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☆ Federal prosecutors are examining financial transactions at Block, owner of Cash App and Square
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Gretchen Morgenson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

Cash App, introduced in 2013, allows users to send and receive money instantaneously among themselves and to buy stocks and Bitcoin. As of December, Cash App had 56 million active transacting accounts and $248 billion in inflows during the previous four quarters, the company said. (Merchants are considered customers at Square, while users are considered customers at Cash App.) Cash App is not a bank, but it uses external banking partners to conduct various services. On March 29, Sutton Bank settled a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. that echoed the whistleblowers' allegations.

Persons: Jack Dorsey, Block, Venezuela —, Edward Siedle, Prosecutors, Cash, OFAC, Lawrence Summers, Sharon Rothstein, Summers, Rothstein, Lord Paul Deighton, Goldman Sachs, Deighton, Dorsey, Banks, Sutton, James Booker Organizations: Twitter, Southern, of, NBC, NBC News, Securities and Exchange Commission, Block, Foreign Assets Control, U.S . Treasury, Cash, OFAC, Goldman, Financial Market, Bank of Lithuania, Payments Lithuania UAB, PayPal, Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, Sutton Bank, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, FDIC Locations: of New York, Cuba, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Ohio, Sutton

☆ Cash App: Safety Features to Help Protect You From Scams
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Business Insider | Cash App | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Popular payment app scamsAccording to Cash App, some of the most common payment app scams include:Giveaways — Look out for giveaways that require you to complete a "test transaction" on a mobile payment app, especially using hashtags like #cashappgiveaway and #cashappfriday. Based on the specifics, they along with Cash App can advise you on what to do next. Don't forget, payments on Cash App are immediate and you should use caution when sending payments to individuals that you don't know. Can you reverse a Cash App payment you've already made? If your Cash App payment has already been completed, it can't be reversed.

Persons: it's, Cash, you've Organizations: Paypal, Security, Federal Trade Commission

To earn interest on Cash App Savings, you must be at least age 18, have a Cash App personal account, and own a Cash App Card. How Cash App Savings worksYou'll need at least $1 to open Cash App Savings. Cash App Savings FAQsDoes Cash App Savings have interest? Yes, Cash App Savings now pays up to 4.50% APY if you're at least 18 and have a Cash App Card. Money in Cash App Savings is safe if you have a Cash App Card.

Persons: you'll, Cash, There's Organizations: Savings, Cash, FDIC, Wells Fargo Bank, Wells, Milli Bank, First National Bank of, Western Alliance Bank, Western Alliance, Yield, . Western Alliance, BrioDirect, Webster Bank, BrioDirect Savings, Banking, Flagstar Bank Locations: Wells Fargo, First National Bank of Omaha

☆ Jack Dorsey's Block lays off 'large number' of staffers, adding to wave of tech industry cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

While Dorsey did not specify the number of Block employees laid off on Tuesday, a person familiar with the company said the number was close to 1,000. Dorsey did say that the layoffs focused on Block workers at Cash App, Foundational, and Square. Staffers were told separately that Block would look to reduce head count by about 10%, as BI reported. Google and Amazon made significant cuts to head count, while Meta is slimming down more roundaboutly by eliminating certain job titles and telling affected workers they can reapply. You can read Dorsey's full note to Block staff below:Team,Today our Cash App, Foundational, and Square teams are parting ways with a large number of our teammates.

Persons: Jack Dorsey, Dorsey, Cash, Kali Hays Organizations: Business, Cash, BI, Google, Amazon, Meta, Marketing, Creative Locations: Commerce, khays@insider.com

☆ Alphabet wants to invest in British fintech bank Monzo before it goes public
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Monzo, a British fintech bank, is in talks with Alphabet's private investment arm Capital G to raise what is primed to be its last funding round before a public listing. The bank touts around 8.5 million customers in the UK and is best known for its bright coral pink bank cards. Fintech funding in Europe dropped 70% to $5 billion from $17.1 billion in the first half of 2023, compared with 2022, according to Finch Capital. The prospective funding round is set to be the fintech's last private raise before a mooted public debut that would likely take place in late 2024 or 2025. The British bank reported £116.3 million in losses last year despite more than doubling its revenue.

