Core Insights - Fiserv, Inc. has announced a strategic collaboration with Visa to enable Visa Intelligent Commerce and deploy Trusted Agent Protocol across Fiserv's agentic ecosystem, enhancing merchants' ability to engage in automated commerce [1][3] Group 1: Collaboration and Technology - The partnership aims to simplify entry into the Agentic Commerce ecosystem, providing tools for Clover and Fiserv merchants, as well as ISV and ISO partners, to foster trust and safety in transactions [2] - The Trusted Agent Protocol will be deployed to authenticate and process agentic transactions, ensuring secure interactions and protecting payment information during checkout [3][5] Group 2: Enabling Intelligent Commerce - Fiserv and Visa are focused on enabling the full potential of intelligent commerce by providing foundational capabilities for agent-driven experiences, allowing seamless integration into existing workflows [4] - Fiserv's role extends beyond payments to include secure connectivity, scalable integration options, and operational intelligence for automating dispute resolution and optimizing routing in real time [5] Group 3: Commitment to Innovation - Both companies are committed to innovation and merchant success, inviting merchants and partners to explore integration and onboarding opportunities [6]

Visa and Mastercard have agreed to a combined payment of $167.5m to resolve a class action lawsuit concerning ATM access fees. The proposed settlement was submitted to a federal court in Washington, US, and awaits judicial approval, reported Reuters. The settlement is intended to benefit potentially millions of individuals who paid unreimbursed access fees for cash withdrawals at independent, non-bank automated teller machines (ATMs). Visa is set to provide around $88.8m, while Mastercard will contribu ...

Core Insights - Visa and Mastercard will pay $167.5 million to settle a lawsuit regarding ATM fees, which accused them of conspiring to inflate access fees for ATM users [1][2][3] Settlement Details - The settlement will provide compensation to millions of ATM users who incurred unreimbursed access fees at independent, non-bank ATMs since October 2007, with Visa contributing approximately $88.8 million and Mastercard around $78.7 million [3][4] - The lawsuit was initiated in 2011, challenging the companies' rules that allegedly restricted independent ATM operators from offering lower fees [4] Legal Context - The companies have denied any wrongdoing, and previously settled related claims for $197.5 million concerning overcharges at bank-operated ATMs [4] - Plaintiffs' attorneys described the settlement as a favorable outcome given the risks of ongoing litigation and plan to request up to 30% of the fund, approximately $50 million, for legal fees [5] Industry Outlook - Visa's 2026 outlook indicates that approximately $11 trillion in cash remains in circulation globally, suggesting that cash will continue to play a significant role in economies for the foreseeable future [5][6] - The company anticipates that 2026 will mark the first year when half of the world's consumer payments will be made using card credentials, indicating a shift towards digital payments [6] Cash Usage Trends - Cash remains integral to informal economies and small-value transactions, particularly in regions with limited banking access, while also being used for budgeting and privacy in advanced economies [7]

Group 1 - Visa Inc. announced a significant milestone in AI-powered commerce, completing hundreds of secure, agent-initiated transactions, indicating a shift towards AI agent-driven payments becoming mainstream by 2025 [1] - The company is on track to deliver personalized and secure AI-enabled commerce to consumers by early 2026, following the launch of Visa Intelligent Commerce [2] - Visa has formed a strategic collaboration with Akamai Technologies to enhance user recognition, identity, and security controls in agentic commerce [3] Group 2 - The integration of Akamai's behavioral intelligence and fraud protection with Visa's Trusted Agent Protocol aims to provide necessary authentication and fraud controls for merchants to confidently engage AI agents in digital commerce [4] - Visa Inc. offers a range of digital payment services, including credit cards, debit cards, prepaid products, and commercial payment solutions [5]

Financial Stocks Overview - Five financial stocks to watch include JPMorgan Chase & Co., American Noble Gas, Robinhood Markets, Visa, and Coinbase Global, as identified by MarketBeat's stock screener tool [2] - Financial stocks represent companies in the financial sector, including banks, insurance companies, and asset managers, providing exposure to interest-rate sensitivity, credit and liquidity risks, and economic cycles [2] JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) - JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a financial holding company that provides financial and investment banking services, focusing on investment banking, consumer and small business financial services, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management [3] American Noble Gas (INFY) - Infosys Ltd. is a digital services and consulting company offering end-to-end business solutions across various segments, including Financial Services, Retail, and Manufacturing [4] Robinhood Markets (HOOD) - Robinhood Markets, Inc. operates a financial services platform in the U.S., allowing users to invest in stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies, and offers features like fractional trading and margin investing [4] Visa Inc. (V) - Visa Inc. operates as a payment technology company, managing VisaNet for transaction processing and offering a range of services including credit and debit card products, fraud mitigation, and cross-border payment solutions [5] Coinbase Global (COIN) - Coinbase Global, Inc. provides financial infrastructure and technology for the crypto economy, offering a primary financial account for consumers and a marketplace for institutions to transact in crypto assets [6]

