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Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Walmart expands B2B payment terms to address 'uncertainty'
The current economic climate is stressing supply chain management, with Walmart adding business payment features designed to address clients' cash flow challenges while expanding its long-standing encroachment into banking. "For small- to medium-size businesses and nonprofits, they need to be flexible and in times of uncertainty it's especially important," Ashley Hubka, senior vice president and general manager of Walmart Business, told American Banker. Walmart is testing a product that offers extended payment terms and treasury management tools for businesses, nonprofits and government-affiliated organizations. While the big box retailer has long pushed a consumer-focused financial services menu, its Pay by Invoice release is a deeper foray into B2B finance. What Walmart is adding Walmart's Pay by Invoice works through TreviPay to set up 30-day terms for business purchases at Walmart. Buyers apply for a line of credit with TreviPay, with options to increase the credit limit as business needs evolve. The product is in pilot, with Walmart planning to expand availability in the coming months. TreviPay, a B2B invoicing and lending fintech, manages credit underwriting, know-your-customer and other risk management. Walmart currently supports debit, ACH, credit card and gift card payments for business purchases, which limits some larger ticket items. Small businesses, nonprofits and schools use Walmart to buy supplies and large grocery orders for events. Larger purchases, particularly bulk supplies, can require credit or financing, which normally forces buyers to use a bank or other outside financial relationship. Pay by Invoice can keep more shopper activity under Walmart's umbrella. "We've noticed a need for more options," Hubka said. Hubka said the B2B payments expansion is not a direct response to Trump's tariffs, but she did mention the current environment poses economic challenges. In addition, many of Walmart's business customers told the retailer that Walmart's existing payment systems did not support larger purchases, while potential business clients said they could not buy from Walmart unless the retailers' payment processing system could be expanded to include lines of credit or longer terms than immediate purchases. Read more about tariffs (Tariffs and Banking: Key Insights and Analysis | American Banker) "Some couldn't buy with us at all until we had Pay by Invoice,'" Hubka said. "This enables us to get more of their wallet share and spending so we can be a viable and competitive option." The new payment product is not related to any moves Walmart may make to issue or support stablecoins, nor is it related to Walmart's fintech partnership with Ribbit Capital, which for now is focused on consumer financial services, Hubka said, though she did not rule out further collaboration on B2B fintech as part of the Ribbit collaboration in the future. Walmart's B2B partnership with TreviPay also fits with its larger payment strategy which includes encouraging alternatives to credit cards. This includes adding its account-to-account product to the FedNow and RTP instant processing networks, and other fintech and payment company collaborations. What tariffs can't solve Walmart's new payment program is aimed at encouraging companies to choose the giant retailer as tariffs make imported-merchandise sales more expensive. Economic uncertainty of any kind tends to make businesses more cautious about spending, and the macroeconomic trends, of which tariffs are only a part, are the bigger issue, Aaron Press, research director of worldwide payment strategies for IDC, told American Banker "The Pay by Invoice solution looks like it offers a couple of advantages," Press said. "It gives businesses the option to make purchases using their usual invoicing processes, but it also offers a more flexible credit line beyond typical net terms, essentially a BNPL for B2B." Tariffs are in part designed to encourage domestic manufacturing or sourcing from within the U.S. But In the short to medium term, retailers and others will still be dependent on importing for items, according to Gareth Lodge, a senior analyst at Celent."While manufacturing of certain goods may be done domestically at some point, it's not something that can be instantly switched from existing suppliers," Celent's Lodge told American Banker. The uncertainty, in part, therefore comes from what the tariffs will be, and when, Lodge said of the tendency of Trump's tariffs to change over time, or to be temporarily withdrawn. "There have been large fluctuations in the levels, nor are they uniformly applied," he said. "That creates risk and uncertainty. If I order today, what price will it be in the future? Could it be cheaper elsewhere? What might the implications be on FX and payment terms?" Walmart and other companies are investing to better support their supply chain, including visibility of cash positions to the ability to renegotiate pricing to estimation of future costs, Lodge said. "There will also be tools that look to optimize their processes as well, including how they manage their liquidity across borders. Many believe that stablecoins will help in this regard, though this is far from certain," Lodge said. 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Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
In-car payments are set to soar. What banks need to know.