Persons: Monzo, Catalyst, Monzo's, Cash, Conor Walsh, Anil Organizations: Business, Sky News, Abu Dhabi Growth Fund, Silicon, VC, fintech, Finch, London, Starling Bank Locations: British, London, Abu Dhabi, New York, Europe, Monzo, Starling

☆ The bank taking over SVB's venture-debt business doesn't seem to know a lot about venture debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But first, can you explain what venture debt is? The venture debt community, which has grown considerably as equity funding has dried up, is skeptical that First Citizens is the best firm for the job, Insider's Darius Rafieyan reports. Reporting from the first annual Venture Debt Conference in New York, which First Citizens seemed to be absent from, Darius details how attendees and panelists questioned the family-run regional bank's ability to take over the complex and nuanced business that is venture debt. I'm all for learning on the job, but that type of knowledge seems like a prerequisite for buying a business with more than $70 billion in venture debt. But, if First Citizens is as ill-equipped to take over SVB's venture-debt business as some believe, that only further complicates the matter.

☆ Cash App founder Bob Lee stabbed to death in San Francisco, says father
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 5 (Reuters) - Block Inc (SQ.N)-owned Cash App's founder Bob Lee was stabbed to death in San Francisco on Tuesday, according to a Facebook post shared by his father. loading"I just lost my best friend, my son Bob Lee when he lost his life on the street in San Francisco early Tuesday morning," said Rick Lee in a post which linked a TechCrunch article on the stabbing. The San Francisco Police Department said late on Tuesday that a 43-year-old man was stabbed early in the day and succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Cash App allows users to transfer money through a mobile application and is touted by the company as an alternative to traditional banking services. Lee was the chief product officer for cryptocurrency company MobileCoin, where he was also previously an early-stage investor and adviser, the company said on Twitter.

☆ It's becoming increasingly clear that fintech has a fraud problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Bianca Chan | Paige Hagy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

"With fast growth comes fast fraud," Frank McKenna, a longtime fraud expert who works with banks, lenders, and fintechs, told Insider. Cash App only requires a zip code, debit-card number, and either an email or phone number to create an account. Cash App's alleged fraud problem could also be the result of its large, active customer base, which numbers some 44 million, according to the company's 2022 annual report. The fact that Cash App offers peer-to-peer payments exacerbates the fraud issue, according to McKenna, the chief fraud strategist at Point Predictive, an anti-fraud software company. Digital-only bank Chime has had its own issues with fraud, Jason Mikula, a fintech analyst and consultant, told Insider.

☆ Bitcoin is poised to blow up Africa's $86 billion banking system
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

Then there's mobile money, which has been around since the early 2000s. Africa's mobile money transactions rose 39% to more than $700 billion in 2021, according to data from the GSM Association, a non-profit representing mobile network operators worldwide. That cash network was extraordinarily difficult and expensive to build, which is why there aren't a lot of direct competitors. Bitnob is SMS-based and piggybacks on the mobile money system, making it easier for people to send money directly into bank accounts and mobile money wallets in African countries. "We're able to settle into bank accounts or mobile money accounts, without the recipients having to interact with bitcoin themselves," Parah tells CNBC.

☆ Block shares extend losses as Hindenburg report weighs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The logo of Cash App is seen at the main hall during the Bitcoin Conference 2022 in Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2022. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File PhotoMarch 24 (Reuters) - Shares of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey's Block Inc (SQ.N) fell 4% in premarket trading on Friday, a day after the payments firm's Cash App business became the latest target of U.S. short seller Hindenburg Research. In a report, Hindenburg has alleged that Block overstated its user numbers and understated its customer acquisition costs. Block shares closed 15% lower on Thursday, giving up all the gains made so far this year. The report cited a non-profit organization to say that Cash App was also "by far" the top app used in reported U.S. sex trafficking.

