verifying customers identities

Many Businesses Say Verifying Customers’ Identities is a Major Challenge

The online environment of identity management has become more dynamic than ever before. It is an interactive and flexible system that has made it possible to establish and manage digital identities. These components are crucial in serving as authentic proof of identity to access contemporary sharing systems like digital banking, e-commerce platforms, travel services, and much more. 

As AI-centric solutions keep expanding to reach out to larger audiences, serving more customers, and securing businesses, challenges in the process of digital identity verification have become quite serious. Maintenance of higher security standards in combination with meeting strict regulations is one of the most common challenges that businesses tend to face in the modern era.

Businesses Facing Customers’ Identity Verification Problems

It is estimated that around 49 percent of businesses face challenges with respect to the verification of the identities of new customers. Around 16 percent of businesses reveal that verification of the identities of new customers is one of the most pressing hurdles to the overall operations. Another 33 percent of businesses reveal that while the challenge is important, it is still not the most significant. 

To help with the verification of identities of new customers, businesses all around are making use of a new range of tools as well as methodologies. These tools and processes are both manual as well as automatic. 

Around 73 percent of businesses make use of a common procedure for ensuring identity verification. It is known as payment card verification. It is a leading anti-fraud mechanism while executing businesses online. Some of the other common methods that are used by businesses all around are automated web monitoring, transaction anomalies, automated underwriting systems, address verification solutions, and document identity verification.

Organizations that make use of automated and proactive anti-fraud mechanisms are most likely to take into consideration all existing anti-fraud mechanisms as equally significant to overall security. The manner in which organizations feel about the respective approaches to prevent fraud reveals how they are evaluating the success of the ongoing method. It also helps in determining the overall urgency of the needs of businesses to address common security-related fraud. 

In current times with higher levels of uncertainty, sustainable growth is crucial for modern businesses. Fraud has been successful in extracting a major toll on the viability of multiple businesses.. 

Common Challenges of Identity Verification That Businesses Face

Some of the common hurdles in online identity verification as faced by organizations to perform efficiently and secure online transactions are:

Presence of Expensive and Inefficient Identity Mechanisms

Available as a digital service, the process of online identity verification is gaining traction all around. There are multiple variants of digital identification processes and the manner in which identification is carried out. The basic concept behind the screening process of identities is quite simple. However, as the number of online transactions has increased significantly in the overall volume and complexity, the aspect of online identity verification has developed into a major one.

For different channels and sources, users mostly remain uncomfortable in offering details for screening reasons. In most cases, basic identity credentials, including name, address, and official ID number, are not sufficient for recognizing an individual and developing relevant profiles. Therefore, for gathering relevant data, service providers are expected to act in a responsible manner while making the process of identity verification highly transparent.

Redundant Digital Identity Verifications

Performing efficient, accurate, and user-friendly identity verifications is crucial towards maintaining a stronger customer base. It also helps in establishing a brand as a reliable service provider. This highlights the integration of a dynamic identity verification process for performing repeated verifications and engaging larger target audiences. 

Fraud preventions with the help of KYC processes are highly relevant in the context. Checks related to ongoing monitoring also involve checking customers on an ongoing basis for reliability and authenticity.

Keeping up with the ever-increasing demands of online identity verification and serving to higher volumes is an important part of any existing business model. Customers keep looking for specialized services delivering the least friction and the highest level of serviceability and trust before presenting personal information.

Collection of PII or Personally Identifiable information

Tracking individual identity is an important part of the entire verification process. It will require dedicated data points to be cross-checked and matched for improved accuracy. It includes the collection of PII or Personally Identifiable Information. It is crucial for organizations to collect, while also making customers uncomfortable. Delivering data and basic credentials on the overall credit history helps in opening up a wide range of security-related risks. It leads to the exposure of personal data to potential threats of digital hacks. 

Delivering the assurance of maximum security levels and ensuring risk management will require professional identity experts to look into different methods of data collection used for digital ID verification. Users should impose effective control over respective data collection processes and the use of important personal details for digital validations.

Unavailability of Data

For ensuring improved service standards and higher security are achieved effectively, organizations will be required to look into relevant solutions for digital database development. Personal documents and credentials are expected to be cross-checked with official databases developed by state authorities. When such data sources are absent, checks related to identity verification cannot be carried out for authentication purposes, or might be refused access.

As such, analyzing that some individual is actually who he or she claims to be, will require scoring data points. All these data points should be verified against some reliable source before the same can be applied to delivering digital services.

Opportunities related to online identity management depend on coming across the right solution for the right users. It includes extending help towards effective dispute management. On a long-term basis, digital identity verification tools should be capable of delivering ample usability.

wayfair partnership with capital one

Wayfair Ensures Partnership with Capital One on Credit Offerings

Wayfair is regarded as one of the largest online destinations for home goods. Recently, it made the announcement about its business program – known as Wayfair Professional. With this program, Wayfair has entered into a strategic partnership with Capital One. The partnership is aimed at offering a reliable credit program to the professionals using Wayfair. 

The Wayfair Professional Credit Card offers members attractive options such as a Wayfair Professional Flex Account and Wayfair Rewards. The flex account by Wayfair Professional offers access to flexible payment terms for buyers. The program will enable professionals to access exclusive online account management tools. In addition, professionals also benefit from improved purchasing power along with advanced payment flexibility. The features of the program are expected to be made fully available to customers by the end of the year.

Margaret Lawrence, Vice President at Wayfair Professional, revealed that the company is quite excited to extend its partnership with Capital One Trade Credit for offering the Wayfair Professional Credit Card along with the Wayfair Professional Flex Account. The company aims at launching the flex account at a later point this year. 

