Payment processing

Billions of dollars in investments are pouring into digital payments, but the hefty numbers obscure a regulatory and competitive squeeze that could shut banks out of the profits for good.

Given the size of the deal — which includes about $9 billion of Worldpay’s debt on top of a $34 billion bid — the pressure’s on to build a global powerhouse that can counter other major fintech mergers announced in the past weeks. FIS must also emerge as a nimble rival to the startups that threaten the old order.

Proposals that would have financial firms monitor or refuse to finance certain firearms purchases are misguided, putting the onus on unelected corporations.

The numbers behind Fiserv's deal to acquire First Data are huge, particularly considering each company's existing tonnage still makes consolidation the best play when faced with nimble fintechs and mobile startups.

Fiserv will acquire First Data in an all-stock deal with a value of about $22 billion that will combine two of the financial services industry's largest technology and processing companies. Fiserv shareholders will own almost 58% of the combined company, with First Data's shareholders holding the rest. The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2019.