What we are reading … 29th January 2013

Tim Harford on the Indiana Jones of economics http://bbc.in/11R2Vxj

Secrets of Mobile Success: Cost-Cutting Banks Seek Smartphone Customers http://dld.bz/ccaZn

Where Social Networks, Payments and Banking Intersect http://shar.es/CscER

London's Tube Is Getting 'Contactless' Payments. Could They Work in the U.S? http://dld.bz/cbxvG

Bitcoin-based casino rakes in more than $500,000 profit in six months http://ars.to/10Q4sED

Chinese RMB payments fail to take off in US http://www.finextra.com/News/Announcement.aspx?pressreleaseid=48200

Uganda:MobileMoney agents fear losses http://shar.es/Cp6MJ

Five apps to make the BYOD transition easier http://dld.bz/cbwZ7

Why Balancing Your Checkbook Is Still Useful http://www.mybanktracker.com/news/2013/01/22/balance-checkbook/

Citibank India unveils mobile card acceptance system http://www.finextra.com/News/FullStory.aspx?newsitemid=24457

Citi installs next-generation ATMs in Asia; issues NFC stickers in Czech Republic

“Citi has begun rolling out what it calls the "first major redesign of the ATM" since the 1970s, linking the physical and digital banking worlds.The bank has begun installing its Citibank Express machines in branches in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines with more Asian and global markets, as well as non-branch locations, to follow later this year.” <<READ MORE>>

Top 5 iPhone, Android Payment Glitches Revealed

Remote check deposit and other mobile banking services are all the rage among certain iPhone- and Android-packing techies. For regular consumers, there are a lot of frustrating kinks still to be worked out. <<WATCH VIDEO>>

NFC Forum sets up payments and retail special interest groups

“The Near Field Communication (NFC) Forum, a non-profit vendor-led trade body, has launched a special interest group (SIG) initiative, with the creation of groups focused on five specific markets, including payments and retail as both these areas are key crucibles for the development of contactless payments by banks, shops, credit card schemes and other players. “ <<READ MORE>>

2013 Global Risks Report

“The world is more at risk as persistent economic weakness saps our ability to tackle environmental challenges, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks 2013 report.

The report highlights wealth gaps (severe income disparity) followed by unsustainable government debt (chronic fiscal imbalances) as the top two most prevalent risks, in a survey of over 1,000 experts and industry leaders.” <<READ MORE>>

What we are reading … 28th January 2013

PayPal: 'Aggressive changes' coming to frozen funds policy http://cnnmon.ie/VUPPvW 

Security, DoS attacks and magic tricks http://www.finextra.com/Community/FullBlog.aspx?blogid=7303

Don't be premature in closing your help desk http://dld.bz/cbwQw

MasterCard to share EMV solution with US debit networks http://dld.bz/cbfXw

Compliance: More Important than Ever in 2013 http://www.finextra.com/Community/FullBlog.aspx?blogid=7304

Retail banks warned of social media marketing pitfalls http://www.finextra.com/News/FullStory.aspx?newsitemid=24459

Visa Issues ATM Cash-Out Warning http://dld.bz/cbfXs

Taking payments online (in Europe) in 2013 http://shar.es/CppWj

Turkey's IsBank integrates ATM and mobile for cardless withdrawals http://dld.bz/cbfXr

Jamaica: NCB moves first on mobile money http://shar.es/CosQD

The next tech battleground may be your wrist

“Humans are “so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea,” says “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, a comic novel. Pebble, a maker of smartwatches, begs to differ. On January 23rd it started shipping digital devices that strap to your wrist but are nonetheless rather neat.” <<READ MORE>>