The Green Sheet Online Edition
May 12, 2025 • 25:05:01
Industry Update
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ARGO, Arteria AI named finalists in Banking Tech Awards
ARGO and Arteria AI were both named finalists in the 2025 Banking Tech Awards USA, presented by FinTech Futures, which honors outstanding achievements in banking and fintech across the United States. ARGO is a finalist in the Best Customer Experience Solution – Customer Engagement & Actionable Insights category for its ARGO Connects platform, designed to help banks engage customers across digital and physical channels. Connects supports early-stage engagement, need detection, abandonment retargeting, onboarding and retention, ultimately improving satisfaction and loyalty, the company stated.
Arteria AI is a finalist in the Best AI Solution – Data Insights & Knowledge Management category for its proprietary AI-powered documentation infrastructure platform, which is designed to help financial institutions automate document workflows, achieve straight-through processing, and harness their own data to transform decision making and drive growth. Arteria CEO Shelby Austin praised the recognition as a tribute to the company's technologists, data scientists and financial services experts. This honor adds to Arteria's recent inclusion in the CB Insights Fintech 100 and AI 100 lists.
Hyosung urges ATM operators to follow security guidance
ATM provider Hyosung Americas is urging all ATM owners to immediately apply critical security updates to protect machines from evolving cyber threats targeting remote management software systems. First identified in September 2024, these attacks enable unauthorized control of ATMs by redirecting communications. Despite a security patch issued last year, many ATMs remain vulnerable, contributing to a recent large-scale cyberattack reported in the Northeast and West Coast, Hyosung noted. Gail Daniels, the company's COO, stressed the urgency of updating software, changing default passwords, securing management systems with firewalls, and enabling encryption to safeguard assets against increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals targeting the ATM industry.
Ripple pledges $25M for U.S. classrooms, teachers
Ripple announced a $25 million commitment to DonorsChoose and Teach For America to boost education access and outcomes across the United States. The funding will equip classrooms with essential resources, expand Teach For America’s Ignite tutoring program, and support financial literacy and STEM initiatives. Notably, Ripple stated, the majority of the donation will be delivered in Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, marking a first in charitable giving. Ripple emphasized the company’s dedication to educational and financial access and builds on its broader philanthropic efforts, including over $200 million in global donations since 2018.
Square expands banking services
Square launched new Square Banking tools to give small business owners instant, 24/7 access to their cash flow and simplified ways to manage earnings. Business owners can now sign up for Square Payments and a free Square Checking account in minutes, with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, the company stated. The platform integrates payments and banking, eliminating transfer delays and enabling immediate access to funds for expenses like payroll and inventory, Square added, noting that Square Savings now offers personalized savings recommendations based on cash flow data and industry insights, helping sellers automatically allocate funds for key expenses.
RESEARCH
AtData spots email indicators driving digital payments fraud
AtData, a provider of email intelligence and fraud prevention, released findings from over 4 million transactions identifying key email fraud signals impacting digital payments. The top indicators of elevated fraud risk include disposable email addresses, newly created email accounts, anonymized or international IP addresses and poor domain reputations. Disposable emails showed fraud rates exceeding 70 percent, while new email accounts were up to 35 times more likely to be fraudulent in lending. Transactions routed through international proxies carried significantly higher fraud risk. AtData stated its analysis underscores the need for real-time, data-driven fraud detection using email-level intelligence to outpace evolving cyber threats.
Independent workers say slowunreliable payouts drive attrition
As independent work rapidly grows, fintech leader Runa released research highlighting how payout experiences impact gig worker retention and engagement. With over 60 million U.S. freelancers and projections showing more than half the workforce will be independent by 2028, businesses face increasing pressure to meet worker expectations.
Runa found that 70 percent of independent workers would quit or reduce work after negative payout experiences, while smoother payouts boost motivation and loyalty. Workers prioritize instant, reliable payments, want more payout options like digital wallets and bank transfers, and cite high fees as a major pain point, Runa stated, adding that fast, flexible payouts are critical for retaining independent talent.
US Payments Business Forum points to modernization's value
Finastra hosted its annual US Payments Business Forum in April 2025, gathering financial institution leaders to explore payments modernization, customer needs and industry innovation. Through expert presentations, panels and discussions, the forum highlighted the urgency for mid-tier banks to adopt cloud and SaaS payment solutions, address legacy system challenges and prioritize ISO20022 compliance.