The company has also come up with a dedicated suite of business-centric features to help professionals in managing what is deemed to be a complex process. These features can help the professionals in managing complicated tasks with the help of a single partnership. 

Partnership of Wayfair and Capital One

Sean Cunningham, Vice President at Capital One Trade Credit, explains that the position of Wayfair as the e-commerce leader in combination with the company’s strategic emphasis on growing the business customer segment make the company an ideal partner for Capital One. Capital One is excited to offer access to new and lucrative credit options for business customers of Wayfair. It will allow them to ensure improved spending power along with the ability to spend in different ways that best meet their needs. It will also enable the customers to make use of the existing product suite. 

Capital One Trade Credit is capable of delivering access to personalized B2B credit-related management solutions. These solutions allow partners to drive maximum sales while impressing the end customers with the help of technology-supported experience of buy-to-pay. Over 1000 merchants across the United States, both small-scale and large-scale, depend on the ability of Capital One Trade Credit. They are able to make use of customer-centric technology, industry-leading credit expertise, and innovative products and services. 

About Wayfair Professional

Wayfair Professional is dedicated to helping individuals and businesses come together for all things home. The company is committed to deliver maximum value as well as convenience with the help of personalized services and tools. The dedicated Wayfair Professional Program offers a broader scope of membership privileges. These help business customers in the creation of the perfect home solution – irrespective of the industry or size of the business. 

The program is helpful in offering its members a comprehensive assortment of products as well as services from many top brands. It also offers access to unique services like dedicated services, easy invoicing, customizable shipping, and much more. 

About Wayfair

Wayfair is regarded as the destination for all items related to home. Through its impressive range of items, the company aims at helping everyone all around the world create impressive homes. The company is known to feature one of the most comprehensive selections of home-based items for every style, space, and budget. You can expect excellent customer service along with the rapid development of tools for simplifying the overall shopping process. Wayfair is dedicated to empowering everyone in creating spaces that serve perfectly right.

The impressive suite of websites of Wayfair are:

  • Perigold – delivering an unseen and unexplored world of luxury design
  • Birch Lane -offering a new look at the classics
  • Joss & main – Delivering the ultimate style for the entire home
  • Wayfair – everything related to a home
  • Wayfair Professional -best solution for professionals
  • AllModern – Everything modern and simple

Wayfair has been successful in generating over $13.7 billion in net revenues for 2021. With its operations across Europe and North America, and its headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, Wayfair has over 16,000 employees.

About Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation is a leading financial services organization. The subsidiaries of the company, including Capital One Bank and Capital One NA, have been reported to have around $311.0 billion in the total deposits along with $432.4 billion in total assets. With its headquarters in McLean, Virginia, the company is renowned for offering a wide spectrum of leading financial products as well as services to its consumers. It also extends its products and services to business-centric clients and commercial clients through multiple channels. 

Branches of the company are primarily situated in New York, Maryland, Texas, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Virginia, and Louisiana. Capital One is a leading Fortune 500 company.

swift international payments system

What is SWIFT? How does This International Payment System work?

SWIFT has become a hot topic amid the Russia-Ukraine war as several Western countries are considering this option to apply sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Russia is the second-largest user of the SWIFT payment system after the United States. More than 300 Russian institutes use this global payment system to send/receive payments.

The experts believe that banning Russia from using SWIFT will leave a significant impact on the Russian economy. This sanction is yet to be implemented because some countries are reluctant to take this step.

However, the general population is currently worried about how a single payment system can damage a country’s economy. And why global powers need the support of different countries to implement these sanctions.

What is SWIFT?

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) is a messaging system that connects banks and other financial institutions through standardized codes for payments. More than 11,000 financial institutions from 200+ countries are using this system to transmit financial information and instructions quickly and safely.

According to recent stats, approximately 33.6 million transactions are carried out using this system every day. On average, it takes around 1-4 days to process a transaction through SWIFT. The processing time may vary depending on the time zones, recipient’s location, and other banking factors.

SWIFT payment system runs the funds through anti-money laundering and anti-fraud checks before crediting them to the recipient. Sometimes, the financial institutions have to send funds through an intermediary bank if they don’t have a direct relationship with the destination bank.

How Does SWIFT System Work?

SWIFT assigns an 8 or 11-character code to banks and other financial institutions for international transfers. The users need to enter the Swift Code of the destination bank along with the recipient’s bank account when they’re transferring funds internationally.

Identity Verification is the first step for those who want to send money through SWIFT. The users need to submit a scan of their passport and a recent bill to join this payment system. After that, the users need to agree with the exchange rate quoted by the bank or money transfer institute.

The users need to make sure that they have an ample amount in their before securing an exchange rate. The financial institution converts the funds into the required currency and then sends the payment using SWIFT.

The Details Required for a SWIFT Transfer

The users need to provide the following information to transfer funds through SWIFT:

  • Recipient’s Name and Complete Address
  • Name and Address of the Destination Bank
  • Bank’s SWIFT Code/BIC (8-11 characters)
  • Recipient’s IBAN (16-32 characters)

The users can find the SWIFT code on the bank’s official website. It’s worth noting that the users need to provide the SWIFT code of the destination bank, not of the bank they’re sending money from.

Who Uses SWIFT?

SWIFT system has been around for years and it’s used by several reputable institutes including:

  • Banks
  • Money Exchanges
  • Depositories
  • Brokerage Institutes
  • Treasury Market Participants
  • Clearing Houses
  • Asset Management Companies
  • Securities Dealers
  • Corporate Business Houses
  • Foreign Exchange & Money Brokers

Who Owns SWIFT?

