MAG Insights

As the payments landscape evolves, the MAG remains at the forefront, driving innovation and fostering collaboration. From conference milestones to thought leadership opportunities, here’s a look inside the MAG.

Payments MAGnified 25: A Record-Breaking Event

Payments MAGnified 25 once again proved to be a must-attend event, bringing together 970 payments professionals, including 471 Tech Forum attendees, providing valuable insights to the industry.

• The largest exhibit hall in MAG history, featuring 82 solution providers
• Small Group Discussions—engaging, lively, and packed with valuable insights
• SIGs & Snacks—an attendee favorite that continues to deliver networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities

• Well-received Tech Forum case studies, providing practical insights into real-world payments challenges

What Our Attendees Had to SayAttendee feedback speaks volumes about the success of the event. Here are some standout comments from merchants:

• "The exhibitors were very good this year—an excellent mix of established and new companies, with a unique bundle of services that I haven’t seen before."
• "One of the best mid-year conferences in terms of relevant information. The small subject matter meetings were great—these need to continue at the annual event."
• "MAG was great this year! I enjoyed the presentations and learned a lot from several sessions. Thank you!"
• "This was my first time at MAG, and the conference was terrific. The content was highly relevant, and I learned so much about the payments space."
• "This is my first-choice conference every year—thanks for all you do!"
• "Fantastic conference, looking forward to the next one!"

Payments MAGnified 25 was a testament to the power of collaboration, education, and innovation in the payments industry. Thanks to the support of our 202 merchant member companies and 108 sponsor companies, MAG continues to drive meaningful discussions, foster connections, and provide thought leadership that shapes the future of payments.

Shaping the Future of Payments
MAG is proud to highlight Kelly Andrus and Steve Cole’s participation at the Identity & Payments Summit on February 26 for the panel session “Migrating EBT Cards to Chip”. Their expert perspectives provided valuable insights, making it a session not to be missed by those attending the event. 

Kelly will also take the stage at the American Banker Payments Forum 2025 in San Francisco, CA, on March 5, for a panel discussion titled "Enabling Internet-Based Transactions for Government Benefits." This session will explore how digital payments are revolutionizing government disbursements, improving accessibility, and increasing efficiency. If you're attending the conference, check out this insightful discussion.

Additionally, we are excited to announce that Bryan Penny will speak at the Bank of America Payments Symposium on March 18, 2025. His insights on the evolving payments ecosystem are sure to provide valuable perspectives for industry professionals.

Get Involved
We are excited to welcome PayPal for an exclusive Innovation Spotlight session on March 11 at 11:00 AM CT. Interested in learning more? Reach out to Carrie Pottorff to join us as we explore cutting-edge advancements in payments technology.

Looking Ahead
As we build on this momentum, we invite you to stay engaged through our upcoming speaking engagements, exclusive industry sessions, and, of course, MAG Payments Conference 25, September 8-11, 2025. We look forward to continuing this journey together!