Mercator Advisory Group
Javelin Strategy & Research (formerly Mercator Advisory Group) is a US-based financial services research and advisory firm serving banks, credit unions, payment networks, and fintechs through subscription research, consulting, and benchmarking across digital banking, payments, fraud, and wealth management.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersMaynard, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Mercator Advisory Group does
Mercator Advisory Group, now operating as Javelin Strategy & Research, is a US-based financial services research and advisory firm headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts, and a subsidiary of Escalent Group. Founded in 2003, the firm targets banks, credit unions, payment networks, processors, issuers, merchants, and fintech organizations, with primary coverage of North America and selective global payments insights. Its research is organized across four practice areas: Digital Banking (strategy, mobile and online banking, digital lending, small business), Payments (commercial, credit, debit, prepaid, merchant, digital assets and crypto, emerging, global, tech infrastructure), Fraud and Security (cybersecurity, fraud management), and Wealth Management (digital wealth). Flagship longitudinal studies include the annual Identity Fraud Study and the Child and Family Cybersecurity Study, and the firm operates PaymentsJournal as an external editorial platform.
The firm monetizes through three revenue streams: annual subscriptions to its advisory services research library, custom consulting and bespoke research engagements, and sponsorships of recurring flagship studies such as the Identity Fraud Study. Distribution is direct and enterprise-led across North America, supported by a thought leadership marketing stack that includes research whitepapers, annual trends reports, scorecard reports, hosted webinars, industry conference participation, an email newsletter, and a LinkedIn presence. Productized analytical services include Digital Banking Benchmarking and Card Bench, which package proprietary benchmarking methodologies for repeated client use.
The technology stack is not publicly disclosed, and the underlying product is analyst-led research rather than a software platform. There are no disclosed APIs, SDKs, apps, or AI/ML capabilities in the source material. Leadership includes Tim Sloane as Vice President of Payments Innovation and Art Kranzley as Director Emeritus. The firm was rebranded from Mercator Advisory Group to Javelin Strategy & Research in early 2023 under Escalent Group ownership.
Mercator Advisory Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mercator Advisory Group
- Legal name
- Javelin Strategy & Research
- Website
- https://mercatoradvisorygroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Javelin Strategy & Research (formerly Mercator Advisory Group) is a US-based financial services research and advisory firm serving banks, credit unions, payment networks, and fintechs through subscription research, consulting, and benchmarking across digital banking, payments, fraud, and wealth management.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mercator Advisory Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Financial Services Research & Advisory
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Investor Education, Research & Portfolio Analytics Services (Retail) (FSAAAAAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fraud Risk & Financial Crime Controls Advisory (BPAKADAL)
Keywords
Where Mercator Advisory Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Maynard
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mercator Advisory Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Advisory Services Research Subscription: Annual subscription model providing access to research library covering Digital Banking, Payments, Fraud & Security, and Wealth Management practice areas.
- Consulting & Custom Research: Custom research engagements, digital banking benchmarking, and card benchmarking services for enterprise clients.
- Identity Fraud Study Sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities for the annual Identity Fraud Study publication.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Subscription for Advisory Services Research |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Mercator Advisory Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mercator Advisory Group (now Javelin Strategy & Research) is a research and advisory firm serving the payments and banking industries. It sells annual subscription access to a research library covering Digital Banking, Payments, Fraud & Security, and Wealth Management practice areas, alongside bespoke consulting, custom research, benchmarking services (Digital Banking Benchmarking, Card Bench), and sponsored studies such as the annual Identity Fraud Study.