As mentioned earlier, SWIFT isn’t run by a single entity but several companies manage its operations altogether. It’s even stated on SWIFT’s official website that “It’s owned and controlled by its shareholders”.

National Bank of Belgium is the leading entity that manages its operations because it’s a cooperative company under Belgian Law. However, the European Central Bank and G10 Central Banks also manage its operations mutually.

What’s the Cost of a SWIFT Transfer?

The transfer fee and exchange rate are the two important factors used to determine the cost of a SWIFT transfer. The transfer fee can be around $5.25-$33.50 depending on the institution being used for SWIFT transfer. Some institutes also charge $8-$12 from the recipient.

Similarly, the bank will charge a correspondent bank fee if they’re transferring funds via an intermediary bank. Also, the users have to pay a priority payment fee if they want to speed up their payment.

How Safe Are SWIFT Transfers?

SWIFT is just a method of communication between banks and it doesn’t handle the money directly. It’s a secure and reliable system being used for international funds transfers for more than four decades.

Instead of worrying about SWIFT’s safety, the users need to verify the authenticity of the financial institution whose service they’re using to transfer money. It’s recommended to work with the institutes that are registered with the Finance Conduct Authority because these institutes are bound to use a safeguard bank account for keeping all client funds.

Additional SWIFT Services

SWIFT offers a range of services to individuals and businesses who want to process accurate and seamless business transactions globally.

Business Intelligence

The users can get a real-time view of messages, reporting, and trade flow with SWIFT’s dashboards and reporting utilities designed for business intelligence. Thus, they can filter the reports depending on message types, regions, and other factors.

Industry-Leading Applications

SWIFT enables its customers to use a range of applications including banking market infrastructure, security market infrastructure, and real-time instruction tally for forex.

Compliance Services

Finance crime compliance is one of the most useful features of SWIFT. Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer are the two prominent services it offers in this category.

Global Payment Innovations

This service is particularly designed to improve the transparency and traceability of global payments. Using this service, the banks can instantly check the status of payment whenever they want.

Conclusion

SWIFT is a global payment system that transmits payment orders between banks with the help of SWIFT codes. It’s a safe and secure messaging system that facilitates transactions between financial institutions. We’ve shared detailed information about how the SWIFT system works. If there’s still any question about SWIFT payments, feel free to get in touch with us.

american express debuts

American Express Debuts New All Digital Checking Account

American Express has made the announcement of launching the first-ever online consumer Amex checking account for consumers that are eligible card members of the United States. According to American Express, Amex Rewards Checking will be offering a wide range of benefits – including membership reward points for purchases related to eligible debit cards. 

Some additional benefits are APY (Annual Percentage Yield) rate that tends to be ten times higher in comparison to the national rate, along with Purchase Protection for all eligible purchases. The offering is available without any minimums or monthly maintenance fees. 

American Express All-Digital Checking Account

The launch by American Express is expected to fulfill the ever-rising demands for digital banking services amongst customers. With the all-new checking account, consumers will earn interest and receive rewards while making use of the connected debit card when making purchases. 

The American Express Checking account is also available with monitoring and fraud protection, and customer service is accessed through chat or the phone. The all-new checking account serves to be an addition to the existing customer deposit products of the company, including the HYSA or American Express Savings Account and the CDs or Certificate of Deposits. 

Some of the innovative features of the American Express Rewards Checking account are:

  • 0/5 percent higher yield APY on the total checking account balance – almost ten times higher than the national rate
  • Absence of any minimum balance fees or monthly maintenance fees
  • Capability of earning one membership reward for every spending of $2 on purchases related to eligible debit cards. These rewards can be redeemed into the Amex Rewards Checking Account.
  • Purchase Protection on purchases made out of eligible American Express Debit Card for ensuring cover for theft or accidental damage
  • Efficient and simple banking with the help of the award-winning app of American Express
  • ATM withdrawals without any fee with the help of the debit card at over 37,000 MoneyPass ATM branches across the nation

Why is Digital Banking Great for any Business?

Digital banking has been successful in revolutionizing conventional banking practices by bringing forth automation, improved customer engagement, better business cash flow, and flexibility in transactions. 

The concept of digital banking has also enabled customers to ensure transactions across multiple secured and reliable digital channels and helps in bringing ample convenience and accessibility to funds around the clock. The paperless banking system also provides customers access to a number of payment options. Customers are given the opportunity to make use of the respective mobile devices with the help of a banking app, utilize credit card features, make use of online banking, or utilize mobile payments. 

Importance of Digital Banking 

Digital banking, the automation of conventional banking services, is the ultimate solution to maximum customer engagement, improved profitability, and better control. It has redefined banking by substituting the physical presence of a bank with dedicated online presence. It helps in doing away with the need to visit a branch. 

Digital banking allows customers to ensure transactions through multiple secure digital channels, but the bank is responsible for taking care of data security, risk mitigation, and regulatory aspects. It is done by integrating mobile and online banking services with the help of the latest digital technologies including social media, analytics, tech-driven payment solutions, and mobile technology for exceeding customer expectations, experience, and convenience. 

Some of the additional benefits of digital banking are:

  • Round-the-clock availability of access to relevant banking functions
  • The overall convenience of banking from the comfort of your home
  • Paperless banking
  • Facilitation of online payments for online shopping and so more
  • Enabling setting up of automatic payments for regular utility bills
  • Extending banking services to remote areas
  • Strengthening privacy and security for customers
  • Reducing the risks of counterfeit currency with the help of digital fund transfers
  • Lowering the minting demands of physical currency
  • Restricting the circulation of black money
  • Allowing misplaced credit cards to be blocked and reported instantly 

According to American Express, around 81 percent of Gen Z and millennials make use of debit cards as a substitute for cash. J. D. Power also found in another study that 41 percent of retail bankers have considered going digital. Liz Berman – Vice President of the American Express debit and product management department – revealed that around 85 percent of cardholders using American Express have already started engaging digitally with the organization. 

