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IndustryUpdate
In Memoriam:
Ollie Sam Ackley
We are saddened by the passing of Ollie Sam (O.
Sam) Ackley, a beloved husband, father, grandfather,
brother, uncle and friend to many. Sam passed
peacefully on the morning of Aug. 25, 2024, leaving
behind a legacy of love, adventure and professional
achievement. O. Sam Ackley is survived by his best
friend and wife, Diane Ackley, and their five children:
Amon, Ryan Sr., Eris, Nathan, and Kristen.
He also leaves behind his children's spouses, Renee,
Shannon and Raj, and his grandchildren, Alana,
Ryan, Ben, Kyle, Riley and Charlotte. He is further
survived by his siblings, Said, Suad and Charlene, as
well as numerous nieces and nephews.
An American patriot and international traveler, Sam
graduated from the American University in Beirut
and served in local Florida government for more than
a decade before transitioning into private business.
His greatest joys included fishing, late-night pancakes
and sharing stories of his grand travel adventures.
Sam is also remembered as the founder of ACheck 21
and as a visionary in the e-check services industry.
He joined the Payroc family in 2021, and his influence
and collaborative spirit is credited with helping to
drive the company's success.
"Sam was much more than just a leader and a
visionary," wrote Payroc CEO James Oberman and
CHRO Angela Antrim in a joint statement announcing
the loss of their friend and colleague. "He was a
man of faith, integrity and humility, always with a
warm smile and words of encouragement for all. His
influence on our company will be felt for years to
come, and he will be greatly missed by all who had
the privilege of knowing him."
Sam was laid to rest on Sept. 1, 2024, at Oaklawn
Memorial Gardens in Titusville, Fla. In lieu of
traditional remembrances, the family requests that
memorials be made to the charity of your choice.
12
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DataVisor wins Datos
Insights award
DataVisor, an AI-powered fraud
and risk platform, won two awards
at the 2024 Fraud & AML Impact
Awards by Datos Insights. It was
recognized for Best Joint AML and Fraud Transaction
Monitoring Innovation and received a silver medal for
Best Transaction Fraud Monitoring and Decisioning.
This marks the second consecutive year DataVisor was
honored. Its platform, praised for its advanced AI and
machine learning, significantly reduces fraud losses and
false positives while improving efficiency, Datos noted,
adding that its integrated solution addresses fraud pre-
vention and AML compliance, meeting the industry's
evolving needs.
Sling Money raises $15M for global payments
Sling Money, an app created for instant, low-cost global
money transfers, attained a $15 million Series A fund-
ing round led by Union Square Ventures, Ribbit Capital
and Slow Ventures. Leveraging stablecoin technology,
Sling Money is designed to enable users to send money
across 50+ countries in Europe and Africa instantly and
nearly for free. Transfers use the Pax Dollar (USDP), a
US-backed stablecoin regulated by the New York State
Department of Financial Services. Sling Money aims to
simplify global payments with a user-friendly interface,
stating it offers fast, seamless transactions without high
fees, aligning with a digital-first financial future.
Jeffrey Vagg of North named
a top AI thought leader
Jeffrey Vagg, chief data and analytics officer at North
(formerly North American Bancard), was named a 2024
AI 100 Leader by H2O.ai, which recognized his role in
advancing AI innovation. The AI 100 list highlights lead-
ers driving impactful AI solutions across sectors. Vagg
credits his team at North for their commitment to inte-
grating AI in areas like fraud monitoring and merchant
services. North's balanced approach to AI, judges noted,
includes traditional machine learning and exploring
generative AI. The list features executives from a range
of companies and emphasizes AI's growing influence in
finance, healthcare and "AI for Good" initiatives.
RESEARCH
Cashback, value credit cards grow in popularity
The 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study
revealed that cashback rewards are overtaking points/
miles as economic pressures strain cardholder finances.
Only 46 percent of cardholders participating in the study