Equifax Card Services will convert to FBS mainframe-based software.

In order to improve speed and flexibility in its merchant-processing operation, Equifax Card Services has licensed a mainframe-based software from FBS Software.

Tampa-based Equifax Card Services, a division of Equifax Financial Services, will be converting the processing of 40,000 retailers to this new FBS software, called Merchant System, in February of 1994.

Equifax Card Services provides merchant processing, debit-card processing, as well a third-party credi-card processing for banks and other institutions.

Introduced in 1987

FBS Software specializes in the development of mainframe software for payment cards, collections, and merchant processing. FBS first introduced that product that is now Merchant System in 1987.

A number of banks use the Merchant System software as an in-house processing solution including Dominion Bancshares, Wachovia, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

Merchant System is based on a "table-driven" architecture that enables processors to select transaction offering according to their individual needs.

In addition, the system provides cost-control and profitability-tracking tools that can be used to identify marginally profitable accounts as well as control costs.

Tailored Strategies

These tools, for example, allow a processor to assess its business from a range of perspectives. The tools provide breakouts of indirect and direct expenses. They can also help processors analyze profitability by individual account, by chain, or by the portfolio as a whole. The system will enable Equifax to tailor billing to individual customers.

It also supports-pass-through transaction interchange, authorization/draft and capture, and fixed-rate and unbundled pricing.

Ms. Sullivan is a freelance writer based in New York.

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