PaymentsSource

Upcoming Conferences

18th Annual ATM, Debit & Prepaid Forum
October 3-5, 2010
Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, AZ

18th Annual Financial Services Collections & Credit Risk Conference
October 24-26, 2010
The Wynn, Las Vegas, NV

3rd Annual Cards & Payments Loyalty Conference
November 3-5, 2010
Buena Vista Palace & Resort, Orlando, FL

Web Seminars

Building Loyalty: How To Design Programs that Cement Relationships

September 1, 2010

New Technologies For Contactless Payment Emerge As Industry Waits For NFC Phones

As the industry waits for Near Field Communication technology to reach the market, other mobile-payments technologies are being tested all over the globe.

Today in Payments

Visa Promotes Add-On Pay Chips For Phones
PaymentsSource | September 2
Though adding the same NFC chips to phones offers much of the same benefits as NFC cards, doing so can also open the door to additional control over users' accounts, according to Bill Gajda, Visa's head of global mobile products. [FREE]
Closed-Loop Cards Dominate Prepaid Market
PaymentsSource | September 2
Closed-loop prepaid cards for digital content, government services and telecommunications helped grow the sector in 2009, to $205.4 billion in funds loaded into card accounts, up 7% from $191.8 billion the previous year, according to a report from the Mercator Advisory Group.
Chase Introduces First-Ever Hyatt Cobranded Card
PaymentsSource | September 2
Hyatt Hotels Corp. waited longer than any other major hotel chain to launch a cobranded credit card, but the Hyatt Visa Card, introduced Sept. 1 with JPMorgan Chase & Co., underscores a few significant trends emerging in the rewards cards arena, analysts say.
Brazil Acquirer Buying 30,000 Hypercom POS Terminals
PaymentsSource | September 2
Cielo S.A., a Brazil-based merchant acquirer with approximately 1.2 million active merchant accounts, is buying 30,000 Optimum T4205 point-of-sale terminals from Hypercom Corp., the terminal maker announced Sept. 2.
Exxon Mobil Cardholders To Earn Dining Rewards For Gasoline Purchases
PaymentsSource | September 2
Consumers who use Exxon Mobil Corp.’s proprietary Personal Card to purchase Exxon and Mobil-branded gasoline can receive gift certificates for Restaurant.com under the petroleum retailer’s latest promotion announced on Sept. 1.
MasterCard Promotion Offers Exclusive Access To New York Events
PaymentsSource | September 2
In its latest marketing promotion, MasterCard Worldwide is offering cardholders who live in or who visit New York City rich and “priceless” experiences, such as sporting, concert, shopping and culinary events.
Smart Transit Card Adoption Increases Among Consumers, Study Finds
PaymentsSource | September 2
With several smart card-based transit projects developing around the globe,shipments of smart cards supporting transit applications will grow at an 11% compound annual rate through 2015, new research suggests.
Indian Bank Launches Credit Card For Non-Resident Segment
PaymentsSource | September 1
India’s Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. announced on Aug. 30 the launch of a credit card designed for the Non-Resident Indian segment, which includes Indian citizens who have migrated to another country, are of Indian origin but born outside India, or are of Indian origin but reside permanently outside India.
FTC Settlement Stops Alleged Credit-Repair Scam
Collections & Credit Risk | September 1
A credit repair operation agreed to stop making false claims and stop charging upfront fees under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. [FREE]
Inner Fence Adds Card Reader For IPhones
PaymentsSource | September 2
Inner Fence, which makes the Credit Card Terminal application for Apple Inc.’s iPhone, on Sept. 1 announced it is shipping the Credit Card Reader, which attaches to an iPhone’s dock connector. [FREE]

Viewpoints

Viewpoint: Government Usurping Market Role On Interchange
PaymentsSource | August 30
"$2 Billion Revenue Loss for Debit Issuers?" [Aug. 17] suggested large issuers could lose $2 billion due to new rules governing interchange and over-limit fees. That's low.