The Green Sheet Online Edition
June 8, 2026 • 26:06:01
Industry Update
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chargebacks911 warns of PACE Act drawbacks
Chargebacks911 is warning payment providers about increased fraud and dispute-management responsibilities tied to the proposed Payments Access and Consumer Efficiency (PACE) Act. The legislation would allow qualifying nonbank payment providers direct access to Federal Reserve payment systems, including Fedwire, FedNow and the ACH, reducing reliance on intermediary banks. Chargebacks911 said the shift could improve payment speed and efficiency while introducing greater operational, compliance and fraud-management obligations for nonbanks operating under bank-like regulatory standards. The company said faster payments could also lead to faster and more complex disputes, increasing the need for real-time monitoring, stronger communication and end-to-end dispute management tools.
FPC, ASC X9 to advance faster payments standards initiatives
The U.S. Faster Payments Council and Accredited Standards Committee X9 formed the FPC–ASC X9 Joint Standards Steering Committee to help accelerate adoption of faster payments in the United States by addressing standards-related barriers. Building on a strategic alliance established in 2025, the committee will bring together industry and technical experts to improve interoperability, consistency and security across faster payments systems while aligning with global standards such as ISO 20022. Beginning in June 2026, the group will focus initially on reviewing existing standards and identifying industry friction points. Early efforts will include collaboration with the X9 Fraud industry forum on fraud prevention standards.
i2c recognized in Celent's U.S. card issuing, processing report
i2c Inc. was recognized as a leading vendor in a new report from research and advisory firm Celent examining card issuing and processing providers in the U.S. market. Celent evaluated 27 card issuing and processing solutions in the report, Card Issuing and Processing Solutions: The US Edition. The report recognized i2c's cloud-native platform, global reach and support for credit, debit and prepaid card programs. The company said its single technology stack helps financial institutions and fintechs reduce complexity while supporting rapid program configuration and scalability. Its platform also supports core banking and money movement capabilities across multiple geographies and regulatory environments.
MANSA recognized in The Payments Power 50 2026
MANSA, a provider of liquidity infrastructure for instant cross-border payment settlement using stablecoin technology, was named to The Payments Power 50 2026 list. The annual recognition from The Power 50 highlights 40 companies and 10 industry influencers shaping the global payments industry. MANSA was recognized for its work delivering real-time settlement and on-chain liquidity for licensed payment operators across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The company said its platform is designed to reduce settlement delays, fragmented liquidity and pre-funding requirements in cross-border payments. The Payments Power 50 also recognizes innovation in areas including embedded finance, digital wallets and open banking.
Marquis Who's Who honors Sriram Ramakrishnan
Marquis Who's Who, which has chronicled accomplished individuals across business, politics, science and other fields since publishing the first edition of Who's Who in America in 1899, recognized Sriram Ramakrishnan for achievements in fintech and payments innovation. Ramakrishnan serves as lead platform product manager at Veem, where he oversees projects involving stablecoin integration, embedded finance and payment platform development across North and South America. Previously, he spent eight years at PayPal working on API integrations, blockchain technology and identity verification initiatives. He also holds multiple patents related to blockchain systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning and cryptocurrency technologies.
RESEARCH
Financial pressures vary significantly by U.S. region
Doxo's 2026 State-by-State Bill Pay Market Report found the median U.S. household spends $2,095 per month on essential bills, representing about 30 percent of median household income. The report highlighted significant regional differences, with California ranking as the most expensive state at $2,892 per month and West Virginia the least expensive at $1,116. The analysis examined 13 common household expenses, including mortgage or rent, utilities, insurance, and mobile phone bills.
Doxo said the report is intended to provide consumers with greater transparency into household financial obligations during a period of economic uncertainty. The findings are based on payment data spanning 97 percent of U.S. ZIP codes.
Complex CX, fraud-related issues stymie AI-powered VAs
New studies from JD Power found banks and credit card providers are expanding the use of AI-powered virtual assistants, but the tools continue to struggle with complex customer service and fraud-related issues. The studies found overall satisfaction with digital banking and credit card apps remains strong, driven by fast logins, intuitive navigation and modern design. However, satisfaction drops sharply when customers use virtual assistants to resolve disputes or identify fraud. Only 28 percent of customers currently use virtual assistants, though users generally report higher satisfaction levels than non-users. The research also found virtual assistant users tend to be younger, more tech-savvy customers.
Ransomware activity high as new threats emerge
NCC Group's latest Cyber Threat Intelligence Report found ransomware activity remained elevated in April 2026, despite a 7 percent decline from March, with 748 ransomware listings recorded globally. Industrials were the most targeted sector, accounting for 28 percent of attacks, while North America remained the most impacted region. Qilin was the most active ransomware group, followed by the rapidly emerging threat actor The Gentlemen, which NCC Group said is using advanced malware and covert tunneling techniques to accelerate attacks. The report also highlighted growing concern around AI-assisted cyber threats and warned that geopolitical developments could drive increased nation-state cyber activity targeting supply chains and multinational organizations.
