The Green Sheet Online Edition
January 26, 2026 • 26:01:02
Industry Update
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Checkout.com approved for Georgia Bank charter
Checkout.com received regulatory approval for a Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank charter from the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, clearing the way to operate as its own acquirer in the United States. The charter enables direct card network integration, giving Checkout.com greater control, faster innovation and improved acceptance rates for U.S. merchants, the company stated.
The approval marks a major expansion of North American operations, anchored by a new strategic hub in Atlanta alongside offices in New York and San Francisco. Having processed more than $300 billion in ecommerce volume in 2025, Checkout.com said it plans to begin full charter banking operations in 2026.
ParaScript named Product Innovation Winner
ParaScript won a 2026 BIG Innovation Award in the Product Innovation category for its Embedded Signature Verification solution. The patented technology embeds a verified signature in encrypted, invisible form at document issuance, enabling real-time signature authentication at presentment across ATMs, teller lines, remote deposit capture and high-speed processing systems.
Designed to prevent check fraud before funds move, the solution can reduce document-related task costs by up to 95 percent, ParaScript stated. The award, presented by the Business Intelligence Group, recognizes applied innovation that emphasizes trust, privacy and security. ParaScript was among 159 winners across multiple industries honored.
SFE celebrates golden anniversary
Southern Financial Exchange is marking its 50th anniversary in 2026, celebrating five decades of service to financial institutions and payments professionals across the south-central United States. To commemorate this moment, SFE unveiled a refreshed logo and new mission, vision and values emphasizing adaptability, creativity and teamwork.
The anniversary celebration will launch at SFE’s 36th Annual Conference, April 7 to 9 in Orange Beach, Alabama. The event will focus on payments risk, compliance, fraud and innovation. It will feature industry leaders from Nacha, the Federal Reserve and major banks. SFE said the milestone underscores its ongoing commitment to education, advocacy and industry leadership.
XTM migrates 100,000+ members to Everyday Payments
XTM Inc. reported it migrated more than 100,000 members to the Everyday Payments virtual, tokenized wallet platform, enabling same-day gratuity, expense and petty cash access via Apple Pay and Google Pay. The move, XTM stated, supports Canada’s frontline hospitality workers while reducing operational complexity and preserving recurring platform economics.
The migration follows XTM’s October 2025 strategic management services agreement with Everyday People Financial, under which Everyday Payments became a majority-owned subsidiary. XTM and Everyday noted they see rising demand for financial inclusion products and plan to expand offerings, while advancing growth initiatives in the United States and beyond.
RESEARCH
CheckAlt reports on future of receivables for FIs
Financial institutions are re-evaluating receivables operations to better support commercial clients and internal teams amid rising fraud risk, staffing constraints, and increasing demands for speed and visibility.
According to CheckAlt, the future of receivables modernization centers on reducing operational friction rather than replacing existing payment channels. Banks and credit unions continue to manage a mix of check and digital receivables, including lockbox, ACH, remote deposit capture and card payments, which require coordination and oversight.
CheckAlt emphasizes targeted automation, improved data visibility and integrated workflows to streamline routine tasks while preserving human judgment, enabling institutions to enhance efficiency, strengthen fraud controls, and support operations without disrupting client relationships.
Fenergo finds AM-related enforcement actions fell in 2025
Fenergo’s annual study of global AML-related enforcement actions shows U.S. financial regulatory penalties fell 61 percent year over year in 2025, driven by regulatory capacity constraints rather than reduced scrutiny. Globally, penalties for AML, KYC, sanctions and customer due diligence failures totaled $3.8 billion, down from $4.6 billion in 2024.
Despite fewer actions, the United States remained the largest enforcement jurisdiction, issuing $1.67 billion in fines across 31 cases. Digital asset firms accounted for the largest share of U.S. penalties. Fenergo noted that lighter enforcement is temporary, with activity expected to rebound as capacity recovers.
Onekey finds training gap in business cyber defense
Onekey’s IoT & OT Cybersecurity Report 2025 indicates that German companies are underprepared for upcoming requirements under the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), despite rising cyber threats. Fewer than one-third of surveyed firms conduct annual cybersecurity training, even as CRA reporting rules take effect this fall and full compliance is required by 2027.
The report noted that 35 percent of companies have already experienced CRA-related cybersecurity incidents. With cybercrime damages in Germany estimated at €180 billion ($209 billion), Onekey warned that increasing digitalization and AI-driven attacks heighten risk.
First-time, casual betting to surge for 2026 World Cup
Paysafe research found that 9 percent of global consumers interested in the 2026 World Cup plan to place their first-ever online bet during the tournament, highlighting a major acquisition opportunity for sportsbooks. Overall, 60 percent of global fans participating in the study expect to wager, with especially strong interest in North America, Latin America and Europe. Payments will be critical to conversion and retention, Paysafe said, adding that bettors prioritize brand trust and, above all, fast payouts, followed by rapid deposits and preferred payment methods. Debit cards remain the top choice among respondents globally, but digital wallets, pay-by-bank, and local payment methods are gaining traction.
