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Inspiration

The long stretch of winter

y February, even the hardiest among us feel Who picked up the phone when chargebacks spiked after
it. The holiday rush is over. Year-end num- a storm.
bers have been tallied. Forecasts have been
B delivered. And now, in much of the Northern A time to strategize
Hemisphere, we're navigating gray skies, delayed flights, Resilience in payments isn't built in sunshine; it's built
icy commutes and merchants who are just as winter- in sleet. And something else is happening beneath the
weary as we are. surface. While consumers may be hunkering down,
finance teams are planning. CFOs are evaluating working
For payment professionals, this season has a particular capital. Retailers are rethinking loyalty strategies.
rhythm. It's the stretch between urgency and renewal. Platforms are recalibrating embedded finance offerings.
The adrenaline of peak volume has faded, but the spring The conversations you're having now, even the cautious
thaw, literal and economic, hasn't arrived yet. Severe ones, are laying groundwork for the second quarter and
weather slows foot traffic. Restaurants feel the chill. Small beyond.
businesses watch cash flow carefully. Risk teams stay
alert as fraud patterns shift with seasonal behavior. Winter can feel long. But it sharpens discipline. For those
A time for reinforcement in acquiring, this is the stretch where strategy works
quietly. Where endurance matters more than excitement.
It can feel like a holding pattern. But winter has its Where steady execution keeps the ecosystem moving,
own kind of work. This is the season for strengthening even when the sidewalks are icy.
foundations. For reviewing and reinforcing what strained
under peak volume. For refining onboarding flows, Spring will come. Volumes will rise. Optimism will
tightening controls, improving reporting and listening return. In the meantime, there is strength in the steady.
more closely to merchant concerns. When transactions And in payments, steady wins seasons.
slow slightly, clarity can increase.

Winter is also when trust is tested. Merchants remember
who showed up during disruptions. Who helped them
pivot to online channels when storefront traffic dipped.
Who adjusted risk models without shutting down
legitimate customers. Kate Gillespie, President and CEO
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