Through the release of the all-new checking account, American Express looks forward to drawing in more digital customers, with emphasis on Millennials and Gen Z. The company will aim at enticing them through the offering of special rewards with the help of the debit card. 

Berman added that the overall volume of engagement of consumers digitally and the overall growth of digital banking due to the pandemic  contributed to the decision of releasing the checking account. He added that the members of American Express and its team look forward to more digital products as well as services for customers. The members of the company want more out of the checking account and do not want to give up the benefits that are important to them.

Should You Open the American Express Rewards Checking Account?

Only consumers that have access to the credit card of American Express are eligible towards applying for the Amex Rewards Checking Account. As such, it can be worthwhile if you already have access to the credit card, but it is also expected that you make use of the debit card regularly while maximizing your rewards. 

If your ultimate goal is earning quite a number of points related to Membership Rewards with all your spending, the Checking Account can be worthwhile for the debit card rewards alone.

flexible fulfillment solutions

GrubHub and DoorDash Compete on Flexible Fulfillment Solutions

Each and every restaurant will have unique needs. This is why DoorDash comes with a wide range of partnership options towards helping them meet respective business goals. As a part of the commitment, the company came up with the concept of Self-delivery in 2021, which allowed restaurants to use their own in-house delivery staff to fulfill DoorDash orders. 

Upon launching this product, a number of restaurants – from famous chains including Jimmy John’s to regional famous names including Lou Malnati’s, and even local gems including Cocky Teriyaki – had made use of the platform of DoorDash for reaching out to new customers. They also aimed at supporting as well as retaining the existing in-house staff of the restaurant. 

Challenges Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic

There is no denying the fact that the modern restaurant industry has been facing new as well as prolonged challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, DoorDash continued listening to the respective restaurant partners. Some of the major takeaways of the company are flexibility and requests for additional assistance to resolve staffing concerns. To effectively meet the ever-rising needs of the modern restaurant industry, the company has come up with the Self-Delivery solution for incorporating the notion of flexible fulfillment. 

Flexible fulfillment is regarded as the ability to switch between leveraging the robust network of Dashers and making use of in-house delivery staff for fulfilling the orders of the company. Flexible fulfillment on Self-delivery solution enables restaurants to supplement the delivery drivers with Dashers. It is regarded as highly crucial as restaurants continue adjusting the respective business and growing the delivery fleet. All of these take place amidst the challenging labor and economic conditions due to the global pandemic. 

Because of this, restaurants are capable of increasing the overall operational capacity to meet increasing demands, ensure balanced staffing, expand the customer base, and grow order volume.

Restaurants That Benefit from the Solution

The solution of flexible fulfillment on the Self-delivery system by DoorDash will not be benefitting restaurants that already have access to fully-established fleets. However, the solution will be encouraging smaller shops or outlets to look out for cost-effective operations. With the help of flexible fulfillment, restaurants can look forward to having both flexibility as well as ample control. This helps in determining which orders will be making the most operational and financial sense for its staff to ensure delivery. Restaurants can also analyze which orders can be fulfilled by Dashers for an additional fee of flat fulfillment on a per order basis. 

Restaurants are now capable of identifying unique criteria that will help in automatically assigning orders in the form of either Dash-fulfillment or self-fulfillment depending on the requirements of the store. For instance, restaurants can easily identify time of the day or delivery distance for either expanding the delivery zones towards reaching customers within a new radius or better adjusting operations and staffing during slow or busy periods. 

While the existing criteria offers control and predictability, running a restaurant effectively will require the ability to adapt to ongoing and unexpected changes. For restaurant owners that make use of a tablet, they can think of using an in-tablet button for toggling to full Dasher fulfillment instantly –in real-time. At the same time, when a restaurant would like to switch to regular operations, it can do so by simply toggling off and the restaurant is now ready to make use of the in-house delivery staff all over again.

The option of self-delivery with flexible fulfillment is now available to all restaurants that are interested in nations like the United States of America, Australia, and Canada. The option of flexible fulfillment will be made available automatically to all the new restaurant partners with the help of self-delivery, and existing restaurant partners will have the ability to make use of the ongoing feature. 

Competition Between DoorDash and GrubHub

In addition to the Flexible Fulfillment option by DoorDash, GrubHub also made the announcement of a feature that will be effectively executing the same functionality. The Just Eat Takeaway aggregator has come up with the all-new feature of Supplemental Delivery, which allows restaurants that make use of the self-delivery option of the company to supplement the respective drivers with that of GrubHub’s. This will enable them to expand the delivery radius effectively.

Kevin Kearns – Senior Vice President for restaurants, GrubHub – explains that the company always keeps looking for innovative ways to better serve the respective restaurant partners while helping them to drive more orders. This is the reason why the company is now offering the option of Supplemental Delivery. 

The company knows that a number of restaurant owners and businesses are currently struggling with staffing amidst the ongoing pandemic. Therefore, the company takes pride in offering additional support to restaurant partners on GrubHub. Through the solution, businesses will be allowed to continue focusing on the respective operations and they can look forward to garnering more diners and capitalizing on businesses that were untapped previously at the same time.

In a recent survey, it was reported that a majority of consumers reported their shopping habits changing since the advent of the pandemic. It also revealed that around 58 percent of consumers continue ordering food online from restaurants, much more than prior to March 2020. In addition to this, the study also revealed that around 46 percent more consumers are now ordering food from restaurants with the help of aggregator services than they were previously before the start of the pandemic. 

