Affirm Puts a Transformer Model Behind Its Checkout Underwriting
Affirm underwriting has moved to a transformer model, lifting completed purchases 3.4%. The explainability claim is the part worth watching.
Marvin EvansSeptember 19, 2026
Tag
Fintech Growth
Microsoft, Marvell and Utimaco Put Payment HSMs Behind a Managed Azure Service
Azure Payment HSM v2 is live in public preview from Microsoft, Marvell and Utimaco. Strong product, but banks will want a named reference first.
Marvin EvansSeptember 19, 2026
Icon Solutions and MongoDB Say Their Payments Stack Hits 6,000 TPS With No Data Loss
Icon's payments framework on MongoDB Atlas handled 6,000 instant payments a second with mean latency of 0.51 seconds. Citi, NatWest and BNP Paribas already run the framework in production.
Charitarth SindhuSeptember 18, 2026
Navan Taps Engine for Hotel Inventory and Booking Flexibility
Navan will use Engine's Omni API for wider hotel content and more flexible group bookings, extended stays and itinerary changes. The deal landed a day before Navan's second-quarter results.
Charitarth SindhuSeptember 18, 2026
Checkout.com Signs On for the Next Phase of Best Buy Marketplace Payments
Checkout.com will handle card acquiring plus pinless and debit routing as Best Buy expands third-party selling. It is a narrow announcement from a processor joining a growing marketplace.
Charitarth SindhuSeptember 18, 2026
Visa Wants to Turn Its Settlement Data Into Onchain Credit
With customer permission, lenders can underwrite stablecoin-linked card programs against real VisaNet settlement history. The aim is working capital based on payment flows that provably happened.
Charitarth SindhuSeptember 18, 2026
Fifth Third Moves 600,000 Comerica Accounts Over Labor Day Weekend
Fifth Third converted roughly 600,000 Comerica accounts and 293 banking centres onto its own platform over Labor Day weekend, completing an integration that began with the February merger.
Charitarth SindhuSeptember 18, 2026
Robinhood Routes Football Prediction Markets to Crypto.com, Takes Equity Stake
Robinhood is sending some football prediction contracts to the CFTC-regulated venue now held by OG.com, the Crypto.com spin-off, and is taking an equity stake as part of the arrangement.
Charitarth SindhuSeptember 17, 2026
Stripe Link Becomes a Payment Rail for the New Meta AI Shopping Agent
US consumers can connect Stripe's Link wallet to Muse and let Meta's AI agent buy from businesses across the web. It is Stripe's clearest bet yet on agents handling real checkout volume.
Charitarth SindhuSeptember 17, 2026
Block Applies for a National Trust Charter to Custody Bitcoin and Stablecoins
Builders Bank & Trust would hold bitcoin and stablecoins under direct OCC supervision without taking deposits or making loans. Block filed the charter application with the OCC.
Charitarth SindhuSeptember 17, 2026
Chime to Buy Its Sponsor Bank, Stride, for $590 Million in Cash
Chime is paying $590 million in cash for Stride, its bank partner of more than seven years. The Oklahoma lender becomes a wholly owned subsidiary renamed Chime Bank.
Charitarth SindhuSeptember 16, 2026
Navan revenue jumps 35% but GAAP operating losses widen even as guidance goes up
Navan's revenue rose 35% to $233 million and it raised its outlook again, while GAAP operating losses widened. The quarter tests whether growth can close the gap to profit.
Charitarth SindhuSeptember 16, 2026