ABSTRACT
This chapter extends the concept of money beyond cash (banknotes and coins) accounting for all the other payment tools provided by financial intermediaries. The analyses include services provided by banks (e.g., bank transfer, checks) and stress the role of banks and the banking system in the payment industry. The second part of the chapter presents the so-called “plastic money”, including credit cards, debit cards, and pre-paid cards as means of payments, an alternative to cash. The last part of the chapter addresses e-payment options, including PayPal, ApplePay, GooglePay, and other digital solutions. The aim of the chapter is to provide the big picture of the current structure of the payment industry.