Online food delivery services to reach $600B by 2033
Market Research Intellect reported the global online food delivery services market reached $300 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to approximately $600 billion by 2033, reflecting a CAGR of 8.5 percent from 2026 to 2033. Growth is driven by urbanization, rising smartphone adoption, changing consumer lifestyles and demand for convenience, while digital platforms, AI-driven personalization, cloud kitchens and contactless payments are reshaping food ordering globally.
Asia-Pacific leads the market, followed by North America and Europe, while Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are emerging. Key players include Uber Eats, DoorDash, Meituan, and Delivery Hero.
Subscriptions enter smarter, more mature era
Recurly released its 2026 State of Subscriptions report, which shows consumers are managing subscriptions more intentionally rather than abandoning them altogether. Based on data from more than 2,200 businesses, the report indicates growth is increasingly driven by renewals, upgrades and returning customers. Nearly one in four new subscriptions now come from a former subscriber, and 75 percent of customers who pause eventually return.
Flexible options such as pause features and micro-subscriptions are boosting outcomes, while annual plans continue to generate higher revenue per user. AI is also helping brands improve retention, payment recovery and personalized engagement.
Embedded finance, flexible payments entering mainstream
Embeded finance and flexible payment models are rapidly moving into the mainstream, with global embedded finance transaction volume projected to exceed $7 trillion annually by 2030, according to research by RevitPay. Financial services are increasingly integrated directly into digital experiences, boosting convenience, conversion rates and monetization opportunities.
Industry data shows embedded finance revenues growing from about $65 billion in 2022 to more than $183 billion by 2027, while embedded payments alone are expected to surpass $360 billion. Buy now, pay later adoption highlights the shift, especially among younger consumers. Merchants offering embedded payments report higher conversions, larger order values and reduced cart abandonment as adoption expands across industries.
PARTNERSHIPS
BHN, Mastercard team up on new prepaid rewards cards
Blackhawk Network and Mastercard expanded their partnership to launch two new category-filtered prepaid rewards products: the Drive Prepaid Card and the Grocery Prepaid Card. Designed for corporate-funded reward programs, the cards support use cases such as employee recognition, customer loyalty, promotions and goodwill initiatives.
The Drive Prepaid Card is accepted at gas stations and EV charging providers, while the Grocery Prepaid Card is designed for everyday food purchases. Built-in category filtering ensures funds are used as intended, with no additional configuration required. Available in digital and physical formats, the cards can be branded, personalized and used with major mobile wallets, BHN stated.
Feedzai, Matrix team up to help AIs modernize
Feedzai and Matrix USA announced a global partnership to help financial institutions modernize fraud and anti-money laundering (AML) defenses using AI-driven technology and advisory services. The collaboration combines Feedzai’s AI-native financial crime prevention platform with Matrix USA’s implementation and integration expertise, enabling faster deployment of advanced fraud and compliance solutions without disrupting operations.
The partners will jointly operate a Center of Excellence to deliver scalable, repeatable AI-based fraud and AML deployments across markets. The initiative responds to growing use of AI by fraudsters and rising pressure on banks to upgrade legacy systems in an effort to help institutions strengthen defenses and adapt more quickly to evolving financial crime threats.
Ingenico, WalletConnect to bring stablecoin payments to checkout
Ingenico partnered with WalletConnect Pay to enable native stablecoin payments at checkout on millions of Ingenico Android payment terminals worldwide. The integration allows merchants to accept five major stablecoins, including USDC, EURC and USDT, through more than 700 compatible mobile wallets. Unlike crypto-linked cards, WalletConnect Pay supports direct wallet-to-merchant stablecoin transactions, offering faster settlement and reduced reliance on traditional card networks, the partners stated. The solution targets retail, hospitality, transportation and self-service environments. WalletConnect processed over $400 billion in network volume in 2025. The partners said the integration will be available to acquirers and payment service providers starting January 2026.
NCR Atleos, Epirus Bank expand ATM network in Greece
NCR Atleos was chosen by Epirus Bank to modernize and expand the bank’s ATM network across Greece using Atleos’ ATM as a Service (ATMaaS) model. The agreement leverages Atleos’ Cashzone network to provide Epirus Bank with a branded retail ATM footprint to help reduce operating costs, expand nationwide reach and improve customer access to cash. Atleos will manage the full ATM lifecycle, including site selection, installation, maintenance and operations.
Deployment began in November 2025 and is expected to be completed in phases within three months, with co-branded Epirus Bank and Cashzone ATMs installed in key locations nationwide.
Nuvei, FreedomPay aim to unify enterprise payments
Nuvei and FreedomPay partnered to deliver a unified payments solution for enterprise merchants across in-store and digital channels globally. By integrating FreedomPay’s Next Level Commerce platform with Nuvei’s scalable payments infrastructure, merchants can offer consistent, secure and frictionless checkout experiences across locations and regions, Nuvei stated, adding the collaboration enables faster deployment of new channels, unified reporting and tokenization, improved operational visibility, and PCI-validated security.
