Heartland, Amex Reach Breach-Related Settlement

Heartland Payment Systems Inc. Thursday announced a settlement agreement with American Express Co. related to the 2008 breach of Heartland’s system, according to the Princeton, N.J.-based processor. Under the agreement, Heartland will pay American Express $3.6 million, resolving all intrusion-related issues between the two parties. The processor did not reveal additional settlement details. “This settlement marks the first agreement with a card brand related to the intrusion,” Bob Carr, Heartland chairman and CEO, said in a statement. Heartland disclosed the breach in January that affected an undetermined number of cards (CardLine, 1/20). Albert Gonzalez, the Miami man who pleaded guilty in September to charges related to the 2007 data breach at TJX Cos. Inc., pleaded guilty early this month to charges he breached the payment networks of Heartland Payment Systems Inc., Hannaford Bros. Co., 7-Eleven Inc. and two unnamed retailers (CardLine, 12/9). A Heartland representative did not return requests for comment by CardLine’s deadline. An AmEx representative declined to provide agreement details.