Fiserv Payment Network Draws Takeover Interest From JPMorgan and Bank of America

Shares of payments-technology company Fiserv jumped after The Wall Street Journal reported that its card-processing network had attracted takeover interest from a major US bank, with JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America both said to be involved in discussions. Fiserv, which processes debit- and credit-card transactions for thousands of banks and merchants, would be a significant prize: control of such infrastructure would give an acquiring bank deeper reach into the plumbing of everyday payments and a larger share of the fees generated each time consumers tap or swipe. The reported interest underscores how the largest US lenders are racing to strengthen their positions in payments as fintech competition intensifies and as new rules around stablecoins and digital payments take shape. Any transaction would likely draw close regulatory scrutiny given the scale of the institutions involved and the systemic importance of payment networks. Neither the banks nor Fiserv confirmed the talks, and there is no guarantee a deal will result, but the report was enough to move the company's shares sharply higher.