May, 2020

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Demand For Faster Payments Skyrockets

PYMNTS

If you want to know how consumers feel about faster payments, talk to the millions of Americans who still have not received stimulus money as of mid- to late-May. The U.S. real-time payments void has hurt commerce, too, as PYMNTS research finds that close to 39 percent of small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) have reduced payrolls to help relieve cash flow stress, and nearly 30 percent simply went under.

payroll 137
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How To Receive PPP Forgiveness as a Sole Proprietor

xendoo

The Xendoo team has compiled many resources on the PPP to help small business owners everywhere. Check out our additional resources here: What do I need for my PPP application? Your Guide to PPP Loan Forgiveness. Paycheck Protection Program Guide. Many business owners that are sole proprietors are searching for information on how to make sure their PPP loan is fully forgiven.

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Webinar: Getting Back to Work: Considerations for Reopening Your Not-for-Profit

Katz,Sapper&Miller

As not-for-profit organizations plan their return to work, they face many legal and operational considerations. What factors should be top-of-mind? How can organizations protect their employees’ health and well-being while effectively reopening for those they serve?

Legal 97
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Ben’s Message

MazumaBusinessAccounting

June Newsletter. As a small business owner, I am constantly hiring new employees and am immersed in the hiring process. I love the beginning of the process, particularly looking through resumes. Each resume has a story. The single piece of paper has years of hard work, dedication, experience, and discipline. I often ponder at my own experience and wonder “what’s my story, and what’s the next chapter?

CPA 96
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Building a Business Case for Finance Automation

Speaker: Danny Gassaway and Wayne Richards

Finance leaders are prioritizing efficiency and digital transformation, yet many hesitate to automate due to uncertainty. Without a clear understanding of its impact, organizations risk falling behind competitors who are leveraging automation to drive productivity and cost savings. Join Wayne Richards and Danny Gassaway from AvidXchange for a practical guide on bringing accounts payable (AP) automation to your organization.

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PPP Loan Forgiveness (Live Webinar)

CapataCPA

PPP Loan Forgiveness Webinar The webinar is now over: If you happened to miss the webinar, we don't want you to miss out on the valuable information about PPP Loan Forgiveness, you can now watch it at your convenience. Because of the amount of information regarding the PPP loans, we may not have had a. The post PPP Loan Forgiveness (Live Webinar) appeared first on CPA firm in Orange County, CA | CAPATA.

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Alabama Reopens And COVID-19 Cases Soar 300 Pct Month Over Month

PYMNTS

After Alabama reopened on May 1, the state has seen coronavirus cases surge by 300 percent month over month, with intensive care units (ICUs) at less than 4 percent capacity remaining and medical workers “exhausted physically and mentally,” Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said on CNBC. Reed said his region has “improved marginally,” but that it is “not enough to get us out of this crisis moment.” “We can manage it, but we can’t sustain the trend that

Alabama 137

More Trending

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Visa Seeks Patent On System To Turn Government Currencies Into Digital Blockchain Versions

PYMNTS

Credit card giant Visa has filed an application for a U.S. patent on a computer system that would convert physical dollars and other fiat currencies into digital versions, complete with denominations and serial numbers and recorded via blockchain. The system would then remove the paper currency from circulation. “According to the [details] discussed herein, the payment ecosystem may become entirely (e.g. 100 percent) digital,” Visa wrote in its application, which was originally filed with the

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Georgia’s Push To Reopen Falls Flat As Consumers Stay Home

PYMNTS

The road to recovery after the coronavirus pandemic is widely expected to be a winding one as businesses, consumers and officials work to figure how to restart an economy intentionally shut down roughly two months ago. It is a situation complicated by the fact that a roughly comparable event hasn’t occurred in the U.S. in over a century, meaning there is no living expert with any practical expertise at managing the fallout from an incurable pandemic.