The new features keep coming, and a wider range of restaurant technology trends aims at delivering improved flexibility such that restaurants are able to select in real-time what specific products or services will be making the most sense for the entire business. It is estimated that in the next five years, as a restaurant owner, one can select the type of currencies the business will be accepting and much more.

us consumer debt increased

US Consumer Debt Increased $333 Billion in Q4 of 2021

The debt loads of consumers in the United States of America grew by the largest amount in 2021 after 14 years. This is because people continued ramping up the purchase of cars, homes, properties, and other items that have become more expensive. This information was released through a recent report by the New York Federal Reserve. 

The process of increased borrowing has been accelerated in parts due to rising prices as customers all around continue coping with the strongest inflation they have seen in almost four decades. Moreover, households are supported by higher incomes and rising savings. Therefore, these customers are capable of handling increased debt loads quite effectively. 

Rapid Growth of Consumer Debt in 2021

Wilbert Van Der Klaauw, Senior Vice President at the New York Federal Reserve, revealed that the aggregate balances of auto loans and mortgages that have been recently opened have increased steeply in 2021. This is in relation to the overall increase in car and home prices. 

It is estimated that the total household debt increased by around $1 trillion in 2021. This has become the largest-ever increase in the total debt since 2007. This is in accordance with the quarterly report put forth by the New York Federal Reserve on credit and household debt. The total debt balance currently serves to be around $1.4 trillion higher in comparison to the end of 2019.

In 2021, around $4.5 trillion in mortgages had come up and were capable of reaching a historic high for the existing database, going back to 1999. Mortgage balances have increased by $258 billion during the 4th quarter to reach $10.93 trillion by December’s end.

Originations related to auto loans have returned to pre-pandemic trends, but loan amounts have increased in correspondence to increasing car prices. As car prices increase, buyers have continued borrowing more towards financing the additional cost, and some are anticipating higher rates of interest. These borrowers might be leveraging the benefits of reduced borrowing costs. Researchers have noted an increase in the concept of mortgage refinancing. 

Per the Federal Reserve officials, they are expected to increase the rates of interest in March. They will also start decreasing the balance sheet holdings at a later point in 2022. Both the respective actions can increase the overall borrowing costs as the Federal Reserve will work towards taming inflation and removing the support offered at the time of the pandemic. 

More Capacity for Including Debt

 As a sign to reveal that consumers will be returning to the pre-pandemic spending habits, credit card balances have also increased by around $52 billion during the 4th quarter. This has marked the largest quarterly rise that has been observed in the history of the existing data, but credit card balances still tend to be $71 billion lower in comparison to their value at the end of 2019. 

The overall use of credit cards usually increases in the 4th quarter as people continue making holiday purchases. The overall increase can also help in reflecting increased prices for goods & services, as per the researchers. 

Households in aggregate until now have been able to accept the increased debt loads with delinquencies remaining low, because of accumulated savings during the earlier phases of the pandemic along with forbearance programs. 

Tim Duy, Chief Economist and Professor at the University of Oregon, revealed that the economy is recovering with incomes going up and households having the capacity to add debt. The overall share of disposable income that is spent by households on loan payments, rent, taxes, and other bills is low per historical standards. However, some borrowers still have not been capable of doing well throughout the pandemic and have a harder time in keeping up with the debt payments  later. It is important to observe how some borrowers are doing after they resume student loan payments in some months. 

Is Rising Consumer Debt Good or Bad?

 It can be both a bad as well as a good thing. A rise in consumer debt can indicate the presence of a healthier economy. When people will have time to spend, they will be borrowing more. The fact that the overall household debt increased in 2021 is indicative of how far the given economy has come up since the time of the pandemic. 

On the other hand, household debt can be easily categorized into two categories –unhealthy and healthy. Auto loans and mortgages tend to fall in the healthy range. On the other hand, credit card debt is going to land in the unhealthy category. It is not ideal that the levels of credit cards have increased. 

Handling Your Rising Debts

In case you have a good amount of debt and it is increasingly becoming difficult to pay your bills on time, then it is high time that you should come up with a dedicated plan towards reducing or eliminating it. This does not imply that you have to push hard to pay off your mortgage in the coming year if you still have a decade to fulfill the loan. On the other hand, you should aim at focusing on the unhealthy debts – like the credit card balances – as these will be costing you the most in terms of interest.

An abundance of credit card debt can indeed lead to damage to the entire credit score, and if the number takes a hit, it can end up becoming expensive to insure borrowings for healthy reasons  – like replacing your old car with a new one. 

When you have too much credit card debt, look for a way to consolidate the same while making it less expensive to pay off the debt. This could mean using a personal loan or doing reliable balance transfer for paying off your credit cards.

impending rate increases impact on lenders and borrowers

Impending Rate Increases and How They Impact Lenders and Borrowers [2023 Update]

Based on findings by the Federal Reserve, the chance of a spike in the mortgage prices in the coming future is high. A price increase will make mortgages more expensive for all the borrowers who might not be locked in to a rate and even unaffordable for some. 

Differentiating Between the Types of Mortgage Prices

Mortgage

In the modern mortgage market, there is the presence of posted prices, lock prices, and fake prices

  • A posted price is what the lender looks for once a borrower has received approval on their application and they have been given clearance to ensure locking. Posted prices get delivered every day to telemarketers, loan officers, and other agents or employees given authorization towards offering the products of the lenders to the public. 
  • A fake price is the price that is quoted by a loan officer to grab the attention of the borrower. The practice is referred to as ‘low balling.’ A fake price that is below the respective posted price is not locked, but under specific circumstances, a fake price above the posted price can be locked. 
  • A lock price is the one to which a lender will commit to for the borrower. It is held for a particular period of 30 to 60 days. If the loan does not get closed within the respective period, the price commitment of the lender will expire. 

