Merchant

Discover Financial Services can check off another country in its plan to become a truly global card-acceptance brand.

As merchants crack down on fraud, resources to help investigate and recoup their losses from so-called “friendly fraud” are on the rise, helping to thwart the trend, observers say.

A new survey of risk managers across Europe shows many expect an improvement in credit card and auto loan performance in the next six months, with much less optimism for mortgage loans and small business loans.

Zumogo, ProPay Inc.’s new social-media payment tool for mobile phones, leaves out vital information that ProPay says some competitors leave in.

Three companies that resell consumers’ credit reports settled Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that they did not take reasonable steps to protect consumers' personal information, failures that allowed computer hackers to access that data, the FTC announced Thursday.

SunGard officials announced Thursday that the company has acquired PredictiveMetrics, a company that provides predictive scoring and analytical services for collections, credit, utilities and other markets.

MasterCard Worldwide CEO Ajay Banga expressed concern about the effects of the Federal Reserve Board’s proposed debit-interchange rules, but he also sketched out various scenarios in which MasterCard may benefit during an analyst conference call to discuss fourth-quarter earnings.

Continuing its expansion into newer payments-related territory, Visa Inc. intends to focus on increasing its presence in mobile payments, online commerce and funds transfers, Joseph W. Saunders told analysts during a conference call to discuss fiscal first-quarter earnings.

A test of an open transit payment card along a 14-mile commuter rail line near Philadelphia also will gauge the effectiveness of post-paying for transit rides.

Sports-graphics retailer Fathead LLC will use ModaSolutions Corp.’s online eBillme service as an option at checkout, the alternative payment provider announced Feb. 3.