Speakers urged banks to shift from defense to offense by investing in payment technologies to retain customers amid fintech competition. The event emphasized collaboration with fintech partners to enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency, reinforcing the need for continuous innovation in a fast-evolving payments landscape.
Zelle unveils new data in its first small business report
Zelle released its first Small Business Report, stating that nearly 7 million U.S. small businesses use its fast, reliable payments to boost growth and reduce financial uncertainty. Use of Zelle to pay small businesses has tripled in three years, supporting payments for everything from surf lessons in Los Angeles to vendor fees at farmers markets, researchers found.
In 2024, small businesses received an average of $465 per transaction and sent an average of $630, often for payroll or vendor payments. Zelle is most popular in major commercial hubs and fosters stronger ties between small businesses and community banks nationwide, the company added.
PARTNERSHIPS
Bluefin, CI team up on PCI P2PE integrated payments
Bluefin, a provider of payment and data security, partnered with Campus Innovation to integrate Bluefin’s payment processing and PCI-validated point-to-point encryption (P2PE) into Campus Innovation’s C-Park parking management platform. This collaboration enables universities to provide secure, seamless and efficient parking payments for students, staff and visitors while enhancing operational goals and user satisfaction, the partners said. C-Park offers a cloud-based, customizable solution designed to optimize parking, boost revenue and improve the campus experience. By leveraging Bluefin’s encryption and tokenization, transactions are protected against breaches, reducing PCI scope and ensuring data security while supporting universities’ critical parking revenue streams, Bluefin added.
CapyFast, Bidwise team up to transform marketing
CapyFast, an embedded payments provider, and Bidwise, a performance marketing platform, partnered to modernize payments in performance marketing. The partners said the agreement will bring over $40 million in payment volumes to CapyFast and boost Bidwise’s access to flexible working capital.
By integrating real-time cross-border payments, smart liquidity services and proprietary payment intelligence, the collaboration aims to speed up payouts, reduce costs and improve risk management. The partnership is also expected to enable Bidwise and its partners to scale more efficiently, with infrastructure rollout starting in the third quarter of 2025 and full deployment by the first quarter of 2026.
Nexi, Planet aim to enhance hospitality payment experience
Nexi Group and Planet signed a letter of intent to form a strategic partnership aimed at delivering integrated digital payment solutions, with a strong focus on the hospitality sector. The collaboration will combine Nexi's pan-European acquiring expertise, local payment acceptance and customer operations with Planet's specialized hospitality solutions, including acceptance technology, platform integration and dynamic currency conversion, the companies stated.
Together, they plan to create co-branded solutions that enhance customer experiences and improve merchant conversion rates. The joint offering will first launch in the Nordics, with plans to expand into Italy and other European markets, providing hospitality businesses with seamless, tailored payment solutions, the partners added.
PayBright, Next Gen POS target bar, nightclub payments
PayBright, a merchant services provider, formed a partnership with Union, a data-driven hospitality POS and engagement platform serving high-volume bars, nightclubs and restaurants. As PayBright's preferred POS solution for hospitality venues, Union offers tools that enhance operational efficiency, accelerate service by up to 80 percent, enable mobile payments and provide real-time analytics for personalized guest experiences, the partners stated. PayBright CEO Dustin Magaziner praised Union's ability to integrate these features into a user-friendly platform. Union noted that it powers over 1,500 venues nationwide and processes $2 billion annually. The partnership aims to deliver innovative, data-driven solutions that help hospitality businesses grow and improve customer loyalty.
Temenos, Zest AI to deliver underwriting, fraud detection
Zest AI said it achieved native integration of its AI-powered underwriting and fraud detection technology with Temenos Loan Origination, providing U.S. financial institutions with advanced tools to boost loan approvals and manage risk. This collaboration enables lenders to analyze thousands of data points for more accurate credit decisions while using Zest Protect to detect fraud in real time without disrupting customers, the partners stated. The integration, they added, allows banks and credit unions to automate 60 to 80 percent of lending decisions and reduce charge-offs by 20 percent. Together, Zest AI and Temenos aim to help financial institutions compete with fintechs, expand credit access, and deliver faster, more secure lending experiences.