Fed Hikes Affecting Mortgages, Card Rates, and Car Loans

Recently, the Federal Government gave the signal that it will start to raise the benchmark interest rate in March and a few times more this year. As such, both businesses as well as consumers will end up feeling it. 

The Fed thinks that the job market in America is essentially going back to normal but inflation is also surging way beyond the annual target of 2 percent of the central bank. Therefore, it is time to increase the benchmark rate from almost zero. 

The Fed has gone ahead with slashing its key rate after the ongoing pandemic resulted in recession almost two years ago. The idea was supporting the economy by facilitating the processes of spending and borrowing. Now, by making mortgages more expensive, the Fed assumes that the reason for the surging prices is squeezing businesses and consumers. 

How to Prepare for the Rise in Interest Rates 2022?

interest rates

Goldman Sachs predicts that the Federal Reserve will be raising the benchmark interest rate by a fuller percentage in 2022. As such, you might worry how the interest rate increases will impact your overall finances. Here are some ways to prepare:

  • Refinancing Home Loans: You can come across mortgages with approximately 3 percent interest rates for most of 2021. The Mortgage Bankers Association offers the prediction that the rates will be increasing by 4 percent in 2022. It would make the monthly payments on mortgages costlier. 

If you have a variable-rate or adjustable mortgage, you might think of refinancing for locking in a fixed-rate mortgage for mitigating the uncertainty of increasing rates. Ensure that you are doing ample research of the pros and cons of refinancing the mortgage before making the final decision. 

  • Refinancing the Private Student Loans: Borrowers with private loans mostly do not qualify for the pause on payments and interests for federal student loans of the Biden administration. Still, they are given the option of refinancing the loan at a fixed rate before the interest rate rises. 

In case you have a private loan and are looking at the option of refinancing, then you can think of pulling the trigger quickly instead of later on trying and leveraging the benefits of the current rates. 

  • Paying Down the Credit Card Debt: The average rate of interest for credit cards is around 16 percent currently. However, with the ongoing rate hikes, the rates can advance to 17 percent by the end of 2022.

Depending on how much you owe, if you are already struggling with paying monthly bills, the extra dollars can be an unwanted burden. In the respective case, it can be a great option to look into the options of debt consolidation. It would include taking out the personal loan or a bank transfer card. You should also observe what would make the most sense to you. 

In case you have payments regarding federal student loans that are paused until the mid of the year, you can make use of the funds for doing some financial housekeeping –like paying off the major part of the credit card debt for mitigating the hiked interest costs –if you are able to afford it. 

  • Improving the Credit Score: As lenders make use of the credit scores for determining what interest rates you will be paying on loans, the easiest method of offsetting increases of benchmark interest rates is by making your credit score better. 

Credit cards are a great instance of how this functions –particularly since banks are capable of raising the rates at any time –given that they will be providing you a notice period of 45 days. To keep your credit score high, it is important to focus on paying off debt and ensuring on-time payments on the outstanding balance on a monthly basis. 

Conclusion 

For users of home equity lines of credit, credit cards, and other debts with variable interest rates, rates will be rising by almost the same value as that of the Fed hike. This is because these rates depend on the prime rate of the banks and move in tandem with Fed rates. The rate hikes of the Fed will not necessarily increase the rates of auto loans. Car loans are highly sensitive to competition – slowing down the rates of increases.

occ by hsu

OCC by Hsu -Stablecoins Boosting Innovation Upon Regulation

There are several ways of going through the lines of the speech to talk about the concept of stablecoins. It was made at a financial conference by Acting Comptroller of the currency, Michael Hsu. 

A major fact is that he has genuine concerns about the overall potential damage to the entire economy. However, it will not preclude some power play. 

Even after its broader title, Hsu has talked about the concept of ‘The Future of Crypto-Assets and Regulation.’ He shared his talks at the British American Business Transatlantic Finance Forum. The discussion took place on January 13, 2022 and was primarily focused on stablecoins. It is a type of cryptocurrency that is known for maintaining a balance with the US Dollar or even other fiat currencies. This is achieved by backing the tokens on a one-to-one basis with the US Dollar and other liquid forms of investments.

Another major difference from previous comments was that Hsu has started observing stablecoins as an important instrument that will serve a functional place in the modern financial market. At least he is accepting it to be so.

Statements Put Forth by Hsu

A major list of signs reveals ‘cryptocurrency going mainstream rapidly’ – ranging from the impressive $2 trillion market cap and the ever-growing NFT or Non-fungible Token popularity, to the widespread adoption of the modern cryptocurrencies amongst minority and underbanked consumers. Hsu added that bank regulation will be giving credibility to the stable aspect of stablecoins by enabling improved innovation in the modern crypto market while making given innovations highly durable.

In another interview given to CoinDeskTV two months ago, Hsu added that the ever-evolving nature of cryptocurrencies is not something one would want out of stablecoins. Hsu said that you would want your money to be reliable and stable. You would want the same in good times as well as in bad times, while not having to think about it constantly. If you are highly innovative in the given space, you will obtain a wide range of outcomes. 

As far as the Forum is concerned, Hsu referred to the broader crypto market as quite exciting, and added that the market is responsible for presenting a wide spectrum of opportunities for financial institutions and banks. He also noted that the overall risks, the pace of modifications, and the general lack of standards as well as controls in the crypto market recommend that a careful and cautious approach is warranted. 

