Sat.May 16, 2020 - Fri.May 22, 2020

article thumbnail

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
article thumbnail

SBA Releases PPP Forgiveness Application; Sheds Dim Light on Looming Questions

Katz,Sapper&Miller

The lack of guidance related to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness has been the genesis of exacerbated frustration in the tax and business communities over the last several weeks. While the Small Business Administration (SBA) has still not released authoritative guidance clarifying critical definitions and providing much-needed direction, it did release the PPP loan forgiveness application Friday, May 15.

Tax 69
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Orange County COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Support Fund Program 

CapataCPA

Orange County COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Support Fund Program In breaking news, the California Employment Development (EDD) funded $700,000 to Orange County’s Workforce Development Board (OCWDB) in partnership with the Orange County Community Services- Community Investment Division. These funds have been put into the COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Support Program to help small businesses within the Orange County.

article thumbnail

Small Business Health Insurance Options: Which (If Any) Will You Pick?

Patriot Software

Thinking about offering employer-sponsored health insurance? Sure, you could offer a traditional group health insurance to your employees, but that’s not your only choice. There are a number of small business health insurance options you can choose from. Why not pick the program that fits your business? Read on to learn about small business healthcare […].

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Why Hyperledger Says It?s Prime Time For Blockchain

PYMNTS

Is now the prime time for blockchain ? As COVID-19 has disrupted supply chains worldwide, Brian Behlendorf , executive director of Hyperledger , told Karen Webster that the pandemic has spurred a shift in thinking about new use cases for permissioned blockchains. Increasingly, firms seek accountability and visibility into suppliers, vendors and transactions in real time.

article thumbnail

COVID-19 Business Survival Series: “Being Philanthropic When It’s Needed Most”

Katz,Sapper&Miller

COVID-19 does not discriminate, and it has impacted all sectors of the nation’s economy. But certain industries are being affected more than others, maybe none more so than not-for-profits. Why does this sector matter – especially now – and what should the business community be doing to help preserve this very important piece of Indiana’s ecosystem?

68

More Trending

article thumbnail

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
article thumbnail

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
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

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
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

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
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

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).

Kentucky 101
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

H1 Insights: Improving Patient Outcomes By Changing How Doctors, Pharma and Patients Find Each Other

PYMNTS

In healthcare, increasingly, data is critical for addressing inefficiencies in a system that is nearly 18 percent of U.S. GDP. And perhaps, most critically, matching patients with the right doctors, and various healthcare professionals with the right pharmaceutical companies during research and trials can speed treatments and new drugs as they move from concept to real-life therapies.

article thumbnail

PPP Loan Forgiveness May Be Hard To Win For Self-Employed Workers

PYMNTS

The self-employed might regret getting one of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA). CNBC reported these independent contractors who borrowed from the PPP face the prospect of not getting the balance forgiven. Under the terms of the CARES Act, businesses don’t have to repay the loan if they spent at least 75 percent of the proceeds on payroll and no more than 25 percent for other items.

Ohio 99
article thumbnail

April Home Sales Slide As Buyers, Sellers Wait Out Pandemic

PYMNTS

Home sales fell to a 10-year low in April as buying and selling have been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). For the second consecutive month, each of the nation’s four regions saw sales dwindle in year-over-year sales, with the West seeing the greatest dip. Total existing-home sales – including single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums and co-ops – dropped 17.8 percent in April to 4.3 million, compared to the same month a year ago w

Sales 98
article thumbnail

Kasikornbank To Offer Nium’s FinTech Payments Platform

PYMNTS

FinTech payments platform Nium , based in Singapore, is expanding its global reach to service Kasikornbank’s Asia-Pacific customers in Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. In a joint statement, the two companies said the move is part of an effort by Kasikornbank (KBank) to ramp up its “digital cross-border payments offerings” as social distancing measures become the new normal.

97
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

What Famed Boston Eatery Petit Robert’s Owner Sees As Restaurants’ Future

PYMNTS

Boston’s Petit Robert Bistro , one of the city’s fanciest French restaurants, started 2020 with expectations that were anything but small. Mild winter weather in Boston had led to stronger-than-average performances in January and February, and owner Loic Le Garrec told Karen Webster in a recent conversation that he expected going gangbusters through his typically busy spring season.

article thumbnail

Will The Pandemic Finally Get Central Banks Interested In Building Digital Currencies?

