Proposals to extend a transaction-messaging protocol based on extensible markup language (XML) to the retail point of sale are meeting some skepticism among current and former POS terminal executives. The protocol, known as interactive financial exchange (IFX), relies on the flexibility of XML, an Internet language, to simplify messaging across …

Central Technology Services, the Jefferson, City, Mo.-based transaction-processing arm of Central Bancompany, says it will move its ATM-driving capability from its mainframe to a server-based system from Mosaic Software, Deerfield Beach, Fla. The software, which runs Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system, will handle ATM driving, transaction switching including intercept processing, …

Now that Metavante Corp. has closed on its acquisition of the NYCE electronic funds network and First Data Corp. has put its acquisition and integration of Concord EFS Inc. and its Star Systems network behind it, look for competition among the remaining regional EFT networks to become even more intense, …

Metavante Corp. announced today it has closed its $610-million acquisition of the NYCE electronic funds transfer network. It also announced that Dennis F. Lynch, who has been president and chief executive of Montvale, N.J.-based NYCE since 1996, is leaving the network and will be replaced by Steven A. Rathgaber, currently …

While First Data Corp. reported strong financial results today for its second quarter, its chief executive fielded a barrage of questions on concerns that have emerged recently for the company, including J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.'s decision to switch its account processing from FDC to rival TSYS Inc., with the …

Carl F. Pascarella's decision to retire in September 2005 as chief executive of Visa USA is being greeted in the payments industry with expressions of praise for his leadership in transforming the San Francisco-based bank card network from a one-dimensional credit card company into a force to be reckoned with …

A trade group that is developing a new transaction-messaging standard based on extensible markup language (XML) for financial transactions says it is now turning its attention to point-of-sale payments. The Interactive Financial Exchange Forum, Falls Church, Va., released earlier this year a version of the Interactive Financial Exchange (IFX) standard …

Severe price compression in the merchant acquiring market drove together two major players and led to further consolidation in the merchant-processing business as Bank of America Corp. today announced it has acquired National Processing Inc.for $1.4 billion in cash. BofA says it will combine its Merchant Services unit with NPC …

The movement among banks to waive or eliminate consumer fees on electronic bill payment is rapidly pushing the transaction channel into the mainstream of consumer payment products, according to the chief executive of Online Resources Corp. “Free works,” declared Matthew P. Lawlor, who is also chairman of the McLean, Va.-based …

UniRush Financial Services, a unit of UniRush LLC, New York, today announced an agreement with Milwaukee-based processor Metavante Corp. that allows holders of its prepaid Rush Visa card to use cash accounts linked to the card to make electronic bill payments. The service went live Friday, UniRush says, and is …