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MAY 12, 2026 |
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True or false? Renters are more likely to be buy now, pay later (BNPL) users than homeowners. |
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GEN Z |
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Chase has rolled out new products and redesigned some existing ones to better meet the specific needs and preferences of Gen Zers in hopes of securing their deposits, per PYMNTS. |
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Chase’s strategy includes: |
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No-fee checking for customers 17 to 24: Chase Secure Banking waives monthly fees and has no overdraft fees, because users can only spend available funds.
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No-fee savings for customers under 25: Chase Savings waives monthly service fees for younger customers.
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Early credit building: Freedom Rise is positioned for people new to credit, and Credit Journey helps explain credit scores and drivers. |
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DIGITAL PAYMENTS |
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Block’s gross profit rose 27% YoY to $2.91 billion, driven by strong engagement with Cash App and Square lending products, per the company’s Q1 2026 earnings. |
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Cash App’s gross profit hit $1.908 billion, up 38% YoY.
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Square’s gross profit rose to $982 million, 9% growth YoY. |
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Block raised its end-of-year guidance to $12.33 billion in gross profit for 2026, a 19% YoY increase. |
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CRYPTOCURRENCY |
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Crypto.com launched Crypto.com Travel, an in-app booking platform that lets users earn cash back on travel bookings made in native CRO tokens, per a press release. Bookit will power the platform, which will include flights, cruises, rentals, and experiences. |
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Crypto.com builds on the firm’s Level Up platform, suggesting Crypto.com is trying to compete with traditional payment providers like card issuers on travel perks—a major selling point for consumer adoption. |
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Crypto companies have yet to place serious stakes into travel rewards, giving Crypto.com the opportunity to set the precedent for travel perks for the industry. |
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REPORT |
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Financial services are moving to mobile, multi-rail ecosystems in Latin America. Real-time payments and wallets boost engagement but fragment data and control—forcing banks to embed into transaction flows or lose the customer relationship. |
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Key question: How are interoperable, multi-rail payment ecosystems reshaping competition and customer ownership in Latin American banking? |
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Key stat: In Brazil, Pix’s primary use case is shifting toward everyday commercial payments, with the number of person-to-business (P2B) transactions reaching 3.09 billion in March 2026 and surpassing peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions, per Banco Central do Brasil. |
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(EMARKETER subscription required to read the full report)
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CHART OF THE WEEK |
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Key stat: Three-quarters (75%) of US bank/credit union executives say new account openings is the most important metric for evaluating marketing success, according to February 2026 data from Cornerstone Advisors. | | | |
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