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Letter from the editors

ow far ahead do you look when strategiz-
ing for your own business and for your
particular corner of the payments biz?
H And have you mapped out a plan and
taken appropriate action? Visa and Mastercard are
stellar examples of companies that look toward the
future not only to respond to what they expect will
unfold, but also to shape it. One example is their
approach to person-to-person (P2P) payments.

For many in the payments industry, P2P payments are
of little consequence and are thus given little thought.
Over the past few years, however, the two major card
brands have launched several initiatives intended to
drive more P2P payments to their networks. Visa is
signing up banks, processors and technology compa-
nies for Visa Direct, a card-based platform that prom-
ises to deliver P2P transactions almost instantaneous-
ly. Mastercard is advancing pilots in Africa and Asia
that support micro- and small-merchant acceptance of
contactless payments using Facebook Messenger.
How the P2P sector might tie into payment businesses
is explored in this issue's lead article, which delves Bridge the Gap
into the state of P2P payments and what is likely to
happen next. As ISOs and merchant level salespeople, between your
you probably don't have the research and development
chops of a card brand, but you can plan to shape the advertising dollars
future, as well.
and bottom line.
Our contributing writers also have your future in
mind. Have you thought of using video in your mar-
keting? How well are you training your sales staff? Customized advertising campaigns
Are you offering merchants a full suite of business ser- to fit any size company and budget.
vices that goes beyond payments? Do you understand
the distinctions between surcharge and cash discount • Spotlight Innovators’ Pages
programs? These and other questions are addressed
within these pages. (frequently updated content)
• Print (various size options)
News briefs present highlights from recent new stories
posted. Among them is the launch of the Merchant • Resource Guide listing
Sales Podcast. If you haven't listened to the first epi- (print/online/front page (option))
sode yet, it's available at www.greensheet.com directly
below Breaking Industry News. Other stories are on • Email Blasts (to GS readership)
the TLS 1.2 deadline, growth in nonbank finance, a
spike in crypto theft, digital-forward dining and more. • Online (website/twice month newsletter)
And, of course, you'll find company and product pro- • Video
files, as well as updates on numerous recent develop- • Bundle advertisng campaign discounts*
ments and milestones within individual companies
and in the payments business overall.

Is there a topic you'd like us to address in a lead story? Danielle Thorpe
What about in our education and views sections? Please AVP Media Partnerships
let us know at greensheet@greensheet.com, and do continue
to send your press releases to press@greensheet.com. 707-284-1686

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