What does the future look like for ISOs as AI, vertical software, and changing payments models reshape the industry? James Shepherd sits down with Brian Abernethy, founder and CEO of Straata, to discuss the opportunities hiding in residuals, interchange optimization, merchant pricing, and the growing role of AI in payments.
They also dive into why the ISO and ISV worlds have struggled to work together, whether that relationship could finally change, and why distribution may become one of the biggest advantages ISOs have in an AI-driven market.
The episode wraps up with Patti Murphy’s Today in Payments, covering the Durbin Amendment, debit interchange, IRS card payments, Mastercard’s tax case, ACH growth, Checkout.com entering in-person payments, and what’s next for Clover.