Over three-quarters of Americans now own a credit card, and considering the range of perks and rewards they come with, paying by plastic feels like a no-brainer. And research has found that now, people are using them to pay for purchases that come to as little as $5.

In the US, 7% of households are unbanked, which leaves many at a disadvantage when it comes to applying for finance. PayJoy is hoping to make life easier for this group by leasing smartphones to people who may not be able to get a contract due to their lack of a formal credit history.

We know that seamless payments can affect how we splash out, but could they also impact how we feel about the things we’re buying? Canvas8 sat down with Dr. Avni Shah, co-author of ‘Paper or Plastic?’, to understand how the method by which we pay influences product satisfaction and brand loyalty.

Young people's trust in financial services is at an all-time low; 71% of Gen Yers would rather visit their dentist than hear what banks have to say. But San Francisco-based Affirm is hoping that a transparent approach to lending can restore some faith in customers and show that credit isn’t all bad.