Product overview
Javelin Strategy & Research (formerly Mercator Advisory Group) is a financial services research and advisory firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of research practices, subscription services, and professional consulting. The core offerings span four main research practice areas: Digital Banking (covering strategy, mobile/online banking, lending, and small business), Payments (covering commercial, credit, debit, prepaid, merchant, digital assets, emerging, global, and tech infrastructure), Fraud & Security (covering cybersecurity and fraud management), and Wealth Management (covering digital wealth). These practice areas are supported by subscription-based Advisory Services Research, consulting services including Digital Banking Benchmarking and Card Bench, and various research publications including PaymentsInsights reports (North American, Buyer, and Small Business variants), Scorecard Reports, Whitepapers, Annual Trends Reports, and Webinars. The firm also conducts proprietary research studies including the annual Identity Fraud Study and Child and Family Cybersecurity Study. Javelin is a proud member of the Escalent Group.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Advisory Services Research (Annual Subscription)
Companies that use Mercator Advisory Group
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Mercator Advisory Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Mercator Advisory Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Escalent Groupparent companyEscalent Group is the parent company of Javelin Strategy & Research (formerly Mercator Advisory Group). Javelin is described as 'Proud member of Escalent Group.'
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mercator Advisory Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BAI: BAI is a banking industry research, training, and advisory organization serving financial institutions. Comparable in delivering research, thought leadership, benchmarking, and consulting to the banking sector.
- Datos Insights: Datos Insights (formerly Aite-Novarica Group) is a financial services research and advisory firm covering banking, payments, wealth, and insurance. It is the closest direct competitor, offering a similar mix of subscription research, consulting, and benchmarking to BFS clients.
- The Strawhecker Group: The Strawhecker Group is a payments industry research and advisory firm serving financial institutions, merchants, and payments processors. Comparable in payments-focused research, benchmarking, and consulting to Javelin's Payments practice.
- Celent: Celent is a financial services research and advisory firm focused on technology strategy for banks, capital markets firms, and insurers. Comparable as a specialist research firm serving BFS with subscription research and consulting.
- Cornerstone Advisors: Cornerstone Advisors is a financial services research and consulting firm serving banks, credit unions, and fintechs. Comparable as a specialist advisory firm providing research, benchmarking, and strategic guidance to depository institutions.
- Aberdeen Strategy & Research: Aberdeen is a research and advisory firm providing subscription research and benchmarking across technology-driven industries including financial services. Comparable in subscription research and benchmarking product model.
- The Hackett Group: The Hackett Group is a research and advisory firm with a strong financial services practice. Comparable in delivering subscription research, benchmarking, and consulting to BFS clients.
Broad incumbents
- Gartner: Gartner is a global research and advisory firm with significant financial services coverage. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering subscription research and advisory across all major industries, including BFS.
- Forrester Research: Forrester Research is a global research and advisory firm with a sizable financial services practice. Comparable as a broad incumbent with subscription research and consulting overlap in BFS.
- IDC: IDC is a global market intelligence and advisory firm with substantial financial services research. Comparable as a broad incumbent with subscription research and consulting overlap in BFS and fintech.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mercator Advisory Group social profiles
Digital presenceMercator Advisory Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mercator Advisory Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Mercator Advisory Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mercator Advisory Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mercator Advisory Group
What does Mercator Advisory Group do?
Mercator Advisory Group (now Javelin Strategy & Research) is a research and advisory firm serving the payments and banking industries. It sells annual subscription access to a research library covering Digital Banking, Payments, Fraud & Security, and Wealth Management practice areas, alongside bespoke consulting, custom research, benchmarking services (Digital Banking Benchmarking, Card Bench), and sponsored studies such as the annual Identity Fraud Study.
Is Mercator Advisory Group a public or private company?
Mercator Advisory Group is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Mercator Advisory Group founded?
Mercator Advisory Group was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mercator Advisory Group based?
Mercator Advisory Group is headquartered in Maynard, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mercator Advisory Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advisory Services Research Subscription is the primary driver. The others are consulting & Custom Research and identity Fraud Study Sponsorship.
Who are Mercator Advisory Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BAI, Datos Insights, The Strawhecker Group, Celent, Cornerstone Advisors, Aberdeen Strategy & Research and The Hackett Group. Broad incumbents are Gartner, Forrester Research and IDC.
Does Mercator Advisory Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mercator Advisory Group.
What industry is Mercator Advisory Group in?
Mercator Advisory Group's product category is Financial Services Research & Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAAAAO, Investor Education, Research & Portfolio Analytics Services (Retail), with a secondary code of BPAKADAL, Fraud Risk & Financial Crime Controls Advisory. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.