They accept deposits like banks, but unlike full-service lenders, they are not allowed to lend. Instead, customer deposits are invested in government securities, generating a modest interest spread and occasional treasury gains. Beyond this, payments banks earn fees and commissions from a wide range of activities: digital payments, remittances, micro-ATM and Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) transactions, debit cards, sale of third-party products such as insurance, gold loans and fixed deposits, busin ...

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. On December 12, Evercore ISI maintained an In Line rating on Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and lifted the price target to $380 from $375. The firm also added the stock to its “Tactical Outperform” list going into the year-end and the Q4 earnings season. Is Visa Inc. (V) the Best Blue Chip Stock to Buy for 2025? In addition to Evercore ISI, BofA also upgraded Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) to Buy from Neutral on December 11 and set a $382 price targe ...

Key insights: Pushback on fees, BNPL and new technology are shifting how consumers shop and make payments. What's at stake: Swipe fees for credit cards and debit cards totaled $187.2 billion in 2024, up from $172 billion in 2023. Forward look: Agentic commerce and crypto will also draw consumers to new payment options in the new year. Consumer payment trends such as pushback on interchange fees, the rise of buy now/pay later, crypto payments and agentic commerce are set to shape payments in 2026. Th ...

Debit cards are getting the credit-card treatment. Their perks still pale in comparison to credit cards’, but the rewards are the most generous seen on debit cards in years. https://t.co/rkz3aZAUBq ...

Credit cards and debit cards may look identical, but they are quite different. Be strategic about which type of card you use. https://t.co/kfLrklBfJQ ...

Core Insights - Beyond by RS2 has achieved the status of Principal Issuing Member of Mastercard in Europe, enabling the company to launch and manage payment card programs directly [1][2][5] Group 1: Issuing Capabilities - The new status places Beyond by RS2 among a select group of providers in Europe with full issuing capabilities, allowing support for fintechs, corporates, retailers, and banks in creating flexible and scalable card programs [2][3] - Beyond by RS2's issuing capabilities include BIN sponsorship, enabling companies to launch card programs without needing their own license, and co-branded card solutions to enhance customer loyalty [3][4] Group 2: Product Offerings - The company offers a variety of card options, including debit, credit, prepaid, and commercial cards in both physical and digital formats, with support for Apple Pay and Google Pay [3][4] - Beyond by RS2 provides end-to-end program management, covering branded card products, customer support, fraud prevention, and compliance, leveraging its regulatory expertise for quick and secure launches across the EU and EEA [4][6] Group 3: Strategic Positioning - The CEO of RS2 Financial Services GmbH highlighted that achieving Mastercard principal issuing status allows the company to help clients bring innovative payment products to market faster, providing a one-stop solution for organizations looking to enter or expand in the payments space [5][6] - As part of the RS2 Group, Beyond by RS2 benefits from access to advanced payment infrastructure and processing technology, empowering clients to innovate and scale confidently in the European market [6]

Company Updates - Krak is focused on faster rules and better money [1] - Krak's future plans include debit cards, direct deposit, and earning on digital dollars [1] Industry Insights - TheBlock__ recapped Krak's ZebuLive take, indicating industry interest in Krak's developments [1]

Core Insights - MasterCard is a global leader in the payments industry, offering a variety of financial services and products, including credit, debit, and prepaid cards, as well as payment processing solutions [1] - The company competes with major players in the fintech space, such as Visa and Block [1] Stock Performance - As of the latest data, MasterCard's stock is priced at $580.45, with a recent change of $3.12, marking a 0.54% increase [3] - The stock's daily trading range was between $576.43 and $583.21, with a yearly high of $601.77 and a low of $465.59, indicating volatility [3] - Robert W. Baird has set a price target of $660 for MasterCard, suggesting a potential increase of about 13.7% from the current stock price [2][5] Market Capitalization and Trading Activity - MasterCard's market capitalization is approximately $520.82 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the financial sector [4][5] - The trading volume for the day was 1,857,598 shares, indicating active investor interest [4]

Core Insights - The U.S. Justice Department has received a temporary stay in its antitrust lawsuit against Visa due to a government funding lapse, which has affected the ability of DOJ attorneys to work on the case [8] - Visa holds over 60% of the U.S. debit card transaction market and generates more than $7 billion annually in processing fees, leading to allegations of operating an illegal monopoly [5][4] - The lawsuit, which has been ongoing since the Trump administration, claims that Visa imposes agreements that exclude competitors from the debit processing market, a claim Visa denies [6][4] Group 1 - The DOJ's lawsuit against Visa alleges illegal monopoly practices in the debit card market [4] - Visa's market share in the U.S. debit card transactions is over 60%, with Mastercard holding less than 25% [5] - Visa has not opposed the temporary stay requested by the DOJ, which allows for ongoing negotiations regarding document subpoenas [3][8] Group 2 - Prior to the funding lapse, Visa and the DOJ reported progress in negotiations about the electronic debit card data to be produced for discovery [7] - The court has granted a stay in the proceedings, which will last until government funding is restored [8] - Visa's motion to dismiss the complaint was denied, indicating the court's willingness to proceed with the case [6]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of investing in high-quality companies at fair prices, as advised by Charlie Munger, vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway [2]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - It is recommended to buy stocks of great companies at fair prices rather than fair companies at great prices [2]. - The highlighted companies possess wide economic moats, medium or low uncertainty ratings, and exemplary capital allocation scores [3]. Group 2: Company Highlights - **Amazon**: - Amazon is recognized for its disruption in the retail industry and leadership in infrastructure as a service through Amazon Web Services (AWS) [4]. - The company has a fair value estimate of $245, supported by network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and switching costs [5]. - **Northrop Grumman**: - This diversified defense contractor has significant intangible assets and high switching costs, contributing to its wide economic moat [6]. - The stock is valued at $630, backed by a solid balance sheet and a history of regular dividend increases [7]. - **US Bank Corp**: - As one of the largest regional banks in the U.S., US Bank has durable cost advantages and high switching costs [8]. - The bank's stock is estimated to be worth $53.90, with a sound balance sheet and value-added acquisitions [8].