Clubessential Holdings Acquires Vermont Systems Inc; Visa Invests in Very Good Security: News Roundup

Group Of Young Business People With Smart Phones

PaymentFacilitator’s News Roundup is a curated mix of the past week’s news and articles from around the web, including company announcements, global payments news, and other coverage and analysis of topics relevant to payment facilitators.

Fintech Forward

The Catalyst Fund becomes catalyst for fintech forward momentum. The Boston-based venture funding initiative has received $15 million in fresh support from JPMorgan and UK Aid to assist fintech startups striving for a positive impact on financial inclusion and emerging market sectors. The funding will provide support for 30 new fintech startups in Asia, Africa and Latin America throughout the next three years. From TechCrunch.

Driving Digital

Digital payments have a role in 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Visa says. Digital payments can support the United Nations’ goals for supporting sustainable economic growth across the globe in the following three ways: making cities more livable, encouraging responsible consumption and promoting gender equality, according to Visa’s Europe CEO. From World Economic Forum.

Pakistan strives towards cashless. A roadmap has been proposed and adopted to drive the country towards a cashless society. Following the State Bank of Pakistan’s development of its National Payment Strategy System (NPSS), this initiative offers strategic support for the local payments ecosystem with a goal to enhance financial inclusion throughout the country, particularly for women. From The Nation.

Big Brands Getting Bigger

Paytm projects 10 million jump in merchant base. Expecting a significant increase in merchant onboardings over the next fiscal year, the Indian payments company and PF has projected an increase of 10 million merchants, to a total of 25 million. The company is offering solutions it hopes will drive expansion, including the recent launch of its all-in-one QR code that will enable unlimited payment acceptance though Paytm Wallet, Rupay and UPI-based apps at a zero percent fee. From Financial Express.