Designed for enterprises operating across retail, hospitality and digital commerce, the partnership supports omnichannel growth without added complexity, helping merchants connect transactions, gain actionable insights, and scale new customer experiences with confidence, the partners noted.
Payroc, ID TECH expand NEO 3 device family
Payroc expanded its partnership with ID TECH to bring additional NEO 3 family payment devices to ISVs and their software clients. Building on the certified VP3350 mobile device, the collaboration now includes certification of the Kiosk V for unattended outdoor environments and forthcoming certification of the AP6800 Android-based terminals.
The expanded lineup, Payroc pointed out, offers greater flexibility across mobile, kiosk and enterprise use cases. Select devices are supported through Payroc Cloud, enabling rapid integration, remote device management and faster deployment, the company stated, adding that by combining Payroc’s cloud-based payments platform with ID TECH’s hardware, ISVs gain simplified certification, quicker time to market and broader deployment options.
ACQUISITIONS
FIS, Global Payments complete acquisition and divestiture
FIS and Global Payments completed a pair of transformative transactions that reshape both companies’ strategic focus. FIS finalized its $13.5 billion acquisition of Global Payments’ Issuer Solutions business, formerly TSYS, which will now operate under the FIS Total Issuing Solutions brand. The deal strengthens FIS’ banking and payments portfolio, expands its reach across more than 75 countries, and is expected to generate significant free cash flow and revenue synergies, FIS stated.
At the same time, FIS sold its remaining minority stake in Worldpay to Global Payments. Global Payments, in turn, completed its acquisition of Worldpay and divested Issuer Solutions, becoming a pure-play commerce solutions provider serving more than 6 million merchants globally. Global Payments said it plans to invest heavily in innovation while scaling across enterprise, SMB and platform channels.
APPOINTMENTS
Kurv hires Nick Bencivenga, promotes Jesse Spears
Kurv strengthened its leadership team with the addition of Nick Bencivenga as vice president of sales and the promotion of Jesse Spears to vice president of strategic partnerships. Bencivenga brings deep payments industry experience to Kurv, most recently serving as vice president of sales at Paysafe and previously as COO at Dharma Merchant Services. In his new role, he will focus on expanding Kurv’s inside sales channels and accelerating growth.
Spears, who has more than a decade of experience in fintech, SaaS and embedded payments, steps into his expanded role after helping drive Kurv’s growth initiatives. He is tasked with leading the company’s integrated and embedded payments strategy, leveraging his background in monetizing payments and building go-to-market teams.
Nizal Khan joins Payfina
Payfinia appointed Nizal Khan as its senior sales executive, adding a payments and banking veteran with more than 20 years of industry experience. Khan brings to the company a strong background in building strategic partnerships and leading product integrations that improve client experiences.
In his new role, he will spearhead growth and expansion initiatives, working closely with financial institutions and industry partners to broaden market reach and strengthen collaboration across the payments ecosystem. Prior to joining Payfinia, Khan worked with financial institutions nationwide to implement modern payment solutions and drive operational efficiency. He is expected to play a key role as demand for real-time and instant payments continues to accelerate.
Steve Levely signs on with Shopley
Shopley Inc. chose Steve Levely as its new chief executive officer, bringing to the company a seasoned operator with a track record of scaling and consolidating commerce technology businesses. Levely previously served as CEO and chairman of Ackroo, where he led the acquisition and integration of more than a dozen gift card, loyalty, payments and POS providers under a centralized operating model, ultimately selling the company to a strategic buyer in 2025.
Known for a disciplined, execution-focused approach, Levely is expected to apply his experience in strategic M&A and operational efficiency to Shopley’s next growth phase. Levely founder Omar Sahyoun moved to the position of chairman, supporting governance and strategy.
#h2Acumatica appoints Jon Pollock Jon Pollock accepted the position of chief product officer at Acumatica, bringing more than 25 years of experience building and scaling SaaS and payments platforms to the company. In his new role, Pollock will lead global product management and user experience, overseeing product strategy, innovation and delivery, with a strong focus on advancing AI-driven capabilities.
He most recently served as CPO at Procare Solutions and previously held senior product leadership roles at Worldpay, Asurion, Dell, Intel, Polaroid and Novell. Pollock succeeds long-time executive Ali Jani and is expected to apply his customer-driven, execution-focused approach to shaping Acumatica’s next phase of product innovation for mid-market businesses.
Lyric taps Halsey Wise
Lyric appointed Halsey Wise as chief executive officer. Wise, who has served on Lyric’s board since 2022, succeeds Raj Ronanki, who moved into an advisory role. Wise brings to Lyric more than 30 years of experience leading and scaling healthcare and software companies. His background includes serving as chairman, CEO and president of Intergraph and as chairman and CEO of MedAssets, as well as board roles at companies including Cerner, Cotiviti and WellSky.
Currently a senior adviser to TPG Capital, Wise is expected to build on Lyric’s AI-driven momentum and expand the impact of its payment integrity and claims analytics platform across healthcare. 
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