The biggest risk as perceived by Hsu is the overall potential of running on cryptocurrencies that are similar to the one that was driven by Bear Stearns in 2008. It was a run that he observed first-hand from different positions at the Securities and Exchange Commissions & the Treasury Department. He offered details on how things will end up in the case that buyers lose faith in stablecoins and instead redeem tokens for fiat. 

He also highlighted the important role of the stablecoins in the crypto trading world. He referred them to as the oxygen of the cryptocurrency system and highlighted the critical role of stablecoins in facilitating and supporting constant growth in DeFi or Decentralized Finance. 

Understanding the Elbow Room

So what is this all about? One potential answer could be that he is elbowing his way into the major fight between the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) and the SEC over who will be getting control now that congress is ultimately getting concerned about regulation of the crypto market.

It is possible to understand that runs will turn out to be damaging in the fact that they do not discriminate between individuals deserving to bear losses and those that are innocent. In the given context, he added that it was especially a true reflection of the banks in 2008. 

Hsu added that a stablecoin run will not directly impact those who might have invested in them. There would be some form of collateral damage, which will continue growing as long as the crypto market continues expanding. Thankfully, he added, there will be an effective tool towards mitigating the risks –including bank regulation and others. It would ultimately offer credibility to the stable aspect of stablecoins. It would offer investors confidence that even in times of crisis, reserves will be present there. It would be ultimately examined and overseen by bank supervisors and even backstopped by the central bank. 

This is wherein Hsu will be working upon his innovations. He even argued that the regulation of stablecoin issuers in the form of banks would enable more innovation in crypto. It would make the given innovations more durable. He added that as innovations will be thriving in uncertain environments, strong foundations can be helpful –particularly when it comes to trust and money.

Understanding the Stablecoin Problem

A wave of cases related to crypto enforcement will involve successful crypto companies in the United States of America and the opening salvo from the United States regulators that try to ensure grips with the immense growth of the DeFi and crypto ecosystem. The respective enforcement actions are paired with a dedicated stablecoin report offering the recommendation that Congress will take action towards requiring stablecoin issuers to the institutions of insured depository or banks. It also suggests forthcoming actions from the respective bank regulators for defending the regulatory perimeter. 

open banking trends

Open Banking Trends for 2022

Open banking is a phenomenon that is rapidly maturing across the world.

The gradual shift towards an open data economy seems inevitable. It is possible that the future will be a marketplace that is characterized purely by platforms that take advantage of enhanced data flows in order to offer relevant, personalized services to customers and businesses.

Initially, this shift was felt most keenly in the banking sector. However, the full spectrum of financial services is now beginning to accept open banking as the status quo, and there will be a series of trends that will mark 2022.

Understanding these trends and developments is vital for maintaining proper control over the open banking industry and ensuring that a business does not fall behind. 

  1. Trust Will Lead

The first significant prediction for 2022 is that marketplaces will be constructed around the concept of trust.

Sharing and referral fees will become a significant source of revenue for both banking and non-banking institutions. The majority of banking users are more reassured by a peer-reviewed service than they are by the hollow promises of a corporation.

It’s also the case that customers will react positively towards services that have been approved by a trusted provider. Any mishandling of customer data or bad business practices will instantly erode that trust, so building an effective, strong relationship based on faith in services will be vital. 

  1. Integration

2022 may well mark the year that the boundaries between different industries begin to blur.

Simply put, it’s entirely possible that non-banking institutions will begin delivering financial services and integrating their ecosystems through APIs. 

The other end of this is that banks may also expand into non-banking services. Ultimately, the prevailing opinion is that rather than having separate providers for different services, there will be one trusted provider that customers use for everything.

This transition into singular services will force businesses and providers to adapt. It is no longer just enough to offer a specific service; there will now be a need to provide multiple services that seamlessly integrate with each other. 

  1. Customer First Focuses

If open banking is going to succeed, then there must be a focus on putting the customer at the center of the financial process.

In the past, banking providers have acted with a degree of detachment, delivering services that they consider to be profitable for customers and corporations alike. However, this may no longer be the case.

The whole point of open banking is that it breaks down some of the barriers between different data streams and allows the customer to use the data to make crucial decisions. Corporations and providers must create an environment where this is possible because otherwise, customer retention will fall. 

Ultimately, open banking should not be seen as a brand new method of delivering services but instead should focus on presenting itself as a tool that can be used to improve the customer relationship and ensure faster, more accessible ways of doing things. 

  1. Open Banking Payments Surge

As open banking continues to develop, it’s highly likely that there will be a surge in usage.

As a concept, open banking is getting faster and more developed. Simple, easy payments are becoming the best way to pay for things, and there are benefits and every part of the process. Customers, merchants, payment providers, and operators are all benefiting from the use of open banking.

As the industry reaches maturity, many businesses and companies will begin using open payments as a method of purchasing, as it is now mature enough to have a support system in place that will allow the freedom to make purchases as customers choose to do so. 

  1. Increased Financial Inclusion 

Financial inclusion is something that is set to be another big trend in 2022. It’s estimated that 1.7 billion people all across the world don’t have a bank.

It is a major problem that open banking has the potential to try and solve. By creating cost-effective, personalized, reliable services for people, the number of people that join the financial world will grow.

It was never just a case of making services for people to join; it was about making services that were inclusive. Open banking is one of the most inclusive services available, and it does work for attracting people who don’t necessarily have any other way to bank. 

  1. General Growth

It probably goes without saying, but open banking will continue to grow substantially over 2022.

As the industry continues to mature and grow, it’s easy to see how people will develop brand-new confidence in the world of open banking. It’s no longer justified; instead, it has a robust support system in place and is developing new processes and policies every day.

