Discover Financial Services

RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 2009-- The Discover U.S. Spending Monitor rose for the second straight month, climbing 2 points in September to 89 (based out of 100). The rise in the Monitor's index is mostly attributed to improved economic sentiment in September. In all, 33 percent of U.S. consumers feel economic conditions are improving, a Monitor high and 2-point increase from August. In September, consumers felt a little better about their personal finances as well. Thirty-three percent rated their finances as good, or excellent, the highest in four months and up a point from August.

Consumer confidence remained high in September, but spending remained flat, according to survey data Discover Financial Services released today. The Riverwoods, Ill.-based company's U.S. Spending Monitor rose to 89 from 87 in August. Discover set the index at 100 when it introduced it in May 2007. One-third of consumers surveyed in September said they felt economic conditions were improving, compared with 31% who said so the previous month. Some 33% of respondents rated their finances as "good" or "excellent," the highest in four months and up a percentage point from August. "Consumers definitely feel economic conditions are getting better, but over half still rate current economic conditions as poor," Julie Loeger, Discover senior vice president of brand and product development, said of the survey results. "Combine that with uncertainty as to where their personal finances are headed, and you can see why consumers are still very cautious with their spending intentions." For the sixth consecutive month, less than half of consumers expected to have money left over after paying monthly bills. Some 47% of consumers surveyed expected to have money left over, a percentage point higher than in August. Nearly one in five survey respondents, or 19%, expected to spend more in the next 30 days, which continues a four-month decline and is down a point from August, according to the survey.

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RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American small business owners tempered their economic outlook this month, remaining cautious about perceived improvements in the economy. After three consecutive months of gains, the latest Discover® Small Business WatchSM index fell to 87.7 in September, down 2.1 points from August.

RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 28, 2009-- Diners Club International® Ltd., a business unit of Discover (NYSE: DFS), and Elavon, a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), today announced the signing of a merchant acquiring agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Elavon will add Diners Club card acceptance to its portfolio of payment processing services. This relationship will create more acceptance opportunities for Diners Club and Discover cardmembers, who eventually will be able to use their cards at Elavon merchants in the U.K. and western Europe.

RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 22, 2009-- Discover ranks best in identity fraud detection among the top 25 U.S. credit card issuers in Javelin Strategy & Research's yearly assessment of identity safety in the credit card industry.

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HOUSTON & BRUSSELS, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 10, 2009-- PULSE, the Discover Financial Services business unit responsible for expanding global cash access for the company, has signed a long-term ATM acquiring agreement with TRIONIS, a European interbank processing network. TRIONIS is jointly owned by retail banks from nine European countries, the European Savings Banks Group and First Data.

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RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 2, 2009-- The Discover U.S. Spending Monitor rebounded in August, rising 3.5 points to 87.0 (based out of 100) as more consumers gained confidence in the economy and their personal finances. In all, 31 percent of U.S. consumers felt economic conditions were improving, a Monitor high and a 7-point increase from July. The rise in confidence also correlated with a 3-point increase in the percentage of consumers who felt their personal finances were getting better. Just over 21 percent felt their finances were improving, the highest number reported since August 2008.

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The study finds that overall credit card customer satisfaction decreases to 703 on a 1,000-point scale--the lowest level since the study's inception in 2007. Overall satisfaction among credit card customers remains the lowest across the financial services industries in which J.D. Power and Associates conducts research, including insurance, banking and investment services.

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CHICAGO, Aug. 27 United Airlines today announced that effective Sept. 2, the airline will accept only credit and debit cards for most onboard purchases on trans-Atlantic flights and on flights to and from Brazil and Argentina. To speed cabin service, provide receipts and increase efficiency, cash will no longer be accepted onboard these flights, except for duty-free purchases.

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RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 2009-- Discover today launched a series of advertisements that celebrates cardmembers and highlights what they "get back" from their Cashback Bonus - both literally and emotionally. The new ads are intended to portray the sense of optimism that many of our cardmembers seek, the everyday things that make them happy, as well as Discover's cash rewards leadership.