The Green Sheet Online Edition
January 1, 2025 • 25:01:01
Letter from the editor
As we begin a new year, change remains the defining theme in merchant services. From evolving fraud trends and rising data breach costs to advancements in AI and regulatory shifts, the payments sphere has faced challenges and opportunities in equal measure. 2024 underscored the importance of innovation, security and value-added services in strengthening merchant relationships and staying competitive. The lead article in this issue, which completes our year-in-review begun with our final issue of 2024, examines developments that shaped the industry and explores how businesses can prepare for success in 2025.
Change has come to The Green Sheet, too. As of this kick-off issue for 2025, we no longer mail out print magazines to subscribers, a new focus we first announced in December. We continue to publish our PDF flipbook and HTML versions online twice monthly, as well as provide breaking industry news, calendar and datebook, news from the wire, forums, Merchant Sales Podcast listings, Community Voices links, and more.
Also inside are news briefs drawn from breaking news stories posted online, including the CFPB's placing of Google Pay under bank-like oversight to address fraud complaints, despite Google's legal challenge; fintech leaders' predictions that 2025 will see tighter regulations, embedded finance growth, and advances in cryptocurrencies and social commerce; Visa's plan to enhance its Visa Direct platform to enable near-instant payments; the CFPB's lawsuit against Zelle and major banks for failing to prevent fraud, and seeking refunds and reforms; and Visa's bolstered fraud prevention capabilities, including its acquisition of Featurespace, blocking numerous fraudulent transactions and emphasizing secure, AI-driven payment solutions.
One contributor to this issue addressed fraud in the form of unscrupulous actions and called for ethical standards, transparency and accountability to restore trust and protect our merchants and ourselves. Other experts explored such topics as Visa’s VAMP program, which monitors smaller acquirers' CNP portfolios, enforcing fraud and dispute thresholds with fees; the need to modernize the payments back office to reduce costs, enhance agility and stay competitive in an era of rapid innovation and rising expectations; how AI and automation are enhancing personalization, optimizing payments, streamlining operations and improving security; and why even though DIY payment testing may seem cost-effective, outside specialists offer multiple benefits that boost reliability and competitive advantage.
Please also check out the updates, profiles, upcoming events and special features included. We will welcome your feedback at greensheet@greensheet.com and your news at 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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