ACQUISITIONS
Events.com acquires Upped Events
Events.com, a global provider of event technology, acquired Upped Events, an event management company known for streamlining operations and enhancing attendee engagement. This integration strengthens Events.com's platform by adding Upped's contactless, app-based mobile payment system, enabling flexible on-site payments and real-time analytics, events.com stated, adding that event creators will benefit from unified data insights across ticketing and transactions, improving revenue tracking and attendee experiences. The acquisition, the company noted, aligns with its mission to offer an all-in-one solution for event planning, promotion and execution, and follows a series of strategic acquisitions expanding Events.com's capabilities in live and virtual events.
Infinx acquires i3 Verticals' RCM business
i3 Verticals Inc. agreed to sell its healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM) business and proprietary technology to Infinx Inc. in a $96 million all-cash deal, closing simultaneously with the agreement. i3 Verticals plans to focus exclusively on its public sector vertical, including K-12 public education, to drive growth and innovation while providing integrated software solutions for payment processing, nutrition services, event ticketing and administrative management. i3 Verticals CEO Greg Daily expressed confidence in the healthcare team’s future with Infinx, while Infinx CEO Jaideep Tandon welcomed the acquisition as a strategic fit.
APPOINTMENTS
High-caliber trio joins Worldline team
Worldline appointed three senior leaders – Candice Dillon, Joachim Goyvaerts and Tim Minall – to strengthen its leadership team and enhance its delivery capacity. Candice Dillon will join as group chief technology officer and executive committee member on July 1, 2025, taking direct ownership of the company's merchant services' technology teams. With a background leading IT integration and strategic programs at Vodafone Ziggo, NN International and Accenture, Dillon brings valuable expertise for advancing Worldline's platform convergence and innovation goals, the company stated.
Joachim Goyvaerts was named head of SMB, reporting to Head of Merchant Services Paul Marriott-Clarke. Goyvaerts offers over 20 years of experience across commercial, product and management roles, including as CEO of EMS (Fiserv) and leadership roles at PayPal focused on business development and global partner strategies. His appointment is expected to bolster Worldline's position and product strength in the vital SMB segment.
Tim Minall will assume the role of chief risk officer for Worldline's global merchant services business, also effective July 1. With three decades working in banking, payments and fintech, Minall brings deep expertise in enterprise risk and regulatory compliance. He previously served as chief risk and compliance officer for PayPal UK and chief risk officer for PayPal's European Bank, where he successfully aligned risk management and technology to drive customer experience and growth, Worldline noted.
Worldline CEO Pierre-Antoine Vacheron praised these appointments as a major milestone in the company's transformation journey, highlighting their leadership, expertise and diverse perspectives as key to elevating Worldline's service to merchants and financial institutions.
Vennre hires Ahmed El-Sharkasy
Vennre appointed Ahmed El-Sharkasy as chief product officer to lead product innovation, user experience and platform development across the MENA region. El-Sharkasy brings extensive product leadership experience spanning fintech, edtech and ecommerce, making him well-positioned to advance Vennre's mission of building a leading Sharia-compliant private markets platform, the company stated. In his role, he will focus on enhancing investor experiences and scaling the platform's reach. CEO Ziad Mabsout praised El-Sharkasy's visionary thinking and expertise as pivotal to Vennre's growth. His appointment signals a strategic move as the company aims to surpass $50 million in transaction volume and expand into new markets.
Jennifer Sherman joins Unit4
Jennifer Sherman signed on with Unit4 as Chief Product Officer, bringing over 25 years of experience in B2B technology and product leadership to her new position. Sherman previously served as chief operating officer at CARET and held senior product roles at NMI, Kibo, NAVEX Global and Aptean. She began her career at Oracle, where she launched the company's first Warehouse Management System. Also a member of two SaaS technology boards, Sherman will lead Unit4's product strategy, aligning innovation with customer needs and emerging technologies. She expressed excitement about joining Unit4 to help scale growth and deepen customer impact through people-focused technology.
AffiniPay appoints Leslie Witt
AffiniPay appointed Leslie Witt as its new chief product officer, bringing more than 20 years of product leadership experience to the role. Witt previously served as chief product & design officer at Headspace, where she led user-focused product innovation. She also held senior roles at Intuit, directing global design and research for small business solutions. In addition, she founded IDEO's Design for Money practice, collaborating with major financial institutions to drive fintech innovation. At AffiniPay, Witt will lead product strategy for LawPay, MyCase, CASEpeer, Docketwise and CPACharge, aiming to enhance customer-focused solutions and expand the company's impact across professional industries. 
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