Illinois has long been a laboratory for ambitious fiscal policy, but the state’s latest foray into digital taxation—a levy on social media platforms—appears to have bypassed the typical laboratory rigors of peer review and legislative scrutiny. Embedded quietly within the state’s massive new budget bill, the tax is being widely criticized not merely as a…
The rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a firestorm of speculation regarding the future of the global economy. As AI systems become increasingly integrated into the fabric of commerce, labor, and innovation, policymakers and industry titans alike are beginning to question whether our current tax frameworks are equipped to handle this technological shift….
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. — In a move that significantly bolsters its presence in the competitive Southeastern financial corridor, First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of Southern Pines-based First Bank, has officially entered into a definitive agreement to acquire First Carolina Bancshares Corporation. The Florence, South Carolina-based target is the parent company of Carolina Bank…
By Mike Brown Published: July 11, 2026 In a move that marks a definitive shift in the digital finance landscape, PayPal has officially joined the European Payments Council (EPC). This integration into the central body governing the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) signals a new era for fintech-bank collaboration, promising to bridge the gap between…
Executive Summary: A New Frontier in Financial Infrastructure On Wednesday, the halls of the House Financial Services Committee became a rhetorical battleground over the fundamental architecture of the American economy. At the center of the dispute is the proposed Payments Access and Consumer Efficiency (PACE) Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that seeks to bridge…
NEW YORK — For nearly two decades, Jamie Dimon has been the face of global banking, steering JPMorgan Chase & Co. through the Great Recession, a global pandemic, and the subsequent era of volatile interest rates. However, the internal architecture of the world’s most powerful bank is beginning to shift. Following a series of strategic…
As the calendar page flips to the latter half of 2026, many households are finding their budgets stretched thinner than ever. The persistent sting of inflation, impacting everything from the pump to the grocery aisle, has transformed financial planning into a dynamic, often challenging, endeavor. This midyear juncture presents a critical opportunity for individuals and…
The long-standing narrative of the U.S. housing market has been defined by one singular, painful theme: scarcity. For nearly two decades, the inability of supply to meet the demands of a growing population—exacerbated by the post-2008 construction collapse and the pandemic-era buying frenzy—has kept home prices and rents in a state of perpetual climb. However,…
The Chase Sapphire suite of credit cards—comprising the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, and the Sapphire Reserve for Business—remains a cornerstone for travelers and points enthusiasts. Renowned for the versatility of the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem, these cards have long been the gold standard for earning points on everyday expenditures. However, the…
By PYMNTS | June 25, 2026 The global race for artificial intelligence supremacy has hit a significant geopolitical roadblock. High-level diplomatic discussions between the European Union and the White House are currently underway following a sudden and restrictive ban on foreign access to Anthropic’s most advanced AI models. The restriction, which prohibits international entities—including EU…
