Sat.Nov 30, 2019 - Fri.Dec 06, 2019

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Unique Employee Gift Ideas to Consider This Holiday Season

PASBA

With the holidays upon us, you may dread coming up with ideas for employee gifts. At the same time, you know your employees really look forward to these gifts and this special time of recognition. If you want to go beyond the standard cash or gift card this year, read on for some ideas for employee gifts that can truly make them feel appreciated in your organization.

Start-ups 127
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Nigeria Turns To FinTechs To Boost Financial Inclusion

PYMNTS

In an effort to expand access to financial institutions (FIs), the Central Bank of Nigeria is planning to license more payment providers, Bloomberg reported on Saturday (Nov. 30). . The goal is to improve Nigeria’s financial inclusion rate by 20 percent, bringing it to 80 percent by the end of 2020. “The provision of licenses to several players will help support innovation and competition as all parties work to increase their customer base,” Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele said

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Tax Forms Explained

MazumaBusinessAccounting

As we approach tax season, it is important to understand different types of tax forms, and why we need them. If you’re hiring a new employee, or trying to report your income tax returns, you have come to the right place! Tax forms are essential for all small businesses and must be filled out properly. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is constantly on the move and requires every small business to file their taxes.

Tax 69
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Automakers Worry That Qualcomm Appeal Could Boost Cost Of 5G Cars

PYMNTS

If microchip supplier Qualcomm wins its case on appeal, the cost of connected cars using 5G technology will skyrocket, automakers and suppliers said in court filings on Friday (Nov. 29), Reuters reported. Judge Lucy Koh ruled in May that Qualcomm, the world’s largest supplier of mobile phone chips, is a monopoly and has to change the way it does business.

Legal 97
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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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How Recurring Payments Support Customer Services

PYMNTS

Satisfied customers are key to any company’s success. Those experiencing issues like declined payments or damaged products will want to share their frustrations with merchants, but direct communication grows more challenging when digital screens separate businesses and their customers. . The right customer support services can connect these two parties to more effectively work through difficulties.

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Why Installment Payments Are Fashionable This Holiday Season

PYMNTS

Consumers — especially millennials and Generation Z — are looking for new commerce experiences during the 2019 holiday season. However, they are also hesitant to pay for those new experiences with credit cards or other traditional financing options. Debt from the previous holiday shopping season has made these younger consumers credit-shy, but it has not limited their appetite for holiday spending.

Retail 87

More Trending

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Gusto Cites Security Concerns In Zenefits API Dispute

PYMNTS

Small business accountants have said they are now forced to manually transfer data between payroll and human resources solution providers Gusto and Zenefits after the two companies abruptly ended their application programming interface (API) integration, AccountingToday reported. While a spokesperson for Zenefits told the publication that “Zenefits still has an integration with Gusto for payroll,” reports noted that the integration does not support the ability for small business acco

payroll 81
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Deutsche Money Laundering Probe Accelerated

PYMNTS

The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has accelerated its probe into Deutsche Bank’s participation in a $220 billion Danske Bank money laundering scheme, Reuters reported on Monday (Dec. 2), citing four sources. The DoJ is inquiring if Germany’s largest bank Deutsche assisted with moving dirty money to the U.S. from Denmark’s largest lender Danske , one source told Reuters.

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Trucking Payments Tools That Are In It For The Long Haul

PYMNTS

The growing significance of the gig economy is changing how businesses handle their payments. Corporations recognize that paying freelancers for ad hoc projects is a different ball game than issuing regular payroll disbursements to hourly or salaried employees or contracting with large suppliers. Gig workers frequently want compensation that is delivered rapidly — not at the end of a two-week pay period — and more than a third of financially struggling gig workers would switch platforms to get p

payroll 74
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How Faster Payments And Faster Data Drive Payroll Innovation

PYMNTS

Shifting employee landscapes, changes in workers’ demands over how and when they get paid, and technological innovation have combined to open the floodgates for payroll FinTech. However, a rise in new service providers has added opportunity for industry consolidation, with payroll companies finding acquisitions a strategic way to augment their offerings, and keep pace with evolving needs among businesses and their employees.

payroll 74
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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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Bitcoin Daily: Bank Of Russia Would Back Crypto Ban; Fidelity Develops Digital Token As Employee Incentive