PYMNTS

The tipping point might be nigh for digital dollars and other central bank-issued currencies done through bits and bytes. As politicians across the globe grapple with the pandemic’s continued economic fallout and the need to get stimulus funds to individuals, corporations and even local governments with speed and security, digital delivery of those dollars is likely to gain increasing traction.

article thumbnail

New Facebook Shops Feature Streamlines Social Commerce

PYMNTS

To enable businesses to more easily list their merchandise on its social media platforms, Facebook has unveiled Facebook Shops. The free feature will allow companies to place product listings on their Facebook Page, Instagram profiles and stories, or in ads, CNBC reported. The social media company had allowed companies to list items on Instagram and Facebook in the past.

Sales 97
article thumbnail

Swiggy, Zomato Add Alcohol To Delivery Menu In India

PYMNTS

Indian food delivery startups Swiggy and Zomato will start delivering alcohol in some cities in an effort to meet the increased demand for booze during the lockdown. Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, will be the first area to get alcohol delivered. “We believe that a technology-enabled home delivery based solution can enable responsible consumption of alcohol as well as provide an option that’s safer and promotes social distancing,” a Zomato spokesperson told the Economic Times in a report on

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Uber Cuts 3K More Jobs And Targets Office Closings

PYMNTS

Uber plans to cut 3,000 more jobs and close 45 offices — all while eyeing other cutbacks as the COVID-19 economy keeps pummeling the ride-hailing giant. Job cuts do not include drivers, who technically are not employees. Meanwhile, the company is seeking to buy Uber Eats rival Grubhub, which spurned the offer over the weekend. The talks between the two companies have so far not been fruitful.

96
article thumbnail

Ross Stores Begins Reopening After Reporting Sales Drop

PYMNTS

Amid the ongoing spread of the pandemic throughout the country, Ross Stores, Inc. reported total Q1 sales of $1.8 billion compared to $3.8 billion in the prior year. The retailer said it wasn’t reporting comparable-store sales, as its shops were open for less than seven weeks of the 13-week period, per an announcement. Ross Stores also registered a loss per share of 87 cents compared to earnings per share of $1.15 for the past year period.

Sales 96
article thumbnail

Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Could Offer Light At The End Of The Tunnel

PYMNTS

A COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the Cambridge, Massachusetts firm Moderna is showing early signs of promise, with an early-stage human trial showing some compelling results. This much-awaited bit of good news in the fight against the novel coronavirus sent shivers of anticipation through the stock market, which drove the company’s shares up some 26 percent intraday as the development broke.

article thumbnail

Ontario Systems Buys SwervePay To Boost Electronic Payments

PYMNTS

Payment collections software company Ontario Systems has acquired SwervePay to help bolster its electronic payment capabilities, according to a press release. Electronic payments processing is becoming “increasingly critical” for Ontario Systems’ customers, which mandated the acquisition of SwervePay acquisition, a payment facilitator in the accounts receivable management and healthcare industries.

article thumbnail

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

article thumbnail

Digital Couponing Rises With The Digital Shift

PYMNTS

The digital shift will not have paper coupons. It remains to be seen if the pandemic and its hypervigilance about potential germs will wash what’s left of them away, but digital coupons are growing right along with the crisis-driven move to eCommerce. Inmar Intelligence , one of the leaders in digital couponing, reported last week that enrollment in digital coupon programs among the top 30 percent of national grocery chains has grown 93 percent year over year since March 1.

Sports 95
article thumbnail

How ePayments Can Ease B2B Friction In The Travel Industry

PYMNTS

While the travel industry remains decimated due to the pandemic, with businesses just beginning to tiptoe toward some semblance of normalcy, the shift to digital processes is gaining traction. In an interview with PYMNTS, Xavier Ginesta , chairman at Voxel Group , which focuses on B2B payments, said that friction exists for B2B payments within the travel space — but that friction can be eased with eBilling and ePayments.

B2B 94
article thumbnail

Banks Brace For Forbearance Program Expiry Dates

PYMNTS

The time is almost up for people who got mortgage forbearance under the CARES Act, but banks can’t predict how many will default of the $150 billion in loans currently on ice, according to a Bloomberg report on Wednesday (May 20). In order to avoid an anticipated deluge of defaults, forbearance programs were quickly rolled out in March without requiring proof of hardship.

article thumbnail

Kohl?s Leans Into Digital During Pandemic Store Closures

PYMNTS

As it leaned into its digital businesses with its stores closed amid the pandemic, Kohl’s Corporation saw its digital sales rise 24 percent for the quarter and accelerate to 60 percent in April. CEO Michelle Gass said in a Tuesday (May 19) first-quarter earnings call with analysts that the retailer amplified its digital marketing efforts and revised its online site content.

Retail 94
article thumbnail

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.