Georgia 125
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Virtual Tellers And Workhorse ATMs: Banking’s New (Digital-First) Normal

PYMNTS

The prospect of restarting the economy of bringing all manner of everyday life in the U.S. back to some semblance of “normal” has challenges — and opportunities for banks, especially community banks and credit unions. The challenge lies with serving the needs of the individual who may be hesitant to go back to the old ways of banking — of walking up to teller windows, of handling cash in envelopes.

Start-ups 122
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JCB And TECHFUND Partner For Blockchain Payment System Ideas

PYMNTS

Japan-based credit card and payment firm JCB has announced a partnership with tech startup accelerator TECHFUND to explore the idea of a payment system with blockchain options, the company said on Friday (May 15). It is currently unknown whether the idea will focus on public blockchain or if the idea will just use the accelerator to access entrepreneurs.

B2B 115
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Fall In Love With the Month-End Close

It's the time of year to give our close process some TLC. Join us in this one hour webinar where we discuss how to adopt leading practices and infuse technology into the month-end close process to improve our experience and increase our productivity during month-end and quarter-end close. Learning Objectives: This course's objective is to understand how the month-end close can be improved with automation and adoption of leading practices.

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Preparing Merchants For The Coming Mobile Wallet Boost

PYMNTS

Call it the great shift. We’re still navigating the pandemic — which means doing what we used to do offline, increasingly, through digital means. As PYMNTS found in a recent consumer study, 40 percent of individuals are doing more of their daily retail and transactions online, partly because, well, there’s no other way to do it. And as many as 22 percent of the population surveyed said those habits would stick.

Start-ups 112
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Amazon Eyes JCPenney Buy

PYMNTS

Amazon could be in talks to acquire the bankrupt clothing retailer JCPenney , Fox Business reported, citing Women’s Wear Daily (WWD). JCPenney officially filed for bankruptcy late Friday (May 15), ending speculation as to the beleaguered former retail titan’s financial status. Now, Amazon could be moving in. One source, according to WWD as reported by Fox Business, was “in Plano as we speak,” referring to the Texas city where JCPenney is headquartered.

Texas 110
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Disrupting Traditional Payroll For A New Economic And Global Normal

PYMNTS

For all the human and business impacts caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, the crisis has also been instructive, particularly in illustrating the shortcomings in systems that worked just fine — until they didn’t. The massive and simultaneous global shift to digital has put a spotlight on traditional supply chains, antiquated paper-based processes and an aging payments infrastructure.

payroll 108
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Visa, Conferma Pay, Make Corporate ‘On The Go’ Card Spend Tap And Pay

PYMNTS

The stage is set for contactless payments in commerce, for plastic to remain in the wallet, and for consumers to embrace digital wallets. As workforces become more decentralized, as far-flung employees still have to pay suppliers and vendors — and perhaps even travel (someday) — the stage may be set, too, for technology to help transform the way employees spend corporate money.

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Navigating Payroll Compliance: Future-Proofing Payroll in an Evolving Regulatory Landscape

Speaker: Jennifer Hill

Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.

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Dubai Creating $870M Free Trading Zone For eCommerce

PYMNTS

The government of Dubai is planning to create an $870 million free trade zone for eCommerce named Dubai CommerCity (DCC). The development project will be located next to Dubai International Airport. . The project is being developed collaboratively with two state-owned enterprises — the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority ( DAFZA ) and the property firm wasl.

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Will Restaurants Ever Find A Way To Beat The Grocery Store?

PYMNTS

The fact that grocery stores are comprehensively winning the race to keep the American consumer fed shouldn’t be too surprising, considering grocery stores are by and large still open for business, and restaurants have been forced by statute in most places to close their doors. In the world of retail sales, it’s hard to find a bigger advantage than being open in the face of everyone else’s closure.

