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MARCH 17, 2026 |
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It adds up: In 2025, Zelle users sent and received 1.8 billion transactions that were worth … |
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A) $324 billion B) $410 billion C) $556 billion D) $699 billion |
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MARKETING & ADVERTISING |
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Nubank hired former TikTok executive Kim Farrell as its marketing director. She will be based in the US and report to Nubank’s cofounder and US CEO, Cristina Junqueira. |
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Nubank put its plans for a US launch into motion when it applied to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national banking charter in October, for which it received conditional approval in January. If Nubank clears the remaining hurdles without delay, it should launch in the US in 2027 with products including demand deposit accounts, credit cards, digital asset custody, and personal loans. |
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CREDIT UNIONS |
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Credit unions need to revamp their credit card strategies to meet changing consumer expectations, per CUInsights. For example: |
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Mobile wallet integration. 42% of US consumers have used a virtual card recently, and 65% expect to use one within the next year, per an Elan white paper. Digital expectations only increase with prime acquisition-aged clients: We forecast that 45.7 million millennials and 43 million Gen Zers will tap to pay with their phones this year.
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Credit-building tools. Credit scores matter to Gen Zers, who see them as a major marker of financial health. Offering products like secured credit cards and credit-building loans can help Gen Zers raise their scores and qualify for bigger loans through the credit union. |
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DIGITAL BANKING |
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Upstart, a digital lending marketing place, applied to the OCC and the FDIC to create an insured national bank. |
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Upstart has three main reasons to seek a federal bank charter: |
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Simplify licensing and expand its reach. Upstart said that in 2024, about 40,000 consumers couldn’t apply because its products weren’t available in their state.Its small-dollar loan program currently reaches only 20% of the US.
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Lend from its own balance sheet. Upstart could take consumer demand deposits and offer loans directly. “The time is right to launch the first bank built from the ground up on AI,” incoming CEO Paul Gu said in a company statement.
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Increase negotiating power. With a federal banking license, Upstart’s partnership model could compete with the loan providers that originate through its marketplace. |
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REPORT |
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Proximity mobile payments are becoming an ingrained habit among US consumers. With transaction value growth outstripping user gains, leading wallets must now focus on maximizing usage. |
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This deck covers: |
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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: Deposit retention or generation is the top reason US bank and credit union decision makers invest in stablecoins, found December 2025 data from Cornerstone Advisors. | | | |
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