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Contactless payments have surged since 2020, initially spurred by consumers’ concerns about the spread of germs when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Turns out, many people found “tap to pay” to be more convenient than swiping or inserting a card to make a payment, so contactless payments have taken hold. Visa reported earlier this year that nearly 20 percent of all in-person credit or debit card transactions in the U.S. — and 45% in New York City — are now made by tapping a card or using a digital wallet such as Apple Pay or Google Pay on an NFC payment terminal or other contactless acceptance devices, such as those in train and subway stations.
READ MOREThe four card brands—American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa—assess Interchange fees on card payments to compensate the card-issuing banks for processing transactions. Fees are typically reviewed and adjusted once or twice a year, in April and October. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the card brands suspended most practices so as not to further burden businesses hit with closures, labor, supply chain issues and other challenges.
READ MOREWhat Is a Virtual Terminal? A Merchant Services Virtual Terminal turns any browser-connected device – desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone – into a cloud-based credit card terminal. Unlike a stand-alone credit card terminal and paper receipts, a Virtual Terminal allows you to accept payments from customers in person, over the phone, online and via mailed or electronic invoices. Transaction details are paired with customer information and stored digitally, giving you quick access to payment history. And you can access records and conduct business from anywhere: in the office, at home and on the go.
READ MOREWhat is an ACH Payment? As a consumer, you have likely made payments via ACH, even though you may not be familiar with the acronym. ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, which is the official network connecting US banks to the Federal Reserve. Electronic payments can be made directly from a bank account (ACH debit) using the routing and account numbers. ACH is also called an “electronic check” or “E-check.” It is typically used for bills, invoices, utility payments, and tax payments. ACH is also the method most commonly used for the direct deposit of paychecks (ACH credit).
READ MOREWhat are Omnichannel Payments? Omnichannel payments is a big phrase for what essentially means the ability to use one solution platform to accept payments from customers any way they want to pay: in-person, online, in a shopping cart, via email or postal mail, over the phone, on a mobile device, or as part of recurring payment and subscription plans.
READ MOREPayments—whether by consumers or businesses—are increasingly being made through digital channels. After all, online acceptance streamlines processes, eases demands on staff, and improves the customer experience. While the shift to digital offers a fast and convenient way for customers to pay, it unfortunately increases opportunities for hackers to break into systems and steal valuable card data. That’s why it’s more important than ever for software providers and their end users to employ security technologies that protect systems and networks from handling or storing sensitive payment details captured in online forms. Implementing these solutions also reduces the scope of vulnerable data, which simplifies PCI DSS compliance validation.
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