Core Insights - Visa Inc. has successfully completed hundreds of secure, agent-initiated transactions, marking a significant step towards mainstream adoption of AI-driven payments by 2025 [1] - Nearly 47% of U.S. shoppers are currently using AI tools for various shopping tasks, indicating a major shift in consumer behavior [1] - Visa anticipates that millions of consumers will utilize AI agents for purchases by the 2026 holiday season, building on its Visa Intelligent Commerce initiative [1] Visa's Initiatives - Visa is collaborating with over 30 partners to develop AI-driven commerce solutions, with more than 20 agents integrating with Visa Intelligent Commerce [1] - The company is expanding its Intelligent Commerce framework globally, with pilot programs expected to launch in Asia Pacific and Europe in early 2026, and preparations underway in Latin America and the Caribbean [2] - In the Middle East, Visa is partnering with Aldar to facilitate AI agent payments for repetitive fees in the UAE [2] Technology and Security - Visa is establishing standards for trusted agentic transactions through the introduction of the Trusted Agent Protocol, which helps merchants differentiate between malicious bots and legitimate AI agents [2] - Akamai has joined Visa in supporting the Trusted Agent Protocol, enhancing identity, authentication, and fraud controls for AI-driven commerce [4] Partner Contributions - Skyfire is enabling product recommendations and purchases through browser automation for Consumer Reports [3] - Nekuda is facilitating seamless purchases from fashion apps via one-click checkout integrations [3] - PayOS is providing payment infrastructure for agent-driven checkouts with online retailers [3] - Ramp is applying Visa Intelligent Commerce to streamline B2B payments and enhance cashback opportunities for corporate clients [3]

Visa and Mastercard have agreed to pay $167.5 million to settle a long-running class action lawsuit. The suit, which was first filed back in October 2011, accused the two major credit card companies of conspiring to keep ATM fees artificially high. Most Read from Fast Company If approved, the proposed settlement filed on Thursday in Washington will bring an end to “almost fourteen years of vigorously contested litigation.” The lawsuit alleged that both Visa and Mastercard “participated in an unlawful co ...

Financial Sector Performance - The financial sector has shown strong performance in 2025, with the XLF gaining 13% this year and over 65% in the last three years [1] - Major banks such as JP Morgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs have reached new all-time highs in December [1] Outlook for 2026 - There is optimism that the strength in financials could continue into 2026, particularly if the Federal Reserve maintains an accommodative rate policy [2][3] - Lower interest rates are expected to stimulate mortgage activity, benefiting both large and regional banks [3][4] Impact of Interest Rates - Lower rates are anticipated to increase mortgage refinancing and purchasing activity, which in turn supports ancillary businesses related to home ownership [4][5] - The current environment may not encourage savings in money markets, but there remains a significant amount of capital in money markets that could rotate back into equities [6] Regional vs. Large Banks - Regional banks are more vulnerable to issues in commercial real estate, which is a significant concern due to the resetting of loans issued before 2020 at higher rates [7][8] - Large banks are better positioned to withstand potential challenges in 2026 compared to regional banks [9] Technological Adaptation - There is a call for banks to invest in decentralized finance technologies, such as blockchain and stable coins, to remain competitive in the future [10][11] - The shift towards decentralized finance is seen as a long-term trend that banks need to prepare for now [11]

Core Viewpoint - Visa and Mastercard have agreed to a $167.5 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging they conspired to maintain high ATM access fees [1][2]. Group 1: Settlement Details - The settlement will compensate ATM users who incurred unreimbursed access fees for cash withdrawals from independent, non-bank ATMs, with Visa contributing approximately $88.8 million and Mastercard about $78.7 million to the fund [2]. - The funds will be distributed to eligible customers who made qualifying ATM transactions since October 2007 [2]. Group 2: Legal Background - The lawsuit, filed in 2011, is one of three related cases in the DC federal court, challenging Visa and Mastercard's industry rules that allegedly prevented independent ATM operators from offering lower fees [3]. - Visa and Mastercard have denied any wrongdoing in this case [4]. Group 3: Previous Settlements and Ongoing Litigation - Last year, Visa and Mastercard agreed to pay $197.5 million to resolve claims from another group of ATM users who alleged overcharging at bank-operated ATMs [4]. - A third lawsuit involving independent ATM owners and operators is still pending in the same court [5]. - Visa is also facing other antitrust lawsuits, including one from the US Justice Department regarding alleged monopolization of the US debit card market [5].

Core Insights - Visa and Mastercard have agreed to a settlement of $167.5 million in a class action lawsuit that accused them of colluding to maintain artificially high ATM access fees [1] Company Summary - The settlement amount of $167.5 million reflects the financial implications of the lawsuit for both Visa and Mastercard [1]