The payments industry is driving forward with plans to allow consumers to seamlessly pay for gas, parking, charging and more from their vehicles. Embedding payments within cars has been a slow go, with multiple fits and starts. Still, a 2021 study from Juniper Research predicted that global transaction volume of in-vehicle payments—made via vehicle systems as opposed to smartphones—will exceed 4.7 billion by 2026, up from 87 million in 2021. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! Great Rates and Award-Winning Service The Insurance Savings You Expect Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You With embedded and invisible payments becoming more ubiquitous, some industry professionals expect to see more use cases within the automotive industry. It's largely a question of timing, according to Chris Uriarte, partner at Glenbrook Partners. "We can all envision a future where you drive your car anywhere, and whether it's parking, charging, a McDonald's drive-through or a toll plaza, it just seamlessly works," Glenbook's Uriarte told American Banker. "I think it's just a question of getting the industry moving in the right direction together." Here's what banks need to know about where embedded payments in autos stand today and where the future could be headed: Major card manufacturers have enabled embedded payments Several manufacturers have rolled out embedded technology within their vehicles in the past few years. Others have been mulling how to best enable embedded payments for use cases that include fuel, parking, charging and payments at drive-throughs, Uriarte said. In 2023, Mercedes-Benz joined forces with Mastercard to introduce embedded in-car payments at the point of sale, allowing customers to use a fingerprint sensor in their car to make convenient and secure digital payments at more than 3,600 service stations in Germany. Mercedes' in-car payment service, which uses biometric technology for customer authentication, is available in Germany and several other European countries. The company is exploring options to expand to other markets, but has no specific time frame to introduce it in the U.S., according to a company spokesperson. The company is working on bringing seamless in-car payments to U.S. customers for on-street parking, though there's also no timeline for release of this feature, the spokesperson said. Read more about mobile payments. (Mobile payments | American Banker) Also in 2023, Hyundai Motor America introduced Hyundai Pay, which allows customers to find and pay for services with their vehicle's touchscreen using securely stored credit card information. It started with parking payments and has since expanded to charging and fueling at participating stations, a spokesperson told American Banker. Hyundai Pay is now available on most of the company's models via an over-the-air update. Last year, BMW introduced in-car payments for parking fees and fuel at participating locations in Germany and announced vague plans to roll out these payment features in additional countries. Challenges persist Integrating with the various points of sale has proved challenging for auto manufacturers. At the moment, there's no centralized infrastructure or unified standards for doing this, Uriarte said. Another issue is that not all vehicles on the road today are connected to the Internet to allow seamless payments, though the market is moving in that direction. A 2023 study from Juniper Research predicted that the number of connected vehicles in service will reach 367 million globally in 2027. That's up from 192 million in 2023. Even so, it's still possible to buy cars that aren't connected, and some consumers even prefer that option for privacy reasons. "I think we still have a while to go on this," Uriarte said. Embedded payments are also a challenge for fleet managers of cars, trucks, vans and rental companies that operate under shared driving models because different people are driving the vehicles, said Brian Gaynor, vice president of product at BlueSnap, a payment processing company. That's where apps like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay offer potential. Whoever is driving the car shouldn't have to worry about payment, Gaynor told American Banker. Other up-and-coming payment options With the PACE Drive app, consumers in multiple European countries can compare fuel prices at participating stations in their vicinity, get alerted to exclusive deals and initiate contactless payments from their car. App manufacturers also have the potential to integrate with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for more seamless in-car payments, Gaynor said. Amazon Alexa users also have the option to pay for contactless refueling using voice commands. Chris Colson, payments expert for the Atlanta Fed who focuses on emerging payments, said he can pull up to a participating gas station, tell Alexa to pay for gas, confirm the pump location, and pay effortlessly. There are other options for seamless payments being rolled out. For example, last year, Metropolis Technologies, an artificial intelligence company that enables checkout-free payment experiences, bought parking network company, SP Plus Corporation. Its AI-recognition technology is now in use in more than 4,600 locations. Drivers enter their card information once, and are charged seamlessly on subsequent visits. "It's not just a manufacturer play in terms of embedded payments. There are other potential use cases here," Gaynor said. How banks can respond For embedded vehicle payments to become more pervasive, a coordinated effort is necessary between the manufacturers, the gas stations, charging stations and parking lot vendors, Gaynor said. "It's going to become an overall network." One concern for banks is the potential loss of card revenue if their card isn't top-of-wallet, or if consumers bypass the card network altogether, cutting out interchange fees. Consumers might opt, for example, to pay using the lower-cost real-time payment rails instead, Gaynor said. To better position themselves, banks need to understand how customers want to pay, the potential use cases within cars and also what might need to be done from a fraud and risk management perspective, Uriarte said. A large bank might consider partnering with an auto manufacturer on marketing and co-developing solutions, for example. "At the end of the day, this has to work with all banks and all cards," Uriarte told American Banker. Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen.