Price prevails in AI-assisted shopping decisions
A new study commissioned by PSE Consulting found that price is the leading factor influencing AI-assisted shopping decisions, with 32 percent of consumers citing it as their primary consideration and 37 percent of U.S. consumers ranking it first. The survey of 4,250 consumers across the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany found shoppers are using AI tools mainly for product discovery and price comparison rather than relying entirely on AI recommendations. Brand recognition and customer reviews also remain important, with most respondents saying trust factors heavily influence purchasing decisions. The research suggests consumers are increasingly adopting AI shopping tools while continuing to rely on traditional decision-making signals.
RS2 examines evolution of BIN sponsorship
RS2 released a new white paper examining how BIN sponsorship is evolving into a broader operating model for embedded finance, fintechs, banks, payfacs and software platforms. Titled Fintech Enablement 2.0: Scaling Payments Without Borders, the report maintains that organizations increasingly want to offer payment services without becoming regulated financial institutions. RS2 said next-generation "BIN Sponsorship 2.0" models combine regulatory sponsorship with unified issuing and acquiring technology, enterprise-grade processing and operational controls. The company said the approach can help fintechs, marketplaces and financial institutions scale payment capabilities while reducing infrastructure complexity. The paper also highlights growing demand for integrated licensing, processing and orchestration within a single payments environment.
PARTNERSHIPS
ACI Worldwide extends UBX Tanzania partnership
ACI Worldwide expanded its partnership with UBX Tanzania to support the next phase of the country's digital payments growth. UBX, which provides payments infrastructure for 18 Tanzanian banks, processes more than 1.3 million transactions monthly across a network of more than 250 ATMs, the partners said, noting the upgraded platform is expected to nearly double transaction-processing capacity over the next five years while improving resilience and scalability through PCI-compliant data centers in Tanzania. The extended partnership will also allow UBX to serve merchants directly and introduce additional services such as digital wallets, supporting broader financial inclusion and fintech innovation across the country's evolving digital economy.
Checkout.com, Coinbase tackle stablecoin acceptance
Checkout.com launched a stablecoin acceptance capability powered by Coinbase Payments, allowing eligible enterprise merchants to accept stablecoin payments from consumers. The company said the capability expands payment options alongside cards, bank transfers, digital wallets and local payment methods. Checkout.com cited industry research showing real-world stablecoin payment volume doubled to $390 billion in 2025, reflecting growing enterprise adoption. The offering is designed to help merchants capture global demand without adding operational complexity, particularly in markets where card access is limited or local currencies are volatile.
Driftwood Hospitality expands with Flywire
Flywire and Driftwood Hospitality Management expanded their partnership to deploy additional Flywire hospitality payment solutions across nearly 90 U.S. hotel properties. Driftwood, which manages more than 15,000 rooms across major hotel brands and boutique properties, is rolling out enhanced payment capabilities designed to streamline guest transactions and back-office operations.
The expanded deployment includes ACH payments, electronic authorizations and integrated payment requests tied to e-signatures. Flywire said its platform also supports fraud prevention, multi-currency payments and automated reminders. Driftwood reported that Flywire's solutions have already reduced payment processing costs by nearly 30 percent across 10 properties while helping improve operational efficiency and guest experience.
Klarna, Tekion bring flexible payments to auto services
Klarna and Tekion are partnering to bring additional payment options to automotive dealership service departments across the United States. Through the integration with Tekion Pay, dealerships using Tekion's Automotive Retail Cloud platform will be able to offer Klarna payment options including Pay in Full, interest-free Pay in 4, and longer-term financing. The companies said the partnership is intended to provide consumers with alternatives to revolving credit card debt for unexpected vehicle repair expenses.
Tekion's platform supports thousands of dealerships nationwide, allowing customers to access Klarna's payment options during service checkout, the partners said, noting that the integration is designed to add payment flexibility without disrupting dealership workflows.
NCR Atleos expands Cashzone ATM network into Colombia
NCR Atleos expanded its Cashzone ATM network into Colombia through a partnership with Bancoomeva, which will serve as sponsoring and settlement bank for the network. The companies said the launch is intended to strengthen reliable consumer access to cash in a market where cash remains widely used for everyday purchases despite continued growth in digital payments. Cashzone operates a global network of independently owned ATMs located in retail and community settings.
The Colombia launch expands Cashzone's presence to 14 countries worldwide. NCR Atleos said the initiative supports financial inclusion and consumer choice while helping maintain resilient cash infrastructure alongside evolving digital payment ecosystems.
Trolley, Thunes to enable instant global payouts for creators
Thunes partnered with global payout platform Trolley to expand international payout capabilities for businesses in the creator and gig economy. Through the integration with the Thunes Direct Global Network, Trolley customers can make instant payouts to bank accounts and mobile wallets across 140 countries in 90 currencies using more than 220 local payment methods.
