Fintech PR
2019 Smart Payment Association Card Shipment Figures Released

Latest figures confirm the smart payment card remains the most popular way to pay in many parts of the world and is the secure payment method of choice when it comes to non-cash payments.
Collated annually by the Smart Payment Association (SPA), using data from SPA Members and Market Monitoring Advisory Council Members,1 analysis shows the volume of smart payment card shipments increased by 5 percent to 2.75 billion in 2019 – an increase of 141 million units on 2018.
Growth figures by region
The increase in volumes was driven by strong global demand:
- Largest demand in the United States due to the renewal of 2015-16 issuance
- Double digit growth in all Latin America regions
- Shipment growth above 20 percent in the North Asia-Pacific market mostly due to EMV Dual Interface migration
- Steady growth nearing 10 percent in the Africa, Balkans and Middle-East region
- Single digit growth in mature the EU market
- Significant reduction in shipments to India – reflecting the normalization of the market following the completion of the country’s mandated migration from older magstripe debit and credit cards to more secure EMV cards
Continued increase of contactless
In 2019, SPA reports 59% of total shipments had contactless functionality, a rise of 14 percent on the previous year. This continued increase is driven by growing awareness of the speed and convenience of this payment option, and the rapid deployment of broader ‘enabling’ contactless Point of Sale (PoS) infrastructure.
This trend looks set to continue. According to Juniper Research, the installed base of contactless-enabled PoS devices will exceed 161 million by 2024 (94% of all PoS devices2) growing from 78 million in 2019.
Technology overview
The presence of Dynamic Data Authentication (DDA) technology on 83% of smart payment cards globally is significant in helping to combat fraud and ensure the highest levels of card security.
The figures also confirmed the number of smart payment cards based on a Java open operating system continued to grow – reaching 89 percent of total market share in 2019.
“The significant growth in shipments in 2019 illustrates the continued commitment of the financial community to providing customers with the most secure and convenient ways to pay. Indeed, as financial systems and technologies evolve, we see the new generation of Fintech companies, and even Tech Giants, providing physical payment cards – a reflection that, despite the hype on digital currencies and other non-cash mechanisms, the smart payment card is a powerful tool for customer retention and remains the pre-eminent option for payment worldwide. We see the trend for contactless payment cards being confirmed in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic, as paying contactless, beyond its convenience, is in line with safety measures enforced by governments across the world,” said Alain Martin, President, Smart Payment Association.
A full breakdown and analysis of all results is available for sale to non-members.
As part of its extensive market monitoring activities, the SPA has established two Advisory Councils to enable non-SPA members to access the most up-to-date marketplace data available. The SPA Monitoring Advisory Council is open to EMV technology vendors supplying cards and/or modules, while the SPA Forecasting Advisory Council is open to organizations operating in the wider payment ecosystem. For more details, click here
Fintech PR
Great Bay Insurance Group announces executive changes

WEST ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Great Bay Insurance Group (the “Group”), a leading provider of coastal homeowners’ insurance in New Jersey, today announced the following leadership changes. Timothy J. Byrne, Jr., has been named as President of the Group and Ronald R. Lovatt has been named President of Great Bay Insurance Company, a wholly owned affiliate of the Group.
Mr. Byrne Jr. has nearly 15 years of industry experience and previously served as the Group’s Chief Operating Officer overseeing the Groups operations and underwriting strategies.
Mr. Timothy J. Byrne, Sr., Chief Executive Officer of the Group, added, “I’m excited to announce the promotion of Tim Jr. to the role of President of The Great Bay Insurance Group and Ron to the role of President of Great Bay Insurance Company. Tim Jr. and Ron have been an integral part of the Group since its founding in 2019.”
As President, Tim Jr. will provide oversight for all corporate support functions and will continue to report to Tim Sr.
Mr. Byrne Jr. holds a BS in Economic and Mathematics from the University of Vermont, an MBA in Risk Management and Insurance from St. John’s University and holds a CPCU designation.
Mr. Lovatt has 40 years of broad insurance industry experience in leadership capacities with international, national, regional and start-up insurance companies. Ron is a founding member of The Great Bay Insurance Group, working with Tim Sr. & Tim Jr. to launch Great Bay in late 2019. Ron currently serves as Chief Underwriting Officer & Chief Claims Officer for The Great Bay Insurance Group, has an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Finance, Accounting & Marketing from Miami University.
Contact:
Investor Relations
Brian Schleider, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
609-434-2000, x102
brian.schleider@greatbayinsure.com
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/great-bay-insurance-group-announces-executive-changes-302401923.html
Fintech PR
Forward Global responds to surge in UK shareholder activism with launch of UK Corporate Contests Practice

