The most important merchant effects may come from network rules, acceptance flexibility and long-term pricing behavior rather than a single headline savings estimate.
FinTech
Fintech Consolidation Is Coming: What SMBs Should Ask Before Their Provider Gets Acquired
A processor, software platform or fintech acquisition can change pricing, support, risk policy and integrations long after the press release.
AI in Payments: The Best Use Cases Are the Ones That Prevent Work Before It Exists
The highest-value AI in payments may be invisible: better exception handling, fraud detection, support routing and reconciliation.
The $38 Billion Swipe-Fee Settlement Is About More Than Rates
The revised settlement could affect merchant acceptance rules as well as pricing, making implementation details critical.
Embedded Finance for Local Business: Convenience Without Losing Control
Banking, lending and payment functions are increasingly embedded inside vertical software, which can simplify operations while concentrating vendor dependence.
Payment Orchestration Is Moving Down-Market
Capabilities once associated with large enterprises—routing, failover, tokenization and multi-provider strategies—are becoming relevant to growing SMEs.
Fintech M&A: What Happens to the Merchant After the Press Release?
When a processor or fintech platform is acquired, merchants should watch product consolidation, pricing, support and data portability.
Small-business lending data rules and the fintech underwriting stack: July 2026 Payments Update
Section 1071 compliance and lender data practices can influence how SMB applicants prepare revenue, ownership, and demographic-information workflows. AMS Editorial examines the payments and fintech implications for SMBs and SMEs in July…
Open banking after the CFPB personal financial data rights rule: June 2026 Payments Update
Open-banking rules can affect account linking, underwriting, cash-flow tools, payroll connectivity, and customer-permissioned data flows. AMS Editorial examines the payments and fintech implications for SMBs and SMEs in June 2026.
Embedded finance and merchant cash-flow products: March 2026 Payments Update
Software platforms are bundling banking, lending, payments, payroll, and working-capital tools into operational dashboards. AMS Editorial examines the payments and fintech implications for SMBs and SMEs in March 2026.
Small-business lending data rules and the fintech underwriting stack: February 2026 Payments Update
Section 1071 compliance and lender data practices can influence how SMB applicants prepare revenue, ownership, and demographic-information workflows. Eric Kuvykin analyzes the payments and fintech implications for SMBs and SMEs in February…
Open banking after the CFPB personal financial data rights rule: January 2026 Payments Update
Open-banking rules can affect account linking, underwriting, cash-flow tools, payroll connectivity, and customer-permissioned data flows. AMS Editorial examines the payments and fintech implications for SMBs and SMEs in January 2026.