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Tesla, Wendy's, Microsoft, Coinbase, Netflix & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Here are Friday's biggest calls on Wall Street: UBS reiterates Tesla as buy UBS said it's recent survey checks show Tesla is "best positioned" to win the EV race. Wells Fargo reiterates Microsoft as a top AI pick Wells said Microsoft is one of the biggest beneficiaries of AI. Jefferies downgrades UBS to hold from buy Jefferies said it sees too much uncertainty after the banking giant's acquisition of Credit Suisse. Jefferies upgrades Regeneron to buy from hold Jefferies said it's bullish on several of the pharmaceutical company's products. Citi reiterates Nvidia as buy Citi said Nvidia is a top beneficiary of AI.

"Our 2-year investigation has concluded that Block has systematically taken advantage of the demographics it claims to be helping," the short seller said in its report. Up to 35% of Cash App's revenue is derived from interchange fees, Hindenburg alleged. But Block avoids that regulatory cap imposed on large financial institutions by routing the revenue through a small bank, Hindenburg alleged. The small-bank routing method is one employed by Block rival PayPal , the short seller claimed, and which prompted a Securities and Exchange Commission probe. Hindenburg took issue with Cash App's practices during the pandemic, when the government issued stimulus checks to qualified American adults.

☆ A prominent short-seller just released a bombshell report on payments darling Block. Here are the 4 biggest claims.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Hindenburg Research on Thursday released a scathing report about Block, saying it inflated metrics. The short-seller financial research firm led by Nathan Anderson said it has taken a short position on Block shares after its two-year probe. The firm also said it ordered and "promptly received Our Donald J. Trump Visa Cash App card in the mail." It saw multiple Cash App accounts bearing the name "Jack Dorsey" as well as dozens of "Elon Musk"' and "Donald Trump'" fake accounts as well. "The only payment provider mentioned in the indictment was Cash App, which was used to facilitate the fraudulent COVID relief payments," wrote Hindenburg.

(Some partners also offer free state filing.) This is an opportunity many people overlook: About 70% of Americans qualified for IRS Free File in 2022, according to the Taxpayer Advocate,, but only 2% actually used it. Even if you meet the income requirements, Free File might not have the forms you need. If you don't meet the income requirement for Free File, you can still use the site's fillable forms. Bottom lineThere are lots of ways to file your taxes for free, whether that's with the IRS or a commercial tax software company.

Persons: TurboTax, Read, There's, isn't Organizations: CNBC Select's, Read CNBC, IRS, Social Security, Child Tax, Elderly, AARP, Department of Defense, CNBC, Facebook, Twitter Locations: Mobile, Arizona , California, Florida , Massachusetts, Nevada , New Hampshire , New York, South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington and Wyoming

If you only need to file a simple tax return or meet certain income requirements, you can file your taxes for free, using programs sponsored by the IRS or online tax software. Use IRS Free FileIRS Free File is a free online service for filing taxes designed by the IRS. Roughly 70% of Americans were eligible to use IRS Free File last year, but only 2% actually used it. It also won't work for you if you have business or self-employment income, income from rental property or stock sales, or unemployment income. Or, if you prefer a free tax software with no paid upgrades at all, consider Cash App Taxes (formerly known as Credit Karma Tax).

Most people are aware of gift cards for restaurants or retail stores, but the purchasing power of gift cards is nearly limitless. Throughout the year, we gifted the kids gift cards for Valentine's Day and Easter while also purchasing gift cards whenever our family budget allowed. Cash App Investing does not trade bitcoin and Cash App is not a member of FINRA or SIPC. Show more Minimum Deposit Amount $0 Editor's Rating 4 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4 out of 5 Stars Pros & Cons Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Whether you're using gift cards to save up for your family's dream vacation or for a major purchase, buying gift cards is an ideal alternative to conventional saving.

Featured Partner Offer Cash App - Send Gift Cards to Friends and Family Instantly A tooltip *Cash App is a financial platform, not a bank. Gift cards are not separate physical cards. However, if a customer does not have a Cash App Card, they can instead convert their gift card to cash in the app. With gift cards, it's easy to make it look like everyone is getting the same gift, but since many gift cards don't state the denomination on the card, you can give anywhere from $5 to $500 and the recipients won't know how much they got in the moment. By buying gift cards from small businesses, you're essentially front-loading sales and guaranteeing income that they might not otherwise receive.

