Debit cards
Dutch paper finds public campaigns can boost debit card use
Working paper examines a campaign run in the Netherlands in 2007, finding it led to debit card use increasing by 2%; effects most prominent at early stage of campaign
MEPs strike deal to cap card payment fees
European Parliament reaches agreement on limits to the fees banks can charge retailers for processing payments in a bid to lower prices and tackle perverse incentives
Malaysian banks will use cheque fees to incentivise electronic payments
To reduce the use of cash and cheques in the financial system, Bank Negara Malaysia is introducing a scheme whereby cheque fees will be used to incentivise e-payments
Debit card fraud losses rise 13.1% in two years in the US, report shows
Fraud losses associated with debit card transactions in the US rose to $1.57 billion in 2013, according to a Fed report, but the amount lost per transaction was relatively stable
Malaysian deputy targets 'distortions’ in payments market
Muhammad bin Ibrahim says ‘more needs to be done’ to correct price distortions that he believes are holding back electronic payments in the country
Better budgeting tools could encourage low earners to switch from cash to card
Researchers find that low earners prefer to use cash over the debit card because they find it more effective as a monitoring and budgeting tool
Two-thirds of US non-cash payments by card, but cheques persist
Payments by credit and debit cards grew nearly 8% annually between 2009 and 2012, according to new Fed data; 122.8 billion non-cash payments made in 2012, worth $79 trillion
RBA paves way for new entrants in card systems
Reserve Bank of Australia wants to facilitate new entrants into Australia’s credit and debit card systems; plans to let MasterCard and Visa set the eligibility criteria
Regional Feds launch push for faster payments
The 12 Federal Reserve regional banks outline a broad 10-year plan for generating a faster, more efficient payment system; look to industry for specifics
US households stick with favourite payment methods
According to a recent study, households use ‘one or at most two' of cash, cheque and card when paying the bills
Dutch study uses neuroscience to dissect consumers’ payment choices
The Netherlands Bank uses an MRI scanner to examine what is going on in consumers’ minds as they choose whether to pay by cash or card
RBA considers overhaul to card access regimes
Reserve Bank of Australia launches consultation on whether to change or revoke rules governing access to credit and debit card systems – which might allow the RBA itself to acquire cards
Ireland chases €1bn saving with payments overhaul
Central bank launches new initiative to curb high cash and cheque use and boost electronic payments; proposals include possibility of scrapping one and two cent coins
ECB’s Cœuré highlights US and Europe payments division
Executive board member Benoît Cœuré says credit cards play a larger role in the US payments industry; identifies benefits of expanding European debit card usage
Bank of Lithuania chief urges banks to consider fee cuts as non-cash payments rise
Report shows sharp increase in volume of non-cash payments in Lithuania; governor Vitas Vasiliauskas says this gives banks room to consider cutting fees
RBA takes action to cut interchange fees
Reserve Bank of Australia reduces interchange fee cap for Eftpos payments system by 30% to 12 cents; move follows swingeing cut in 2006
ECB’s Cœuré concerned about online card fraud
Benoît Cœuré says greater innovation is needed in the internet payments market
Fed paper finds benefits in card networks’ price discrimination
Study finds the use of linear ad-valorem fees is capable of improving social welfare
National Bank of Rwanda highlights payments progress
The number of ATMs, points of sale and debit cards in use has grown rapidly
High merchant fees may produce sub-optimum payments usage, says Fed paper
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond working paper finds high merchant fees could be preventing payments markets from maximising consumer welfare
Brazil second in world for non-cash payments
World Payments Report reveals Brazil is second only to the US for volume of non-cash payments; use of electronic and mobile payments shows ‘exponential growth’
‘Public inertia’ a sticking point for e-payments, Bank of Lithuania finds
Bank of Lithuania investigates costs involved in providing payments systems; suggests ‘public inertia’ is slowing the switch to electronic
State Bank of Vietnam forms payments advice board
New board will advise central bank governor on payments issues; will conduct research and make proposals for ways to improve Vietnamese systems among other duties
RBA paper explains shift in ATM usage
Research paper from Reserve Bank of Australia analyses impact of 2009 ATM reforms; finds increased transparency has driven consumers away from ‘foreign’ machines