South China Morning Post
15-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong thrives because of, not despite, its hybridity
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@ or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification On a typical Sunday morning in Hong Kong, you might find a British expat sipping yuen yeung at a cha chaan teng before hiking Dragon's Back, a French architect browsing incense coils in Sheung Wan, or an American banker debating politics over craft beer. This seamless blend of East and West isn't just cosmopolitan charm – it's Hong Kong's unique value to China. As our city adopts more government-led solutions to address capitalism's excesses, we must remember what made – and still makes – Hong Kong extraordinary: the irreplaceable alchemy of individualism and opportunity. The conviction that talent outshines connections. The spirit that birthed Cantopop, Lion Rock grit and a world-class financial hub. As China pursues global leadership, Hong Kong's Western-compatible legal system, cosmopolitan lifestyle and international networks remain indispensable. We don't thrive despite our hybrid identity – we thrive because of it. Since the defeat of the anti-China radicals, official zeal for all things mainland has surged. Ironically, even mainlanders now find Hong Kong less compelling, as its international allure dims. To my local colleagues, Shenzhen had long 'bypassed' us. After working on the Chinese mainland, I saw first-hand what we can't match: vast scale, blistering speed and relentless 'involution'. However, Hong Kong's edge lies elsewhere – in integrity and institutional trust. Mainland firms tend to rise like rockets and crash just as fast; our tycoons know longevity beats spectacle.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pinnacle Financial Partners Announces Dates for Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Release and Conference Call
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 01, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq/NGS: PNFP) today announced it will release its second quarter 2025 financial results on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, after market close. It will also host a live webcast on Wednesday, July 16, at 8:30 a.m. CDT to review its financial results, business outlook for the firm and other matters. The second quarter 2025 earnings release will be available on the investor relations page of Pinnacle's website at To access the call for audio only, please call 1-877-209-7255. For the presentation and streaming audio, please access the webcast on the investor relations page of Pinnacle's website at For those unable to participate in the webcast, it will be archived for 90 days following the presentation. Pinnacle Financial Partners provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services designed for businesses and their owners and individuals interested in a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The firm is the No. 1 bank in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA, according to 2024 deposit data from the FDIC. Pinnacle is No. 11 on FORTUNE magazine's 2024 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® in the U.S., its eighth consecutive appearance and was recognized by American Banker as one of America's Best Banks to Work For 12 years in a row and No. 1 among banks with more than $10 billion in assets in 2024. The firm began operations in a single location in downtown Nashville, TN in October 2000 and has since grown to approximately $54.3 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025. As the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee, Pinnacle operates in several primarily urban markets across the Southeast. Additional information concerning Pinnacle, which is included in the Nasdaq Financial-100 Index, can be accessed at View source version on Contacts MEDIA CONTACT: Joe Bass, 615-743-8219FINANCIAL CONTACT: Harold Carpenter, 615-744-3742WEBSITE: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Globe and Mail
01-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Pinnacle Financial Partners Announces Dates for Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Release and Conference Call
Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq/NGS: PNFP) today announced it will release its second quarter 2025 financial results on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, after market close. It will also host a live webcast on Wednesday, July 16, at 8:30 a.m. CDT to review its financial results, business outlook for the firm and other matters. The second quarter 2025 earnings release will be available on the investor relations page of Pinnacle's website at To access the call for audio only, please call 1-877-209-7255. For the presentation and streaming audio, please access the webcast on the investor relations page of Pinnacle's website at For those unable to participate in the webcast, it will be archived for 90 days following the presentation. Pinnacle Financial Partners provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services designed for businesses and their owners and individuals interested in a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The firm is the No. 1 bank in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA, according to 2024 deposit data from the FDIC. Pinnacle is No. 11 on FORTUNE magazine's 2024 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® in the U.S., its eighth consecutive appearance and was recognized by American Banker as one of America's Best Banks to Work For 12 years in a row and No. 1 among banks with more than $10 billion in assets in 2024. The firm began operations in a single location in downtown Nashville, TN in October 2000 and has since grown to approximately $54.3 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025. As the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee, Pinnacle operates in several primarily urban markets across the Southeast.
