Cardtronics plc (Nasdaq:CATM), the world's largest ATM owner / operator, announced today that, as the culmination of its Board of Directors' long-term succession plan, Chief Executive Officer Steven A. Rathgaber, 64, will retire from his CEO and Director roles effective December 31, 2017. Edward H. West, 51, presently Cardtronics' Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer, will succeed Rathgaber as CEO and join the board as a Director.

Britain’s top firms and charities urgently need to do more to protect themselves from online threats, according to new Government research and a ‘cyber health check’ published today.

There’s no doubt that PSD2 is a big deal, but when considered alongside the terrific advances being made in open banking, Maikki Frisk, Executive Director, Mobey Forum, wonders whether the industry truly appreciates the extent of the changes that lie ahead.

The most impactful element of PSD2 – that banks must open their customers’ accounts to third-party payment and information requests – is paving the way for an entirely new end-user experience in digital financial services, one in which the customer will call all the shots. It may not happen overnight, but it’s coming.

It is not unreasonable for consumers to assume that they should be able to assess their eligibility for a loan without damaging their future prospects. The majority of lenders perform hard credit checks on customers when applying for a loan, and as a result are hiking the cost of borrowing for the customers they decline. Sarah Jackson, Director at Equiniti Pancredit, highlights the glitch in the system and explores how lenders can use automation to stay on the right side of their customers.

It is staggering to write this down, but contactless in the UK is nearly ten! And it’s exciting that ‘tap and go’ payments are going from strength to strength. Since the introduction of contactless cards in September 2007, it has gradually become the payment method of choice for many, as society gradually moves away from cash. More than half of all transactions under £30 are now made using contactless, demonstrating both its popularity and potential.

Finance is changing. Disruption to business models, expanding global operations, tax complexities, evolving regulation and new risks are all demanding more of finance departments. The financial crisis, together with the rise of big data and the growing influence of social and digital media, new technologies and economic realities have completely changed the way finance departments operate.

Youtap, a global provider of contactless mobile payments and financial services software, has launched a QR code solution and smartphone apps for mobile money services in Africa and Asia.

IG Group, a global leader in online trading, has launched trading on Ether, the token of the Ethereum network.