Gaming 106
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Why Now Is The Time For CUs’ Digital Transformation

PYMNTS

For credit unions (CUs), the shift to digital banking is here — and depending on how you look at it, the pivot, by necessity, took only a few months. In an interview with Karen Webster, Todd Clark , CEO of CO-OP Financial Services , said the past eight weeks have spurred CUs to grapple with significant changes in member activity across every channel, and an economic landscape that has presented members with momentous challenges.

Start-ups 105
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Overstock CEO: Why Immunity Passports Could Move Blockchain Tech Mainstream

PYMNTS

In the early days of enforced social distancing measures, there was a presiding confidence that any economic disruption would be temporary and fairly short. Analysts were nearly universally predicting a “V-shaped” U.S. recovery — a fast drop with a quick stop, then a rapid reset back to normal. End-to-end, things would recover by 2020’s end. But things are looking far less certain now in that regard.

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Next-Level Fraud Prevention: Strategies for Today’s Threat Landscape

Speaker: Sierre Lindgren

Fraud is a battle that every organization must face – it’s no longer a question of “if” but “when.” Every organization is a potential target for fraud, and the finance department is often the bullseye. From cleverly disguised emails to fraudulent payment requests, the tactics of cybercriminals are advancing rapidly. Drawing insights from real-world cases and industry expertise, we’ll explore the vulnerabilities in your processes and how to fortify them effectively.

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How Banks Can Guide FinTechs Through Their First Economic Downturn

PYMNTS

From competitors to collaborators, the FinTech boom introduced a field of opportunity for traditional financial institutions to team up with an industry newcomer to become more agile and modern with their own product offerings. While FinTechs are, in many ways, useful allies to banks, traditional FIs can also be a critical partner to FinTechs that lack the resources or opportunity to acquire their own banking license.

Finance 104
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Why Unified Commerce Is Critical For Merchants — And Catnip For Fraudsters

PYMNTS

The shift to digital commerce is more urgent than ever — and so are some of the potential pitfalls as fraudsters recalibrate their attacks and eye card-not-present transactions as a new way to make off with ill-gotten gains. In an interview with Karen Webster, Carleigh Jaques, senior vice president and general manager of CyberSource , a Visa solution, said commerce is now different, especially for smaller enterprises.

Sports 104
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Visa Leads Latest Funding For FinTech Startup Nium 

PYMNTS

FinTech payments startup Nium , based in Singapore, is getting a new round of funding led by new investors Visa and BRI Ventures. Nium, formerly known as InstaReM, has closed four funding rounds totaling $59 million since it was founded in 2014. The size of this latest round was not disclosed. Prajit Nanu, chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder of Nium, said in a statement on Wednesday (May 6) that he is “thrilled” to get the backing of “prestigious” new investors like Visa and BRI Venture

payroll 102
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Improving Conversions While Navigating The Great Digital Shift

PYMNTS

When the pandemic is over, there will be thousands of books written about the ways the coronavirus changed daily life, globally. Among those will be – or should be – a tome on how the great shift to digital commerce drove merchants to connect to multiple services. In an interview with Karen Webster, Justin Benson, CEO of Spreedly , said the shift is a critical one, requiring merchants to rethink how they approach payments and, as a result, optimize revenues.

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Cash Flow Secrets Every Upskilled CPA Should Know

Speaker: Debra L. Robinson

CPAs know the drill: taxes, compliance, rinse, repeat. But what about the sneaky cash flow that’s quietly messing with your organization’s success? It’s time to step into the spotlight and expose the “dirty little secrets” of cash flow to fuel strategic growth. By upskilling your accounting practices and shifting focus from tax compliance to the strategic movement of money, you can transform your role from reactive accountant to proactive financial strategist.

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Payoneer CEO: eCommerce’s Surge And Brick-And-Mortar’s ‘Vicious Cycle’

PYMNTS

The coronavirus has spurred a seismic shift in commerce, moving shopping into the digital realm. . Consumers are buying anything (and seemingly everything) and conducting all manner of everyday business online because that is their only option. . In an interview with Karen Webster, Scott Galit, CEO of Payoneer , said the impact will continue to be global in scope and deeply felt across all avenues of commerce — giving new rise to cross-border commerce. .

