Today is Thursday, June 9, and gas prices are still rising as package sizes are shrinking, along with some sandwich sizes at popular quick-serve restaurants. President Biden ended infrastructure talks after the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement, and tonight in prime time, people can watch the first hearing about what was uncovered about the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
A Houston man was arrested after allegedly robbing an ATM, and he was only caught because he rapped about it on YouTube. Anyone who has ever had the urge to lick a Himalayan salt wall can head to the Mission Restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona where it’s encouraged. Here’s what else should be on your radar this morning.
Apple Goes Rogue. Apple is doing its buy now, pay later program its own way and handling the lending itself through its wholly-owned subsidiary Apple Financing, which will oversee credit checks and make decisions. Other BNPL platforms use bankers to manage the financial particulars for the popular interest-free installment payment plan. READ MORE
Real-Time Resistance. Real-time payments are a central solution available to all businesses, yet two-thirds resist going that route, according to a new report, “Accelerating the Time to Realized Revenue: The Real-Time Payments Edition,” a PYMNTS and Mastercard collaboration. READ MORE
Passwordless Future. People largely hate passwords and waiting for authentication requests, Gerhard Oosthuizen, chief technology officer at Entersekt, told PYMNTS. When verification methods have a lot of friction, shoppers might abandon payments mid-transaction or exit the retailer’s site altogether. READ MORE
Crypto No-Go. Starling Bank CEO Anne Boden said the U.K. digital bank is saying no to cryptocurrencies due to the exposure to fraud. The profitable neo bank could explore digital assets in the future, but for now, Boden said protecting people from rising scams is the focus. READ MORE
ICYMI. Taco Bell just launched a restaurant drive-thru concept that Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams told PYMNTS could be the drive-thru of the future. The new concept in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota has the kitchen on the second level above a four-lane drive-thru. Orders are sent to customers by a vertical food elevator. READ MORE
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