The Green Sheet Online Edition
July 7, 2016 • 16:07:01
Letter from the editors
We've become accustomed to disruption in payments. Some welcome it, thrive on it. Others scramble to adapt. Some continue as they always have, and depending on how solid their approaches and relationships are, they continue to build their portfolios or might watch their residuals decline. One sector that has morphed considerably in recent years is the loyalty realm. This issue's lead article takes a look at today's proliferating loyalty programs and the new ways they can empower merchants and consumers. When it comes to these advances, will you embrace, adapt or ignore?
Our industry isn't the only area experiencing disruption. Indeed, at times it seems much of the world is in turmoil. Brexit is a development many fear will cause disruption across the globe. Is that true? In our views section, one expert on payments in the U.K. and Europe weighs in. Also in the Views section, you'll learn of FDA actions that could bring an end to the electronic cigarette market, as well as of the CFPB's current and potential targets.
Some things are in flux, but many remain the same. One constant is that every year we reach a midway point. How to assess progress halfway through the year is the topic one industry expert addresses in our Education section.
Other contributing writers explore what is driving portfolio acquisition today, how to maximize residual growth by managing attrition, and how to help merchant level salespeople devise new strategies to succeed in payments today.
News stories report on controversy surrounding the proposed Financial CHOICE Act, an updated barcode technology standard devised to make barcodes more ubiquitous and secure; Home Depot's suing Visa over the retailers desire to require chip and PIN, not chip and signature at the POS, which came one month after Wal-Mart filed suit over the same issue; and the Reserve Bank of Australia's move to crack down on merchants the RBA had determined are surcharging transactions to excess.
Industry Update highlights a range of happenings from a card brand offering merchants temporary relief from EMV liability to an FTC settlement with a mobile ad firm, from Walmart Pay's debut in its Georgia stores to an ATM Council skimming survey that offers good news, and much more.
Is your corner of the industry being disrupted? If so, how? Drop us a line at greensheet@greensheet.com. And keep those press releases coming to press@greensheet.com. 
Whether you want to upgrade your POS offerings, find a payment gateway partner, bone up on fintech regs or PCI requirements, find an upcoming trade show, read about faster payments, or discover the latest innovations in merchant acquiring, The Green Sheet is the resource for you. Since 1983, we've helped empower and connect payments professionals, starting with the merchant level salespeople who bring tailored payment acceptance and digital commerce tools, along with a host of other business services to merchants across the globe. The Green Sheet Inc. is also a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals.
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