PYMNTS

The Bank of Russia has voiced its support for a ban on cryptocurrency payments, saying that “private cryptocurrencies cannot be equated with fiat money and cannot be legal tender.”. “If it is decided to ban cryptocurrencies as a means of payment at the legislative level, we consider it appropriate to support this position,” the banking authority said , adding that “we continue to believe that cryptocurrencies carry significant risks, including in the field of laundering of proceeds from crime an

Legal 73
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FinServ Providers Lift Some Of B2B’s Fraud Burden

PYMNTS

As B2B fraud threats like the business email compromise (BEC) scam or internal employee theft continue to grow for businesses large and small, experts are urging business owners and executives to take the lead in combatting fraudsters. Indeed, the latest cases rounded up by PYMNTS show that the threats of external BEC scams and internal accounts payable fraud are alive and well.

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Mastercard: Closing The Small Biz Cash Settlement Gap

PYMNTS

It’s been said that small business is the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. And it’s been said, too, that cash flow is the lifeblood of small business. Take that logic a step further — and small business cash flow, then, is the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. But there’s a structural challenge in the mix, one that keeps cash flow from being a steady stream, and thus prevents companies from reaching their full potential.

Sales 66
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German Gov’t Snaps Up Tech Firms To Prevent Foreign Acquisitions

PYMNTS

Germany is planning to temporarily take stakes in high-tech companies in order to stop investors from non-EU countries from acquiring them. The “national fallback” proposal, introduced by economy minister Peter Altmaier on Friday (November 29), would increase the government’s powers to scrutinize and potentially block deals. In fact, Altmaier said that ministers should be able to intervene whenever a non-EU entity tries to acquire a stake of 10 percent or more in any German company in such areas

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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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Grab Launches GrabPay Card

PYMNTS

Grab is introducing Asia’s first numberless card in batches, with Singapore launching on Thursday (Dec. 5) and the Philippines during the first quarter 2020, the company announced in a press release. The digital GrabPay Card is powered by Mastercard and offers users seamless payments integration and an expanded rewards system with a limited promotion giving up to 10x GrabReward points for every dollar spent.

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Inside Colorado’s New State-Run Digital Driver’s License App

PYMNTS

State-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards are the most common forms of personal identification in the U.S., allowing citizens to prove their identities at airports, bars and in numerous other settings. Individuals must ensure that they have such credentials on them at all times, though, which gives them yet another thing about which to worry. What if they could instead easily access such identification methods on their smartphones, which they are likely to be carrying anyway?

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Uber Eats Introduces Group Ordering

PYMNTS

Uber has introduced a group ordering option, the company said in a blog post. . “Whether you’re at the office, going to a friend’s place or hosting at home, coordinating group meals can be challenging — especially when you and your guests are hungry and the clock is ticking,” the company said. “Starting today, you can skip over that hassle and take back team lunches.

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How AI And Robots Can Reduce Ecosystem Friction

PYMNTS

Friction is everywhere – even the not-quite-vacuum of outer space has it. Closer to earth, friction can make a mess of commerce and payments, especially as impatient consumers have multiple options for where to spend their time and money. But the fight against friction – one of the defining payments and commerce endeavors of this decade, and the one about to start – is getting a boost from artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.

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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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Google CEO Sundar Pichai To Take Over Parent Co Alphabet

PYMNTS

Google CEO Sundar Pichai will take over as the new CEO of Alphabet , as well as retain his job at Google, according to a blog post by Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. “Going forward, Sundar will be the CEO of both Google and Alphabet. He will be the executive responsible and accountable for leading Google, and managing Alphabet’s investment in our portfolio of Other Bets,” the post said.

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Teen-Focused Digital Bank Pixpay Raises $3.4M

PYMNTS

French startup Pixpay is the first challenger bank to cater to teens, offering a debit Mastercard for cashless payments, news outlets reported on Friday (Nov. 29). A Pixpay account can be opened by anyone 10 years old or above, and both parents and children can download the app together. Like competitor Kard , Pixpay wants to give teens a way to go digital and ditch cash altogether. .

