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DECEMBER 23, 2025 |
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That’s not right: What’s the most common reason consumers dispute a purchase with their payment provider? |
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A) Owed a refund that wasn’t received B) Fraudulent purchase by someone else C) Item/servicen ever arrived or arrived later than promised D) Item/service was not as described when purchased |
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AGENTIC AI |
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Walmart’s OnePay adopted Google’s Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) to drive agentic commerce as a credentialled provider, per a press release. |
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OnePay will help Google’s AI agents: |
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Define users’ spending limits, merchant parameters, and reuse controls.
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Ensure safe access to card, bank accounts, and digital wallets.
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Offer financing choices to agents, such as interest-bearing installment loans with transparent disclosures.
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Enable multi-wallet use for agents to choose certain payment methods for particular purchases. |
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Agentic commerce is slowly on the rise, with providers like OpenAI and Stripe, Klarna, Google, Visa, Mastercard, and Splitit all developing their own protocols to enable AI-powered shopping. |
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FINTECH |
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Mercury has filed with the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC) for a national bank charter and applied to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for deposit insurance. |
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By obtaining a bank charter, Mercury will de-risk by eliminating the need for partner banks and putting banking services entirely under its control. It may also expand its in-house technology stack, including building its own banking core or payment processing infrastructure. |
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Mercury reportedly managed $20 billion in customer deposits as of mid-2025; with a charter, that would make it a top-100 US bank. |
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INDUSTRY VIEWS |
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Not all customers want the same thing from financial providers. Luxury-minded consumers dig deep into research and light up when the experience feels special. Investors stick around for the long haul once trust is earned. Deal seekers chase value and jump on the right offer. |
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New research from Amazon Ads and Kantar uncovered eight distinct financial mindset personas. Meet these unique customers in the article, “Beyond Transactions: How Tailored Advertising Builds Lasting Trust in Financial Services,” and see how to create tailored experiences that connect. Brought to you by Amazon Ads. |
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DIGITAL PAYMENTS |
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Mastercard and LoanPro launched Loan on Card, a personal loan service for consumers and small businesses delivered through virtual and physical cards, per a press release. |
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Borrowers will receive instant access to fixed-term installment loans that can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Loan on Card will be powered through Mastercard Installments Credential, and funds will be deposited into a mobile wallet. |
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The feature will roll out in 2026. |
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REPORT |
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Banking is set to enter a new phase of convergence in 2026. From stablecoin rails and agentic AI to consolidation, financial media networks (FMNs), and AI search, financial institutions (FIs) are redefining how money moves, markets connect, and customers discover value. |
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(EMARKETER subscription required to read the full report) |
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CHART OF THE WEEK |
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Key stat: 80% of US adults feel satisfied with their primary financial institution when they get a promotion or raise, but only 35% say the same when they experience job loss, according to July data from Jack Henry & Associates Inc. | | | | |
