Digital Transactions Authoritative, insightful and timely information for payments professionals
In a development that could lead to the first significant use of PIN debit for Internet transactions, the ACCEL/Exchange electronic funds transfer network has agreed to handle PIN-secured debit card transactions processed by ATM Direct, a unit of San Francisco-based Pay By Touch Inc. The network, which is based in …
Read More »Swiped Laptops Now a Threat in Data Breaches Plaguing Payments
The drumbeat of data-breach disclosures continued Friday with the news that information linked to about 65,000 individuals?including credit and debit card data–were exposed when a burglar broke into a locked office in a YMCA facility in Providence, R.I., last week and stole a laptop containing the sensitive member information. According …
Read More »Debitman’s HSBC Deal Could Help It Corral More Merchant Issuers
There are no specific issuing agreements yet, but private-label credit card issuing giant HSBC Retail Services has teamed up with Debitman Card Inc. in a deal that could result in HSBC retailer clients offering PIN-debit cards to their customers usable on Debitman's network. If the arrangement pans out, it would …
Read More »A Boom Is Building in FSA Debit Cards, But Challenges Remain
Because of the efficiency, savings, and convenience they bring to a system traditionally choked with paper, debit cards linked to flexible-spending accounts (FSAs) are turning into a hot growth market in electronic payments. Issuers will put 6 million of the cards in circulation in 2006, up 50% over last year …
Read More »ECOM Finds Issuer for Anonymous, Disposable Prepaid MasterCard
ECOM Financial Corp., which has developed a disposable, anonymous prepaid card that works on the MasterCard network, has taken a step toward commercialization by reaching an issuing agreement with First Bank of Delaware, Wilmington, Del. In an announcement released Monday, the Stuart, Fla.-based company, which has had the card in …
Read More »Small Banks Adopt a Wide Spectrum of Electronic Payments
Small banks are adopting electronic-payments technologies at a rate that rivals, and in some cases exceeds, that of their larger competitors, according to a survey released this week. Two-thirds of the nation's community banks are processing checks under the rules of the Check Clearing Act for the 21st Century (Check …
Read More »Heartland Drives up Net with Expanded Merchant Base, Card Volume
Heartland Payment Systems Inc., one of the few publicly traded independent sales organizations, today reported its revenues jumped 39% in the first quarter, to $236.8 million, on a 34% increase in transaction volume, to $9.2 billion. Net income for the period came to $4.39 million, a 63% increase. The Princeton, …
Read More »In Wake of Big PIN Breach, Visa Tightens Debit-Fraud Controls
At a time when debit card fraud is generating unwelcome headlines, Visa USA is taking two new steps to enhance its information about fraud involving payment cards that rely on personal identification numbers for security. With the goal of spotting fraud trends early and keeping overall fraud under control, Visa …
Read More »As Its IPO Awaits, MasterCard Logs Strong Results, Names Directors
With its long-expected initial public offering of stock fast approaching, MasterCard Inc. reported strong results for the first quarter and indicated it expects its stock to sell for between $40 and $43 per share. It also named six new directors who will join its board of directors after it becomes …
Read More »Eye on RFID: Utah Transit, Arby’s Plan for Contactless Payment
The Utah Transit Authority in November will begin accepting contactless payment tokens in a pilot project that will represent the first use of contactless technology to process bus fares in the U.S. The Salt Lake City-based transit agency in September will begin equipping 41 buses that ferry passengers to local …
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