, special events and more… PayPal Money Pool pages are easily shareable via link or social media… The proceeds go straight to your PayPal Money Pools account so you can track and use them whenever needed.”


What's New in Payments

Facebook signs up for Visa Token Service

Facebook joins the Visa Digital Enablement Program — Visa — “Visa today announced that Facebook has joined the Visa Digital Enablement Program (VDEP), which offers a commercial framework to make it easier for partners to access Visa’s token services and other digital capabilities globally. Facebook will use the Visa Token Service to help accelerate the availability of secure, payment-enabled services through its digital properties.”



What's New in Payments

Westpac shock as Apple bans its messaging payments app after three months

Westpac shock as Apple bans its messaging payments app after three months — Australian Financial Review — “The iPhone maker surprisingly ordered Westpac to remove a key feature of its recently revamped mobile banking application, which let customers make payments in popular chat applications… In a letter to customers, seen by The Australian Financial Review, Westpac reveals that its Westpac Keyboard function will be removed in July.”



BBVA integrates its financial services into social and messaging networks

BBVA integrates its financial services into social and messaging networks — BBVA — “BBVA customers can now interact in Spain with the bank via social networks and instant messaging services. BBVA has developed two new tools, Chatbot and BBVA Cashup, which allow customers to access financial information via Facebook and Telegram, and also to make payments via Bizum from Whatsapp or any messaging service.”


Disconnected experiences put customer loyalty at risk

Disconnected experiences put customer loyalty at risk — MuleSoft — “Nearly half of UK consumers (48 per cent) would be happy for banks to share their banking transaction history with a trusted third-party if it gave them a more personalised banking experience… Nearly a third (30 per cent) of UK respondents would consider using Amazon, Google, Facebook or Apple for banking services if it was offered, rather than using their standard bank.”







What's New in Payments

Westpac launches payments keyboard for chat apps

Westpac Keyboard

Customers of Australian bank Westpac will soon be able to use an innovative replacement for the default keyboard found in social messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp to make P2P money transfers to friends, family and businesses as well as send cardless cash codes to recipients for ATM withdrawals. More