LONDON, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — International risk management firm Forward Global launched its UK Corporate Contests Practice on Tuesday in response to what is described as “all-time high of shareholder activism” in London and Paris.
Speaking ahead of the launch on Tuesday night, Brendan Foo, Partner and Global Head of Corporate Contests at Forward Global, said “As activism gains currency as an asset class, savvy investors are looking toward the UK and Europe to generate alpha. Indeed, in 2025 alone, we have seen an unprecedented demand for our services not just in our traditional strongholds of the US and Canada, but also in the UK and Europe. This reflects the surge in activist (and active) engagements, with which our team is uniquely well-placed to assist.”
Forward Global’s Corporate Contests Practice was established to meet demand from law firms, investors, and advisers to provide a comprehensive suite of services to support companies in high-stakes shareholder engagements. In keeping with the firm’s established activism practice in the US, the new London offering will deliver investigative and intelligence work such as vetting board nominees, relationship mapping, scrutinizing the track records of both incumbents and challengers, and conducting deep-dive reputation analyses. In Europe, Forward Global’s Patrice Lambert-de Diesbach offers clients battle-tested expertise in investor relations and financial communications.
Shareholder activism in the UK has expanded significantly, with campaigns becoming more frequent and sophisticated. In 2023, the number of new public activist campaigns in Europe surged by 68%, with the UK remaining a primary target. US-based activist investors have also increased their focus on UK firms, launching 40% of all UK activist campaigns in 2024. With contested boardroom battles and regulatory shifts on the rise, the expansion of Forward Global’s Corporate Contests practice into the UK is well-timed, equipping issuers with the intelligence and strategies needed to navigate this evolving landscape.
The firm launched the new practice at an exclusive gathering at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, bringing together leading voices from the shareholder activism space to discuss the evolving landscape of transatlantic shareholder activism.
The panel discussion, featuring Brendan Foo, Patrick J. McHugh of Okapi Partners, and Sebastian Fain of Freshfields, explored critical considerations for US investors entering the UK market and vice versa, differences in engagement styles across jurisdictions, and strategies for issuers to proactively engage with both activist and active investors. Panelists also examined the impact of anti-DEI and ESG sentiment on investor relations in the UK, as well as how issuers can adapt to evolving regulatory and institutional expectations.
John Watts, Managing Partner of Forward Global UK, added, “Forward Global’s new UK Corporate Contests Practice is designed to provide companies with the strategic intelligence and investigative depth needed to navigate an increasingly complex activist landscape. Our team is committed to equipping clients with the tools to engage proactively with investors, safeguard their strategic interests, and strengthen shareholder relations across Europe.”
Notes for Editors
Forward Global is an international group, with its historic headquarters in France, boasting five main offices in Paris, Brussels, London, Miami, and Washington. As a leading player in risk management with over 450 employees and 30 partners, Forward Global offers an integrated approach across the three major risks: digital, economic, and informational.
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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/forward-global-responds-to-surge-in-uk-shareholder-activism-with-launch-of-uk-corporate-contests-practice-302402058.html
Fintech PR
NYSE Content advisory: Pre-market update for March 14, 2025
NEW YORK, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins.
Alison Kosik delivers the pre-market update on March 14th
- Investors welcomed a cooler-than-expected Producer Price Index reading for the month of February as tariff talk continues out of Washington D.C.
- Attention shifts to the Federal Reserve decisions coming next week as inflation data suggests the rate of inflation growth could be slowing.
- S&P 500 looks to rebound after ending yesterday in correction territory, which is a decline of at least 10% from a recent high.
Watch NYSE TV Live every weekday 9:00-10:00am ET

Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2641945/NYSE_March_14_2025_Market_Update.mp4
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nyse-content-advisory-pre-market-update-for-march-14-2025-302401916.html
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