The proliferation of loyalty programs has heightened competition, so retailers will have to dig deeper into their customer data to drive active participation.

The report claims issuers create misleading marketing materials and block or delay earned benefits. Issuers are already fighting back

The No. 1 issue US adults have with loyalty or reward programs is it takes too long to earn rewards, according to an October 2023 survey from Merkle.

This can make it a more attractive network for issuers to partner with, given credit card rewards can make or break customer retention

Over half (55%) of adults worldwide say that offering points or reward systems are the top way to keep them coming back, according to a November 2023 survey from Marigold in conjunction with Econsultancy.

The annual charges increased across all six cards, but Amex is hoping the enhanced rewards will offset the added consumer costs

To overcome account opening headwinds, credit card marketers can explore credit card subscriptions, net worth data collection, and wallet-first cardholder experiences.

The network also forecasts a surge in ecommerce returns, per its 2024 economic outlook

Despite intensified payment competition and rocky economic factors, private label credit cards will maintain their importance in the payments industry in 2023. Retailers should not discount the value they can bring in terms of revenues and loyalty.

The average Temu user spent 18 minutes per day on the company’s app: That’s nearly double the 10 minutes they spent on Amazon’s app.

We capture how payment providers are innovating to meet new preferences and capture this vital volume in four trends

Leading cash-back credit cards need to drive acquisition in an increasingly competitive segment of the card market. Our exclusive consumer survey data reveals which emerging features issuers should invest in to win over customers.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss what to make of Google turning 25 years old, how US shoppers feel about stores, why tiered rewards are all the rage, how Hispanic people think their values are reflected by advertisers and Americans, taxi drivers turning into robots, some mind-bending facts about US geography, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our forecasting writer Ethan Cramer-Flood, forecasting analyst Zach Goldner, and director of forecasting Oscar Orozco.

The number of US BNPL users has doubled since 2021, even though firms can’t fund rewards as richly as issuers do. But they do have retail connections.

Price matters to everyone, but ease and convenience play an even bigger role in purchase decisions. Plus, retailers should consider revamping their apps to garner more sales and use their target audience to guide in-store and online strategies.

“Little treat” culture has taken over TikTok. The hashtag #littletreat has amassed 41.4 million views, and video after video shows users justifying their small purchases because they “deserve a little treat.” But little treats can add up. So Gen Z and millennial consumers are using rewards apps to pay for their little luxuries, according to Wes Schroll, CEO of the rewards app Fetch.

This highlights the popularity of the credit card’s investment feature and should continue to bring in more cardholders

The card network is hoping rewards will be enough to finally make inroads in the debit card industry

Mobile P2P payments are reaching market maturity in the US as spending soars, but security challenges threaten to reverse gains. Providers are working to assuage consumer fears while adding a robust array of features to tighten user relationships.