The companies said the partnership is designed to simplify cross-border payouts for platforms, publishers and internet businesses while improving payment speed and compliance. The integration also aims to address last-mile payment challenges for freelancers and creators, particularly in regions where mobile wallets and real-time payment systems are widely used.
ACQUISITIONS
NMI acquires Fee Navigator
NMI acquired Fee Navigator, a provider of AI-powered pricing intelligence technology designed for ISOs, merchant level salespeople, ISVs and other payments partners. Fee Navigator's platform analyzes merchant statements and recommends optimized pricing based on partner-defined goals, including margin targets, pricing structures and sales parameters. NMI said the acquisition strengthens its embedded payments platform by adding AI-driven pricing capabilities intended to help partners improve merchant acquisition, protect margins and optimize portfolio performance.
The addition of Fee Navigator's technology, NMI noted, will help partners make faster, more informed pricing decisions as merchant acceptance costs continue to rise. The acquisition follows NMI's recent purchase of Dwolla, which expanded the company's capabilities in account-to-account payments, payouts and real-time payments. Together, the acquisitions reflect NMI's strategy to help payments partners build more resilient businesses through expanded payment capabilities and intelligent automation.
Cryptomathic gains TrustSkills
The Riverside Company stated that Cryptomathic, a cybersecurity software provider in Riverside's European portfolio, acquired Danish certificate lifecycle management company TrustSkills. Founded in 2013, TrustSkills develops software that automates the deployment, monitoring and renewal of digital certificates used to secure online communications. Its TrustView platform is designed to help organizations prevent outages, improve compliance and reduce administrative complexity.
Riverside said the acquisition expands Cryptomathic's capabilities in certificate lifecycle management and strengthens its broader cybersecurity offering. Cryptomathic, which Riverside acquired in 2021, provides cryptographic software for financial institutions, government agencies and technology companies. The combination is expected to create a more comprehensive cybersecurity platform while supporting international growth through Cryptomathic's global sales and partner network.
APPOINTMENTS
PayBright welcomes Tina Gregory and James Ringstaff
PayBright added payments industry veterans Tina Gregory and James Ringstaff to its leadership team as the company continues expanding its network of independent sales agents, merchants and strategic partners. Gregory joins PayBright as vice president of operations, bringing more than 30 years of experience in payments, merchant services, underwriting strategy, revenue operations and high-risk acquiring. Her background includes executive and advisory roles focused on payment economics, operational consulting and scalable commercial infrastructure. At PayBright, she will oversee operational execution, process improvements, escalation management and cross-functional coordination aimed at improving experiences for agents, partners and merchants.
Ringstaff joins as director of product enablement and systems. He brings a decade of experience in payment technology, operational support and product training, having previously served in technical and product leadership roles within the payments industry. At PayBright, he will focus on product knowledge, systems enablement, operational education and internal training initiatives designed to strengthen product adoption and improve organizational efficiency. PayBright said the appointments support its broader strategy of investing in technology-focused payment solutions for small and midsize businesses across traditional and specialized sectors, including hospitality and ecommerce.
DataVisor appoints Patrick Harr
DataVisor appointed Patrick Harr as chief executive officer as the company looks to expand its AI-driven fraud and financial crime prevention business. Harr is a five-time venture-backed technology CEO with experience in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and enterprise software. Most recently, he served as CEO of AI-native email and messaging security company SlashNext, which was acquired by Varonis. Earlier in his career, Harr held leadership roles at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and VMware, including helping grow HPE Cloud from $40 million to $800 million in annual revenue over four years. DataVisor said Harr's experience scaling AI-focused technology businesses will support the company's growth as financial institutions face increasingly sophisticated AI-assisted fraud threats.
Kraal joins Fraudio's board
Fraudio appointed payments industry veteran Robert Kraal to its board of directors. Kraal served as chief operating officer at Adyen and co-founded payment infrastructure company Silverflow. Previously, he worked at Bibit, an early global payment service provider later acquired by Worldpay. Across those roles, Kraal helped scale global payment processing and acquiring operations, with experience spanning card acquiring, cloud-native payments infrastructure and fintech growth strategy. Fraudio said Kraal's expertise in high-volume payment processing and modern payment infrastructure will support the company's expansion in AI-driven fraud prevention and transaction risk intelligence. Kraal joins the board as an independent director after working with Fraudio through Silverflow's integration of Fraudio's fraud and risk management technology.
Terry O'Neil signs on with Pagaya
Pagaya Technologies named veteran banking and payments executive Terry O'Neil as chief commercial officer. In the role, O'Neil will oversee Pagaya's partnership and growth initiatives and help expand adoption of the company's AI-driven financial technology platform among major U.S. consumer lenders. O'Neil brings to the company more than 20 years' experience in consumer financial services, payments and partnership strategy. Most recently, he served as managing director leading embedded payments and strategic partnerships at Citi, where he managed profit-and-loss responsibilities and helped advance the bank's payments capabilities. During his tenure at Citi, he also held leadership positions including chief marketing officer for Citi Retail Services and managing director of Citi Branded Cards. 
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