MAG Insights

Sep 24, 2025, 16:21 by User Not Found

Fear of missing out (FOMO), isn't just an emotional state brought on by an inability to participate, it can later lead to an overload. You miss something you planned to attend, and everything you’d hoped to accomplish is left undone. That's what happened to me earlier this month, when a medical issue caused me to cancel my attendance at MAG Payments Conference 25. I had to miss just my fourth MAG event out of 35 in MAG's history, and of all the conferences to miss, this was the one I least wanted to sit out.

Sep 10, 2025, 10:05 by User Not Found

The Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) and Elishah Consultancy Pte. Ltd. are excited to introduce a new APAC-focused offering: “Unlocking Growth: How Real-Time Payments Help Merchants Unlock Business Resilience and Reach” by Joel Tong.

Aug 28, 2025, 12:12 by User Not Found

The payments landscape is moving fast, and so is the MAG. This fall, we’re bringing together merchants, solution providers, and thought leaders across multiple cities and regions to share insights, explore innovation, and strengthen the payments ecosystem. From large conferences to intimate regional meet-ups, there’s no shortage of opportunities to connect with MAG and your peers.

Aug 19, 2025, 12:32 by User Not Found

On July 7, 2025, the Federal Reserve Board (Fed) published a FEDS Note exploring the current and potential role of Pay-by-Bank (PBB) as a consumer-to-business payment method in the U.S.. The note, authored by Federal Reserve economist Byoung Hwang, reviews the conditions under which PBB might gain traction in merchant transactions and offers insights into adoption trends, enabling technologies, and regulatory frameworks.

Jul 30, 2025, 12:12 by User Not Found

Get a look at what’s driving conversations in payments—from EMVCo’s deep dive on PAR to what you can expect at MAG Payments Conference 2025. Don’t miss key deadlines, event highlights, and a look ahead at what MAG has coming up, including a can't-miss webinar on stablecoins and an October meet-up in San Francisco.

Jul 21, 2025, 08:11 by User Not Found

With AI becoming increasingly integrated into all our lives, I’ve started to contemplate how the world may change. One key thing I don’t believe it will ever replace is the value of a strong network of business relationships and trusted mentors. When I look back at some of the major decisions I have made in life, they have been influenced by the network of people I interact with and have built trust in.

Jul 14, 2025, 09:14 by User Not Found

As the efforts to modernize EBT continue, several key milestones have been met, but new issues may throw a wrench in merchant acceptance models. This article breaks down these factors and provides updates on state implementations, discusses the state-specific product waivers, reviews the status on the whitepaper(s) being finalized by the X9 EBT Card Industry Forum, and looks at the future on what changes in the EBT space may require additional updates to the specification.

Jul 2, 2025, 13:53 by User Not Found

After Illinois signed interchange legislation into law, how is the rest of the country reacting? Take a look at where interchange is being addressed throughout the states, and potential impacts to merchant operations to think about._

Jun 30, 2025, 11:07 by User Not Found

Our recent MAG Payments Summit – London 25 was a tremendous success, bringing together over 200 payments professionals , a 25% increase in attendance from last year’s event. This premier gathering highlighted the power of collaboration across the payments ecosystem, offering attendees key insights into the latest technologies and trends shaping the industry.

Jun 3, 2025, 11:51 by User Not Found

Europe’s payments landscape is evolving fast, shaped by innovation, regulation, and shifting consumer expectations. To explore how global collaboration can support merchants through these changes, Paul Tunstall, VP of International at the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG), spoke with Kevin Baker, Managing Director, Head of Merchant Services & Commercial Card Sales, EMEA at Bank of America. They discuss the MAG’s role in supporting international growth, advocating for merchants, and sharing cross-border insights that drive the future of payments.

May 29, 2025, 14:12 by User Not Found

The Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) remains at the forefront of the fast-paced transformation occurring in the payments ecosystem—advocating for merchants, advancing industry standards, and providing valuable forums for dialogue and innovation. With the release of our first-ever Payments Technology Industry Engagement Report, along with several exciting events on the horizon, we’re proud to offer new opportunities to learn, connect, and lead in 2025.

May 16, 2025, 14:58 by User Not Found

Over the past year, there has been a lot of buzz around the new compelling evidence programs introduced by multiple card brands which allow merchants to adjudicate first-party fraud chargebacks for eCommerce or card-not-present disputes. These programs allow merchants to use data elements within the transaction—matched with the same data elements from previous, undisputed transactions—to prove cardholder involvement. But did you know most card brands also have rules for handling disputes, which allow for compelling evidence outside of these programs?

Apr 29, 2025, 08:53 by User Not Found

MAG is pleased to announce key initiatives for 2025, including our upcoming events and expanded efforts to represent merchants in the open banking arena.

Apr 15, 2025, 12:36 by User Not Found

Spring has arrived, bringing with it longer days, warmer weather, and—like clockwork—updates from the payment card networks. Hopefully your acquirer has reviewed the changes with you since many of them were scheduled to take effect on April 11, 2025. Keep in mind that implementation dates can vary depending on the card brand and your specific payments processor.

Mar 31, 2025, 12:42 by User Not Found

As we move into the second quarter of 2025, several groundbreaking events are on the horizon. These upcoming activities offer exciting opportunities to stay at the forefront of the payments industry, network with like-minded professionals, and explore new technologies that are transforming the payments landscape.

Mar 20, 2025, 09:36 by User Not Found

Last year, Visa announced that it had issued its 10 billionth token and that tokenized payments had prevented $650 million of fraud in 2023. Visa and Mastercard have also stated that approximately 30% of all their payment transactions are processed utilizing network tokens. Given that network tokens have only been around for about a decade, those are impressive numbers. But what is it about network tokens that give them their superpower to stop fraud? After all, in the case of network tokens, the token is just another number representing a customer’s credit or debit account. What makes these numbers so much more secure than the numbers that make up the primary account number (PAN) of the payment card? In the typical context, tokens are often referred to as a non-sensitive representation of something of value, such as the PAN in the case of network tokens. But wait, you may be thinking, “if I can make a payment transaction with a network token, that sounds pretty sensitive to me.” Before drawing any conclusions about network tokens, maybe we should first consider what a network token is not. It is not a security token.

Mar 18, 2025, 09:03 by User Not Found

At Payments MAGnified 25, the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) advanced payments through engaging learning sessions, ample networking, and a showcase of emerging technologies. Two standout forums- Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Rising Payments Professionals (RPP)- were central to fostering valuable industry collaboration.

Feb 28, 2025, 10:51 by User Not Found

As the new administration takes shape, regulatory and legislative activity in Washington is evolving, with important implications for payments. Here’s a look at recent developments in Congress, at the Federal Reserve, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Feb 26, 2025, 11:23 by User Not Found

As the payments landscape evolves, the MAG remains at the forefront, driving innovation and fostering collaboration. From conference milestones to thought leadership opportunities, here’s a look inside the MAG.

Feb 20, 2025, 09:24 by User Not Found

As we step into 2025, the payments industry continues to evolve rapidly, with new regulations reshaping the landscape in the U.K., the EU, and beyond. To help merchants stay ahead, MAG's Director of Public Affairs, Leslie Crisp, joined the MAG’s International Leader, Paul Tunstall, to discuss what merchants need to know and how to prepare.