MAG Insights

As we move into the second quarter of 2025, several groundbreaking events are on the horizon. These upcoming activities offer exciting opportunities to stay at the forefront of the payments industry, network with like-minded professionals, and explore new technologies that are transforming the payments landscape. Here's a detailed look at what’s coming in the next few months:

Innovation Spotlights: Key Presentations from Industry Leaders

Our Innovation Spotlight series continues with exciting topics that promise to provide valuable insights into the evolving payments ecosystem. If you would like to be invited, please contact Carrie Pottorff.

April Innovation Spotlight: Fiserv on Direct Bank

• Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
• Time: 11:00 AM CT
• This session will explore how direct banking is changing the way financial services are delivered to customers. With digital transformation at the heart of modern banking, this session promises to be a must-attend for anyone keen on staying ahead of the curve.

• Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
• Time: 11:00 AM CT
• As businesses continue to tackle challenges around payments security, this session will focus on practical strategies for improving authorization rates and ensuring a smooth, secure payment experience for customers.

• Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
• Time: 11:00 AM CT
• This presentation will cover the benefits of instant payments for both businesses and consumers, exploring the seamless opportunities they bring for faster, more efficient financial transactions.

April Webinar: Exploring Customer Experience Through Payments

• Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
• Time: 12:00 PM CT
• Worldpay will lead an insightful webinar focused on the connection between customer experience and payment credentials. This session will provide insights into the various types of payment credentials and their roles within the payments ecosystem, explore the difference between vaulted and vaultless tokenization, and offer practical tips for improving systems and enhancing customer experience through no-code or low-code solutions.

In-Person MAG Regional Meet-Ups: Networking and Knowledge Sharing

• Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
• Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
• Venue: T-Mobile HQ, Bellevue, WA
• This Merchant Meet-Up will bring together professionals to discuss current payments topics like payments orchestration and PINless debit routing strategies. Enjoy networking opportunities as well as a hosted lunch and happy hour. This event provides a unique chance to learn from industry leaders and exchange ideas in an informal setting. 

• Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
• Time: 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
• Venue: Airwallex (Singapore)
• This exclusive merchant-only event will explore Foreign Exchange (FX), POS systems, and the growing strategic partnerships across ASEAN markets. Special guests from Airwallex and JCB will share their expertise, focusing on multi-currency settlement and the launch of a new POS product. Join us afterwards for light bites, drinks, and valuable networking opportunities with fellow attendees.

MAG Payments Summit-London 25

• Date: 9-11 June 2025
• Venue: Convene, 155 Bishopsgate, London
• Attendees will gain the opportunity to actively participate in conversations shaping the future of payments. In addition, a series of networking receptions on 9 June and 10 June will provide excellent opportunities to connect with your payments peers. Don’t forget to attend the Merchant-Only session for insights into the latest industry developments.

Other Industry Engagements

The MAG is also engaging with several high-profile industry forums and conferences in the coming months.

• Date: April 28-30, 2025
• This forum will include a panel discussion featuring Randy Gibbons from Southwest Airlines and Kelly Andrus of the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG), discussing how the MAG drives positive change in the payments ecosystem. The panel will highlight use cases relevant to the airline industry, offering invaluable business development opportunities for attendees. 

• Date: Monday, April 8, 2025
• Speaker: Bryan Penny of the MAG will present on the importance of standards in payments management. This session will explore how establishing and maintaining consistent standards in payments can significantly improve both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

• Session recordings and SIG notes from Payments MAGnified 25 are now available on the MAG Learning Center. This is a great resource for anyone who was unable to attend the event or wants to revisit the insights shared during those sessions.

Looking Ahead