Payments News Digest 9 September 2022

New Zealand: Interchange cap era set to begin

The news this week from the world's southernmost capital city, Wellington, that the competition regulator has issued draft guidance on interchange fee caps demonstrates that the issue remains a live point of contention for cards industry players around the world. The limits will come into force in two months' time, following a consultation period in which networks, acquirers and issuers affected can prepare to comply. The caps apply to "designated" networks – Visa and Mastercard in this case.

"Any reduction in merchant fees will decrease the cost to businesses of accepting payments on these networks," commented Commerce Commissioner Dr John Small. "As the cost of receiving payments comes down, we expect savings to be shared with consumers." The incoming limits are using new legislation enacted earlier this year concerning retail  payment systems in New Zealand.

Japan: Top cards brand takes plunge into digital

Global network JCB this week announced the launch of a mobile payments app in its home market of Japan, a first among its traditional competitors there. The world of  Japanese payments  has long been a curious mix, with a tech-savvy populace that nonetheless remains quite wedded to cash, a banking establishment that has been slow to embrace new technology and a dizzying plethora of POS solutions. Perhaps surprisingly for a cards network, the app offers P2P and QR code-based account-to-account transfers.

However, young consumers have given relatively new players such as PayPay and Line a clear lead in mobile, a threat that JCB hopes to counter in time by stacking up powerful banking and payments solutions, such as ATM withdrawals and salary access, through the app.

Europe: Digital euro phases clarified as pilot draws nearer

Last week, Singapore's central bank clearly communicated that it would not be issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) anytime soon. The sentiment is quite different in Frankfurt, headquarters of the European Central Bank, which besides raising interest rates (by a historic three-quarters of a percent in its latest policy move this week) is also moving closer to releasing a CBDC, though for now the project remains firmly on the drawing board.

"We have singled out, for the first release of the digital euro, three use cases, " said the coin's programme manager, Evelien Witlox, in a speech this week. She identified these as "peer-to-peer payments, ...consumer-to-business payments in physical or online stores, and payments to or by governments". For now, heavy-duty features such as salary disbursement will have to wait, she told listeners. The Eurozone's central bank plans to commence a pilot of its digital euro next year.

Other stories of interest this week...

Australia, Europe, India, Indonesia, Japan: Google quietly extends User Choice Billing
UK: Cost-of-living squeeze starts to impact international travel, Barclaycard reveals
US: Top banking regulator warns of crisis risk from fintech proliferation
US: Zelle now moves more money than Venmo and Cash App combined

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