MAG Insights

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.

Aug 5, 2022, 06:59 by Erica M Forman

Quick Response in retail could mean a fast turnaround to a food delivery order, an immediate solution to a customer service issue, or a method that enables retailers to share inventory needs in real-time. On the other hand, it also represents an experience almost ubiquitous any longer in retail through an action triggered by the scan of an image everyone recognizes…the QR Code (short for Quick Response Code).

Jul 26, 2022, 07:15 by Erica M Forman

In Part III of our series on Standards and Specification Bodies, we will share an overview of the FIDO Alliance and EMVCo. If you missed our earlier articles which discussed ISO and X9 in Part I and PCI and W3C in Part II, please check out our website (LINK) for more information.

Jul 19, 2022, 08:03 by Erica M Forman

Last week, we published an overview of ISO and X9, as part of a series examining the organizations that maintain the standards with some of the greatest impact on how the payments industry runs. If you missed last week’s article, Part I of Standards and specification bodies that matter to payments is available here. Next, we take a look at PCI and W3C.