MAG Insights

Jan 6, 2023, 15:45 by Erica M Forman

Well, here we are – the end of another year. As we rapidly approach New Years, it’s common to look back and evaluate progress (or lack thereof) that was made during the year. Maybe you finally paid off that debt. Maybe you finally fixed that creaky floorboard in your house. Or maybe it was progress you made in your professional life…like learning a new skill, developing your team, or making new connections. We all have personal and professional goals that we strive to accomplish over the course of our lives and the MAG’s Collaboration Pillar is no different.

Jan 5, 2023, 08:07 by Erica M Forman

Payments and technology have changed at a blistering pace in the last 20 years. Today, merchants face many challenges in keeping up with the latest changes in both payments and technology. How do we keep our customers happy, our systems safe, and our costs low all at the same time? Merchants simply cannot be complacent in any of these areas critical to success. But we also should not chase every shiny new payment process or technology that catches our eye. What is a merchant to do?

Jan 4, 2023, 13:40 by Erica M Forman

First off, I am excited to have recently joined the MAG and look forward to meeting and working with all of you. Over the last twenty years, I have been fortunate to work for organizations such as InComm, MCX, and most recently FIS where I focused on Real Time Payments. As we grow our innovation efforts and tech engagement, I want to leverage my industry experience as well as my time as a MAG sponsor to develop our opportunities.

Dec 29, 2022, 06:51 by Erica M Forman

The Merchant Advisory Group is excited to officially introduce Merchant Payments 205: An Exploration of Debit Routing. The new eLearning course covers maximizing the economic opportunities of an effective debit routing strategy through learning how to Interpret the US debit market, implement a debit routing strategy with appropriate processes and controls, understand the basics for completing a technical implementation of debit routing, and identify potential obstacles and considerations.

Dec 22, 2022, 11:20 by Erica M Forman

Welcome to our new MAG merchant members, an impressive group of 26 merchants, as well as 25 new MAG sponsors! There are many ways to make the most of your MAG Membership or Sponsorship, and we hope you will engage with us in 2023!

Dec 21, 2022, 10:25 by Erica M Forman

In 2021, the Payments Data Community of Practice (COP) emerged out of the concluding Downgrades COP with two primary objectives. First, to offer some best practices to the increasingly complex process of managing payments data that merchants rely on to operate their business. Second, to conduct a study that gives merchants a tool to benchmark their own performance.

Dec 20, 2022, 07:41 by Erica M Forman

As we approach the end of another year, the speed of change in the payments industry is not slowing down. Many areas of change are accelerating to address issues in the continuing growth of digital payments.

Dec 8, 2022, 16:24 by Erica M Forman

New to Payments? Immerse yourself in the MAG and you will be on the stage sharing your knowledge in no time!

Nov 9, 2022, 10:43 by Erica M Forman

The Federal Reserve Board Releases the Long-Anticipated Debit Routing Clarification; Bipartisan, Bicameral Credit Card Competition Legislation Introduced

Nov 4, 2022, 13:34 by Erica M Forman

A primary goal of the MAG has always been to foster competition in the payments industry. Many people have asked me what this means and what MAG has done to achieve this goal.

Nov 2, 2022, 11:07 by Erica M Forman

The evolution of payments isn’t just about the payments products and services that evolve supporting how consumers transact at their favorite retailers. A career in payments evolves as well. What are the rewards? What are the challenges? How do you navigate? What advice should you consider? Let’s ask a few payments industry experts about their experience…

Oct 21, 2022, 07:35 by Erica M Forman

Thank you to all who joined us at our record-setting MAG 2022 Annual Conference & Tech Forum in Dallas, Texas!

Oct 12, 2022, 16:12 by Erica M Forman

In March 2022, PCI SSC released version 4.0 of their Data Security Standard (DSS). PCI DSS is a global standard designed to protect payments data.

Oct 7, 2022, 07:21 by Erica M Forman

Last year, CMSPI estimates that German retailers lost over €650 million in sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday alone. Many didn’t even realise this was happening, and that their payments supply chain had rapidly become a core determinant of holiday takings. With payments costs rising in tandem, the same story echoed across Europe - so what do merchants need to do differently this time?

Oct 6, 2022, 16:18 by Erica M Forman

​Buy Now, Pay Later: Market trends and consumer impacts released by CFPB on 9/15/22

Sep 2, 2022, 06:57 by Erica M Forman

We are looking forward to seeing so many of you at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas in just a couple short weeks! Registration numbers are soaring for the MAG 2022 Annual Conference and Tech Forum, underscoring the eagerness of the payments community to reunite, share experiences, learn from each other, and hear the latest trends in the payments industry.

Sep 1, 2022, 15:24 by Erica M Forman

A collective voice helped drive credit card brands to increase fuel pump authorization limits for merchants and consumers.

Aug 23, 2022, 18:51 by Erica M Forman

Since its inception in 2008, the MAG mission has remained consistent, and our dedication to these words is evident in our accomplishments. “Driving positive change and innovation in the payments industry that serves the merchants' interests through collaboration, education, and advocacy.” Our growing list of accomplishments is attributable to MAG’s leadership, from staff to our Board of Directors and our Committee and Community of Practice (COP) merchant members.

Aug 22, 2022, 16:56 by Erica M Forman

Over the course of the year, the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) hosts around 15 webinars with industry experts where they explore various topics ranging from fraud and chargebacks to security and interchange.

Aug 15, 2022, 14:40 by Erica M Forman

As the MAG considers recent changes in network payment token implementation and rules, we see a path for further collaboration among the industry to increase security while maintaining the flexibility and competitiveness in debit routing.