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Google Data Practices Under EU Antitrust Scrutiny

PYMNTS

EU antitrust regulators are probing Google to see how the search giant uses and monetizes the data it collects on users, Reuters reported on Saturday (Nov. 30), citing the European Commission. An EU executive told Reuters that the European Commission wanted to know what methods Google uses to mine data and the reasons behind the collection. . The EU’s investigation is centered on search data, advertising, ad targeting, login services, web browsers and more, according to a document seen by Reuter

Alabama 60
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NYSE Submits IPO-Alternative Proposal, Nasdaq To Follow

PYMNTS

Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the two major stock exchanges in the U.S., are proposing an alternative for corporates looking to raise cash apart from the initial public offering (IPO). The Financial Times reported last week that Nasdaq and the NYSE are considering allowing businesses to directly list on their exchanges. The NYSE submitted its proposal to the U.S.

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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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How FinTech Payment Platforms Power Marketplaces

PYMNTS

FinTech firms are aiming to serve the payment needs of marketplaces with technology that helps funds flow both in and out of their accounts — a process that meets many challenges when dealing with so many payment services globally, or even in just one country. Modo , in one case, has filled out a product around checkout, which it calls /checkout, to focus on how money arrives at an organization.

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Why 5G Will Make Machines — And Machine Payments — Much Smarter

PYMNTS

Robots and artificial intelligence haven’t taken over — yet. But machines still have human-like needs, needs that, when fulfilled, can improve payments and commerce and, according to some, usher in what’s sometimes being called in smart circles a new industrial revolution. The key to that future is emerging 5G mobile network technology. Sure, retailers, healthcare providers and other operations with firm footing in the digital economy are seeking, finding and crafting use cases for 5G, which, ab

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SoftBank Releases SBC Wallet Cards With Fiat/Crypto Options

PYMNTS

Japanese multinational conglomerate SoftBank has announced the launch of SBC Wallet Cards, which utilize its own encryption system, and boast multiple encryption mechanisms, as well as hot and cold wallet functions. Released on Nov. 27, SBC is designed to shorten the time before card issuance, as well as decrease the cost of having to issue multiple cards, while improving the relationship between users/merchants and issuers.

Legal 59
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Recurring Payments’ Supporting Role In Keeping Customers Loyal

PYMNTS

Entertainment powerhouse Disney made a big splash last month when its long-awaited streaming service Disney+ officially launched on Nov. 12. Within weeks of the launch, Disney+ acquired more than 10 million global subscribers, making the service highly competitive in the SVOD/OTT space. As a newcomer to the subscription streaming market, Disney will need to realize quickly that customer loyalty can’t be taken for granted and that a seamless payment experience is essential for retaining customers

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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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Leaked Documents Show UN Facial ID Tenets Framed By China

PYMNTS

Technology firms in China are framing facial recognition policies at the United Nations (UN), The Financial Times (FT) reported on Sunday (Dec. 1), citing leaked documents. . The data obtained by FT shows that Chinese tech firms are striving to expand markets for the latest facial recognition technology while advancing a global standard. Telecommunications equipment maker ZTE, security camera firm Dahua Technology and the state-owned Chinese telecommunication company China Telecom are among the

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Chime Raises $500M On $5.8B Valuation

PYMNTS

Silicon Valley-based Chime has raised $500 million in a Series E funding round that sent its valuation soaring to $5.8 billion, CNBC reported on Thursday (Dec. 5), citing sources. The funding, led by DST Global, is the largest individual equity investment for a challenger bank, surpassing NuBank’s $400 million, which was also led by DST Global, according to CB Insights.

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Google CEO Sundar Pichai Takes The Reins At Alphabet

PYMNTS

Google CEO Sundar Pichai will take over as the new CEO of Alphabet , as well as retain his job at Google, according to a blog post by Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. “Going forward, Sundar will be the CEO of both Google and Alphabet. He will be the executive responsible and accountable for leading Google, and managing Alphabet’s investment in our portfolio of Other Bets,” the post said.

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TrueDialog SMS Provider Leaks Millions Of Business Texts

PYMNTS

An exposed database run by TrueDialog revealed millions of SMS text messages, according to published reports on Sunday (Dec. 1). Most of the text messages were sent by businesses to potential customers, with the service offering recipients the opportunity to respond to the messages so they can have two-way conversations with brands or businesses. The exposed database, which contained years of sent and received text messages, wasn’t password protected or encrypted.

Finance 57
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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.