Digital Transactions Authoritative, insightful and timely information for payments professionals
• Guardian Analytics, a fraud-risk technology vendor, introduced what it says is the industry’s first real-time service to detect fraud in same-day automated clearing house transactions. Same-day ACH is scheduled to begin processing Sept. 23 with ACH credits, leaving some experts concerned that originating and receiving institutions will have less time to detect and manage fraud.
• Square Inc. posted three job openings in Europe last week, a signal that the merchant processor is getting ready for a European expansion after an initial venture in Britain, Reuters reported.
• Dunkin’ Donuts said its DD Perks rewards program now has 5 million members and has more than doubled its membership base in less than two years; the program gives five points for every dollar spent on the Dunkin’ Donuts prepaid card or mobile app, and awards a free beverage when a customer accrues 200 points. Dunkin’ Donuts parent company Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. in June introduced “On-the-Go Ordering,” a pay-ahead program similar to Starbucks Corp.’s Mobile Order and Pay service.
• PayPal Holdings Inc. said its Paydiant mobile-payment technology will power ATM deployer Payment Alliance International’s new Cardless Cash service for card-free withdrawals at 70,000 ATMs; the Paydiant system is coming to PAI through processor Fidelity National Information Services Inc. (FIS), whose NYCE subsidiary is the first national network to support mobile phone-to-ATM transactions, according to PayPal.
• U.S. Bank introduced the Safe Debit Account, a debit-card and online- and mobile-based deposit account with no checks and no overdraft fees aimed at consumers who never have had a traditional banking account or have stopped using one. The account, which has a $4.95 monthly maintenance fee, enables users to make deposits, withdraw cash, pay bills, and make purchases.
• Computer Services Inc. has agreed to integrate a debit card fraud-detection system from ACI Worldwide Inc.
• Tucson Electric Power and UniSource Energy Services, utility companies in Arizona, introduced a new mobile app that lets customers pay their bills, find out about power outages, and track their energy usage. The app works on both Apple and Android platforms.
• Senior vice president John C. Mayleben plans to retire in October after 31 years as a payments executive with the Michigan Retailers Association, but he will continue serving the association and its members as a consultant.
