The Green Sheet Online Edition
September 8, 2025 • 25:09:01
Letter from the editor
When payments work seamlessly, most people hardly notice. But when networks go down, even briefly, the ripple effects are immediate and far-reaching. Outages erode consumer trust, spark social media firestorms, and raise tough questions about the reliability of the systems we depend on. In this issue’s lead article, we examine what happens when payment rails fail, how providers respond, and why resiliency and redundancy are critical to keeping money moving in our digital age.
Our contributors expand the lens across risk, compliance and growth. One expert scrutinizes online pharmacies—convenient for consumers but a growing vector for counterfeit goods, fraud, and cross-border regulatory exposure—and outlines the defenses FIs should deploy now. Another unpacks the AI-fueled economy of fake reviews and the real costs for payments providers that ignore it, from FTC actions to card-network penalties and reputational harm. For SMEs wrestling with outdated systems, cost barriers and knowledge gaps, another industry veteran offers guidance on modernizing payments to improve efficiency, loyalty and revenue. We also share a savvy pro's back-to-school playbook for SMB retailers: stock essentials, mine POS data, build bundles, optimize traffic flow, and connect with local communities to turn seasonal demand into repeat business. With the ADA now 35 years on, one contributor reframes accessibility as more than compliance: it's about dignity, usability and relationship building. And amid regulatory uncertainty, another authority's Banking-as-a-Service analysis explains why BaaS endures and how partnerships are evolving.
In news briefs, we track milestones and flashpoints. Shift4 will help Blue Origin accept crypto for commercial spaceflight, a symbolic step for payments beyond Earth. New York’s attorney general has revived a high-profile case on Zelle fraud after federal regulators stepped back, signaling renewed scrutiny of consumer protections in faster payments. Jack Henry’s Tap2Local aims to bring tap-to-pay and automated bookkeeping to small businesses via community institutions. The 2025 Inc. 5000 features multiple payments standouts for rapid growth and innovation. And KnowBe4 warns of a “perfect storm” in cyber risk, where AI-driven phishing makes the human layer essential.
Remember to check out our updates, spotlights, product profiles and other recurring features. As always, our goal at The Green Sheet is to provide clarity and context so payments professionals can anticipate challenges, build resiliency and strengthen the trust our industry depends on. Please send your press releases to press@greensheet.com to share your latest milestones, and send your questions and comments to greensheet@greensheet.com. 
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