COVID-19 and Payments: Updates from the Forum
The coronavirus has disrupted every aspect of life as we know it. Most are facing changes in business priorities, working with reduced staff, experiencing a change in working environment, or having numerous other challenging situations. We hope that you are healthy, as are family members, friends, and colleagues.
Forum Activities
The U.S. Payments Forum has been moving forward with industry projects and initiatives, with an increased focus on projects that help with the payments industry response to COVID-19 and on projects that are strategic for our members. Two publications that we quickly put together focused on a “cleaner,” more touch-free payments experience at the POS:
- Tips for Cleaner Payments provides practical tips for a “cleaner” payment experience for merchants, ATM owners and consumers
- Consumer Interactions at the POS discusses how consumers interact at the POS to assist with guidance for safer in-store payments
We are also continuing to support our many active working committees and to publish our member communications. If you have any interest in learning more about our projects, or would like to contribute, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please also let us know if you have suggestions for other activities that you feel are critical to the industry in these challenging times.
Forum Member Meetings
We are changing the format of our July Forum All-Member Meeting in light of the COVID-19 crisis. It is difficult to predict what the environment will be like in July and whether businesses will be ready to have employees travel for industry events at that time.
As a result, we have cancelled the July in-person meeting at the Westin Charlotte hotel and we are in the process of re-formatting the meeting to be a series of virtual sessions. Many of the Forum meeting sessions – panels, educational sessions and working committee meetings – can be held virtually, with members participating from around the country.
Additional information about our virtual July meeting will be announced in May.
Forum Staff
The U.S. Payments Forum staff – from New Jersey to California – has always worked from a remote environment. The staff continues to provide support for Forum activities while working in their safe home office environment and are able to remain healthy, productive, and sheltered-in-place as per state orders.
The entire staff sends our best wishes to you for continued health and safety during this unprecedented time. If you should have any questions or want to discuss any matter, please feel free to contact Randy Vanderhoof at [email protected].