Analysis

The first detailed numbers from the combined Global Payments (GPN) and Worldpay reveal just how different the two businesses are. And the scale of the opportunity if Global can bring Worldpay’s profitability anywhere close to its own. Global Payments is notoriously discreet with its public disclosures. The 10-Q document has historically given little detail on… Continue reading Global Payments: the Worldpay margin opportunity →

Despite increasing political focus on payment sovereignty, total payment volume growth from the American schemes in Europe picked up a little in Q2 according to the latest financial results from Visa and Mastercard.  Total volume rose 12% in dollars (9% in euros) to a combined €1.47 trillion. This is slight uptick after six quarters of… Continue reading Visa and Mastercard: Still winning in Europe →

Four years ago, I wasn’t convinced Santander could turn a collection of disparate payments assets into a coherent platform but the latest results suggest it has done exactly that. Santander is now a rare European bank making a success of merchant payments, delivering consistent growth and rewarding shareholders with eight successive quarters of profitability. It’s… Continue reading Santander Payment Solutions: From scepticism to success →

Mollie is one of Europe’s fastest-growing payment companies. Its 2025 annual report, posted at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, shows a business executing well operationally, but about to embark on a far riskier phase. Gross revenue was up 31% to €274.3 and net revenue (after deducting processing costs) grew 23% to €156m. That’s the old Mollie.… Continue reading Mollie: Well run, ambitious and making two big bets →

PayPoint’s merchant services business is still struggling. In the year to March 2026, net revenue fell 2.5% as payment volume declined 6.2% to £6.4 billion. The revenue decline comes despite product enhancements including SoftPOS and an improved merchant portal. PayPoint remains under pressure from the “tap pack” of dynamic POS-focused providers offering modern terminals, slick support and integrated… Continue reading More pain for PayPoint →