Personal Finance Advice and Commentary

Before mobile payments can really take off, providers and smartphone users are going to need to take some steps to boost security.

A new deal between Square and Starbucks may be a big step toward wider acceptance of smartphone-based payments.

Lost smartphones are a tempting target for thieves looking to access your financial accounts.

Another mobile wallet is on its way, and it may offer more options than the one made by that certain search engine giant. Isis, a venture among Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile, said Monday consumers will be able to load their prepaid, debit and credit cards from Chase, Capital One and Barclaycard onto their cellphones

In the race to turn cellphones into credit card readers comes a new app that does just that. Card.io unveiled a mobile application that allows cellphone users to accept credit card transactions by taking a picture of a credit card with their phone and sending a receipt by email to the card’s owner. The app

Thanks to a tiny white plastic credit card reader, some Salvation Army bell ringers will be doing more swiping than jingling this year. The charity — known for its red kettles and bells during the holidays — is testing out Square, the mobile credit card reader, in San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas and New York. The