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Alibaba Developing AI For Tmall Genie Smart Speakers

PYMNTS

China’s Alibaba Group is putting $1.4 billion into the development of artificial intelligence (AI) for its Tmall Genie smart speaker, the company said in a statement on Wednesday (May 20) following a press conference. The upgrade and innovation centered around its flagship Tmall Genie smart speaker will use proprietary technologies that combine AI and the Internet of Things (IoT).

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Using Sensors And IoT To Thwart Home Invasions (Of Privacy)

PYMNTS

To monitor a home and to make sure all is safe and secure means you have to monitor the people and the activities inside. How to do that without destroying privacy in the age of work from home, shop from home, do-everything from home? In the age of connected devices, it may be that the sensor can go a long way toward eliminating that all standby, the unblinking eye of the camera — always on, and perhaps intrusive.

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Why Cultivating Customer Loyalty Has Become The Crucial Commerce Capability

PYMNTS

Consumers are thinking about their commerce experience through an entirely different and largely safety-focused lens in a way they never have before. It’s a story told in the data — the PYMNTS COVID-19 Brief Series quantifies the myriad ways health and safety have become prime factors in consumers’ lifestyle choices. And it’s a story told in the subtle but noticeable shifts happening in all of our own lives anecdotally.

Start-ups 100
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Profit in the Details: Rethinking Spend for Monumental Impact

Speaker: Aaron Berson

Managing spend is more than a cost cutting exercise – it's a pathway to smarter decisions that unlock efficiency and drive growth. By understanding and refining the spending process, financial leaders can empower their organizations to achieve more with less. Explore the art of balancing financial control with operational growth. From uncovering hidden inefficiencies to designing workflows that scale your business, we’ll share strategies to align your organization’s spending with its strategic g

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Visa Expands Visa Token Service, Eyes eCommerce ‘Balancing Act’

PYMNTS

Visa said Wednesday (May 13) that 28 new partners — spanning a range of gateway acquirers and technology partners — are joining Visa Token Service as credential on file token requestors. The 28 additions add significantly to the 150 token requestor partners that had been included in Visa Token Service through the years since the service launched in 2014.

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NEW DATA: States Push To Reopen – Will Consumer Demand Follow?

PYMNTS

It has been almost two months since the World Health Organization (WHO) first declared the coronavirus a pandemic on March 11, and it has since taken an unprecedented toll on consumers’ wellbeing and livelihoods. Many policymakers are making a push to lift the restrictions that have been put in place to slow the spread of contagion in the hopes of reviving the battered economy.

Retail 100
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PayPal Processed More Transactions On May 1 Than On Black Friday

PYMNTS

“It was the best of the times, it was the worst of times,” wrote Charles Dickens in one of the more famous openings to a novel in history. It was a fairly good description of life in Europe on the eve of the French Revolution and, as it turns out, a reasonably good synopsis for the recent rush of earnings reports in the era of COVID-19. For many firms, the last two months have represented the absolute worst of times as social distancing and forced closures have ground their businesses to a halt

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Why ?Dining Out? Is About To Become A Much More Literal Term

PYMNTS

Memorial Day weekend is upon us – which means here in the United States, summer is officially setting up to begin. Sort of. With the outbreak of an international pandemic, our summer plans have been rather modified, as consumers seem to be considering what the safest summer plans might be, and opting to tread a bit differently than they have in the past. .

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Navigating Bleisure Travel: A Guide for Mid-Sized Companies

Bleisure travel — where employees combine work and leisure — has been around since the advent of corporate travel and is here to stay. Successful bleisure policies strike a balance between employee preferences and company goals — workers report a 64% improvement in work-life balance, while companies benefit from reduced travel costs and increased workforce innovation.