I used to get annoyed when people bought gift cards for gift swaps. I put serious time into finding the right gift, so when people wrapped up gift cards, I felt a flush of annoyance. Cash App - Send Gift Cards to Friends and Family Instantly A tooltip *Cash App is a financial platform, not a bank. I realized it wasn't about the gift cards at allI challenged myself to think about why gift cards bothered me. I can get my mom a gift card for tickets to see a show and buy my daughter a gift card for a local pottery painting studio.

I can often get Disney gift cards at a discountBuying gift cards at a discount means paying less for the gift card than the face value of the card. If you pay any amount less than $50 for a $50 gift card, then that's a discounted gift card. If I buy a $100 Disney gift card at Target each month, I'll have $1,200 after a year. However, if a customer does not have a Cash App Card, they can instead convert their gift card to cash in the app. While Costco doesn't sell Disney gift cards, they sometimes have Landry's gift cards, which can be used at the Rainforest Café and T-Rex Café at Disney World.

Then, I started receiving gift cards from people occasionally and found that I love this idea as a gift. 5 practical reasons I like to give gift cardsSome people may think gift cards are losing their charm, but I disagree. I can get gift cards at a discount that stretches my budget furtherI love to get gift cards from Amazon, Walmart, and Target at a discount thanks to holiday sales. Walmart also has discounted gift cards for popular retailers and restaurants, like buying a $25 gift card for $20. I don't buy gift cards for everyoneThe truth is, most people want cash or gift cards for Christmas, but may not admit it out loud.

I figure out which restaurant or retailer they like, purchase a gift card, and gift the card to them. Featured Partner Offer Cash App - Send Gift Cards to Friends and Family Instantly A tooltip *Cash App is a financial platform, not a bank. Gift cards can score deals for the giver, tooSo many retailers and restaurants offer bonuses when you purchase a gift card. I buy them a gift card, and in return, I get another gift card for myself and my wife. My home is still divided on whether or not gift cards are the best gift to give.

No one knows what they need better than they do, and gift cards give them the ability to choose it. Gift cards are requested for people in needGift cards can get a bad reputation. But, when it comes to charitable giving, I've realized that gift cards hold a lot of merit. Featured Partner Offer Cash App - Send Gift Cards to Friends and Family Instantly A tooltip *Cash App is a financial platform, not a bank. However, if a customer does not have a Cash App Card, they can instead convert their gift card to cash in the app.

100 Thieves and Cash App have ended their sponsorship arrangement, Insider has learned. Block Inc.'s Cash App was the title sponsor for 100 Thieves esports and gaming compound. 100 Thieves once planned to replace Cash App with a crypto sponsor, two former staffers said. It called for a 15,000-square-foot Cash App-branded compound in Los Angeles, as well as branding on 100 Thieves jerseys. Representatives from 100 Thieves and Cash App did not respond to Insider's multiple requests for comment.

☆ Staffers say Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon has asked them to help with his DJ account
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Lisa Ryan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

David Solomon is working hard to build up David Solomon. On a Friday in late July, the Goldman Sachs CEO boarded the company's Gulfstream G650 for Chicago. And that's the latest in a string of actions showing the intertwining interests of David Solomon the CEO and chairman and the interests of Goldman Sachs itself, my colleague Dakin Campbell reports. Staffers say they've been asked to help with his DJ account and they've noted a new emphasis on sports endorsements. Millennium Management tapped Goldman Sachs alum Olga Naumovich to build out its Miami tech hub.

☆ Inside how Cash App is redefining company merch with an in-house fashion line that includes $300 ponchos and handmade crochet cardigans
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Asia Martin | Carter Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Cash App launched a new clothing brand, Cash by Cash App, during the pandemic. In a bid to stand out in a crowded payments market, Cash App launched a fashion brand, Cash by Cash App, in 2020.he line initially offered athleisure styling amid the pandemic. Then, last November, Cash App worked with rapper Megan Thee Stallion on an outside, limited-edition collection that Liang Shi, head of Cash by Cash App said sold out of the few hundred units created. Three women model Cash App robes and Fenty Beauty leisure wear at Afterpay, Cash App & Tidal's Front Row To NYFW Party on September 13, 2022, in New York City. Cash App's Ferdon said that Cash by Cash App "is pretty well integrated" into the company's broader payments "ecosystem."

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