As a trend, open banking can only continue to grow. The more people that pay attention to it, the bigger it gets, and the bigger it gets, the more it continues to grow. It’s a very circular method of progress, but an effective one nonetheless. 

Open banking helps to bypass many of the conventional issues surrounding modern banking. By breaking down the boundaries between different forms of data, a more personal form of banking can develop. 

Final Thoughts 

Open banking is one of those things that will allow people to push forward and develop a personal relationship with their finances that wasn’t previously available. 

The industry is growing at an impressive clip – what started out as an idea just a few years ago is now becoming a fully-fledged industry. Recognizing the trends of online banking is vital for getting the best results possible, and it will allow businesses to make wise decisions over the year. 

It will be interesting to see exactly how 2022 develops open banking and how it will move into 2023. Growth is guaranteed, but there is also a growing sense of inclusion that is hard to ignore. This is a method of doing things that is new, innovative, and friendlier for many than conventional banking has been – it’s difficult to tell how popular that will be.

e commerce trends for 2022

Top E-Commerce Trends for 2022

2021 saw many businesses engaged with continuing the growth of e-commerce. The entire year was about digital transformation, but 2022 will focus differently. The emphasis will now be on customer expectations and differentiation.

Understanding the e-commerce trends for 2022 is essential for a business to thrive. E-commerce sales are expected to be at least $1 trillion, so a keen awareness of these trends will be vital. 

The following are some of the prevalent e-commerce trends for 2022, and a business wishing to thrive should implement all of them.  

  1. Flexible Payment Methods

Flexible payment methods will be a core part of 2022 regarding e-commerce. Customers will want to select the payment method they prefer when checking out.

A business with a diverse selection of payment methods is more likely to encourage shoppers to spend, cut back on cart abandonment, and build trust between themselves and the customer.

Interest-free finance is also set to become more popular, as the option to schedule a payment solution spread out over months is appealing when dealing with larger purchases.

  1. Mobile E-Commerce Platforms

Using a mobile device to navigate the world of online retail is becoming the norm. More people are starting to use their smartphones to shop online, which means that any business looking to thrive in 2022 will need to focus on mobile e-commerce. 

This trend means there is a need for a mobile-optimized site, potentially a mobile app for e-commerce, getting text notifications to update customers on deliveries, and generally, a more significant focus on mobile content than has been seen in previous years. 

  1. Sustainable Business Practices

Sustainability may have been regarded as a fad during the first few years of its popularity. However, this is no passing trend, and sustainable business practices now form the backbone of decision-making when purchasing.

Every business, regardless of industry or retail, is expected to engage in sustainable practices. Whether this is choosing to work with materials that can be sustainably sourced or donating to organizations that seek to protect the environment, sustainable practices will ensure popularity.

The modern customer is conscious of environmental conservation and emphasizes purchasing from similar brands in ethics and values. A business that can capitalize on this in 2022 is a business that will succeed. 

  1. B2B E-Commerce

Recently, there has been a change in the way B2B selling works. Once upon a time, it was all about complicated orders via the phone or even paper catalogs. This is not the case now. Instead, there is a focus on digital shopping experiences, which are made better with smooth back-end processes, as well as customer service that has been digitally enhanced.

To remain in the competitive industry, a business will need to make sure that B2B selling is done via the digital realm. It’s no longer just enough to have a shopping experience that works through catalogs and orders via the phone. When selling to other businesses, there will be a need to focus on the same level of digital quality that customers can get in an ordinary B2C shopping experience.

  1. Loyalty Schemes

The world of e-commerce grows every year.

Therefore, it’s logical to assume that the industry will become more competitive with each passing year. Businesses will need to find a new angle, a new way to engage with customers and retain them.

The prevalent way that businesses are achieving this is through loyalty rewards and programs. The premise is functionally simple. A customer makes a purchase and automatically signs up for a loyalty program. The more goods that they purchase from that company, the more rewards that they earn.

This simple act of rewarding loyalty helps retain customers and reduce the number of shoppers who go elsewhere. It also means that there is no need to cut prices or take a loss to maintain sales.

  1. Video Marketing

Video marketing is a sales tactic that has grown every year. It is becoming more and more popular all the time, and it’s not difficult to see why.

Video marketing allows for concise and precise information for a prospective client or customer. A video that is no more than 20 seconds in length can convey enough information to convince a customer to make a sale, and it’s far more likely to be engaged with than a line of text.

Video marketing is dynamic, energetic, and showcases modern technology. It allows lots of information to be very quickly absorbed and is a growing part of a robust marketing strategy. Any business that wants to thrive in e-commerce would be wise to examine video marketing and implement it into everyday life. 

  1. Social Media 

Social media is a necessary evil for most e-commerce companies. It can be incredibly polarizing, divisive, and even controversial, but its effectiveness as a marketing tool cannot be ignored.

Many customers now use social media to decide what products to buy. The power of social media as an influencing tool has been well documented, but there are still many businesses that are slow to implement it into an existing strategy.

Having an active social media presence is critical for encouraging customers to check out sales, deals, new products, offers or to build a positive relationship with prospective buyers. Big platforms like Instagram and Twitter are free to sign up and provide an excellent social media presence. 

Final Thoughts 

E-commerce is an industry that has been growing from day one, and it is continuing to develop with each passing year. The industry is only becoming more competitive as more companies venture into every area to carve out a place as a top seller.

Keeping up with the latest e-commerce trends is vital for successfully thriving in a competitive industry. 2022 will have a unique set of challenges, and 2023 will bring different directions besides, but to reach 2023, it is necessary to master 2022.