The Green Sheet Online Edition
December 8, 2025 • 25:12:01
News Briefs
Battle lines drawn over proposed merchant settlement <- click to read full story
A proposed Visa-Mastercard settlement aimed at resolving long-running merchant litigation is already facing significant pushback, and even if approved, would not take effect until late 2026 or fiscal year 2027.
Visa executives believe the agreement would provide meaningful merchant relief, including a temporary 10-basis-point reduction in effective interchange, elimination of the honor-all-cards rule, and expanded surcharge flexibility.
Merchant trade groups, however, feel the concessions are short-lived and insufficient. Senator Dick Durbin joined critics, asserting the settlement preserves excessive swipe fees while limiting long-term competition.
He renewed calls to pass the Credit Card Competition Act, which would mandate multiple network routing options. Financial institution groups oppose the bill, warning benefits would accrue mainly to mega-retailers and harm community banks.
Banking and credit card customers complacent about fraud protection <- click to read full story
Despite widespread exposure to fraud, many banking and credit card customers fail to take basic steps to protect their accounts, according to J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Financial Protection Survey.
The study found that nearly one-fourth of bank customers and 29 percent of cardholders surveyed had taken no proactive security measures in the past 90 days. Half reported not being prompted by their providers to do so. Fraud affects Gen Z disproportionately, yet customer awareness remains low.
Satisfaction scores drop sharply when security is perceived as inadequate but remain stable even when protections feel burdensome. Based on responses from more than 40,000 customers, the research highlights a growing gap between institutions’ heavy cybersecurity investments and limited customer engagement.
Thanksgiving weekend expected to draw record number of shoppers <- click to read full story
A record 186.9 million consumers were expected to shop from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, according to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insight & Analytics.
Black Friday remains the most popular shopping day, followed by Cyber Monday, while Small Business Saturday continues to gain traction as shoppers prioritize local businesses.
The NRF previously forecast that total holiday spending will top $1 trillion for the first time in 2025.
More than half of consumers had already begun holiday shopping by early November, with clothing, gift cards and toys leading planned purchases. Debit cards remain the dominant payment method, followed by credit cards and digital wallets. Gift card spending was projected to reach $29.1 billion.
The survey also found two-thirds of respondents planned to donate or support socially responsible retailers.
ISVs, ISOs chart new course <- click to read full story
Netevia and Stackably partnered to deliver vertically integrated payment and software solutions designed for underserved markets such as gymnastics gyms, dance studios and swim schools.
Unlike legacy platforms that tack payments onto third-party software, Stackably builds purpose-made vertical solutions with Netevia’s payment infrastructure embedded at the core. The newly launched GymnasticsStack, DanceStack and SwimStack platforms offer streamlined onboarding, integrated financial tools and same-day funding, with instant funding planned.
Executives said the partnership reflects a broader shift in merchant services toward unified software and payments ecosystems.
By enabling faster access to funds and more predictable cash flow, the platforms aim to help operators reinvest quickly and scale operations.
Both companies believe tightly integrated payments, not standalone processing, are now essential to delivering meaningful value and supporting business growth in specialized verticals.
Consumer financial confidence lagging, Jack Henry study finds <- click to read full story
Jack Henry’s 2025 Financial Sentiment Study found that consumer financial confidence remains fragile during the holiday season, with only 52 percent of respondents satisfied with their financial situation.
Confidence closely tracks financial knowledge, money management skills and trust in financial institutions, all areas where gaps persist. Fewer than half of consumers in the study feel confident about saving or planning; confidence in borrowing is even lower.
Digital experience emerged as a critical driver of satisfaction, with customers valuing reliable tools such as bill pay, transfers and card controls.
Respondents reported using an average of 14 financial apps, underscoring how quickly dissatisfied consumers turn to fintech alternatives. The study found sharp differences by life stage, reinforcing the need for more targeted engagement strategies. 
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