Brent Watters

Try buying $30 worth of CDs, paying in part with a $25 open-loop card carrying such network brands as Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Oftentimes the merchant will say no, either because the retailer's payment system does not support so-called "split-tender" transactions with network-branded cards, or because the clerk simply does not know what to do. Either way, the consumer leaves frustrated.

Eight years ago Donna Giannis introduced the concept of gift cards to managers of her restaurant. She was greeted with blank stares and lots of questions about how value could be stored on the cards.

Thus far, banks have had a difficult time coming up with a consistent view on branded prepaid gift card programs.

An evolving payment landscape and increasing consumer expectation that merchants will accept PIN-debit cards for purchases is causing large debit card issuers to re-evaluate their withdrawal restrictions. Issuers are changing policies on how much cash cardholders may access at ATMs or spend each day using PINs at the point of sale.

Consolidation among ATM independent sales organizations continues to occur at an unprecedented pace in an industry struggling with a downturn in transaction volumes, according to a new survey by ATM&Debit News.