Search Results
Briefing
Developments of QR Code-Based Mobile Payments in East Asia
Initiatives facilitating QR code-based mobile payments in Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong may address some pain points of banks, nonbanks, and merchants, but whether they address consumers’ depends on factors such as fragmentation and overall digital commerce experience
Briefing
Assessing the Case for Retail CBDCs: Central Banks’ Considerations
Many central banks around the world have been researching, experimenting, or developing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Although central banks in several emerging markets and developing economies have implemented or plan to implement a general-purpose, or retail, CBDC to promote financial inclusion and improve their payment systems, central banks in many advanced economies have not yet found a compelling case for a retail CBDC.
Briefing
The Rise of Buy Now, Pay Later: Bank and Payment Network Perspectives and Regulatory Considerations
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) products offered by fintechs have gained traction among consumers andmerchants in recent years and could compete with credit cards as a payment option. We explore thereactions of banks and payment networks to BNPL products as well as the current regulatory environment.
Briefing
How the COVID-19 Pandemic May Reshape the Digital Payments Landscape
Despite an increase in payments made via online or mobile channels in recent years, many consumers have not yet adopted digital payments. The COVID-19 pandemic may be shifting more consumers toward digital payments, along with industry and legislative initiatives designed to facilitate broader access.
Briefing
The Appeal and Proliferation of Buy Now, Pay Later: Consumer and Merchant Perspectives
Use of buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment products has been growing in the United States. We explore the benefits and risks of BNPL products for consumers and merchants.
Briefing
Motives Matter: Examining Potential Tension in Central Bank Digital Currency Designs
As a new central bank liability, central bank digital currency (CBDC) has the potential to address various issues within current payments and financial systems. The motivation behind a CBDC will determine how it is designed; a CBDC designed to achieve one goal, such as broader financial inclusion, may have difficulty achieving other objectives.
Working Paper
Fedwire Funds Service: Payments, Balances, and Available Liquidity
We analyze the universe of payments settled through the Fedwire Funds Service--the primary U.S. real-time gross settlement service operated by the Federal Reserve--for the period January 2004 to December 2020. We report on trends in payments volume, payments value, balances, and overdrafts, in addition to documenting changes in the behavior of financial institutions transacting via the Fedwire Funds Service.
What Types of Customer Data Do Fintech Firms Use?
Beyond cash flow and credit scores, technology-driven lenders have also looked at social media activity and phone ownership.
Briefing
From Then to FedNow: Payments Innovation and the Federal Reserve
Since its founding, the Federal Reserve System has evolved its payments services to be responsive to changes in the industry and to meet the needs of its customers and the public generally. To be sure, episodes of tragedy and crisis can amplify the gaps in legacy systems and approaches, and the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception as it highlights shifting consumer payments preferences.