Heartland’s School Unit Adds Mobile Payment App

Heartland School Solutions has launched mySchoolBucks, a mobile app that provides parents access to their children’s school related payments.

The Heartland Payment Systems unit's mobile app is available on Apple iOS and Android, and enables parents to view accounts, prepay school fees, replenish accounts using cards or checks, and view receipt activity for their children. Parents can also arrange recurring payments when the account reaches a low balance, and set daily or weekly spending limits.

"Knowing parents are busier than ever, the mySchoolBucks mobile app lets participating districts offer a convenient service to parents, encouraging greater participation in their school meal programs," said Michael A. Lawler, president of the strategic markets group at Heartland Payment Systems, in an Aug. 12 press release. "The app also helps increase flexibility, convenience and control for parents looking to pay for their child's school meals and school activity fees.”

MySchoolBucks is used by more than 2,000 school districts across the country, including Arlington, Va.; Rockwood, Mo.; Humble, Texas; Clay County, Fla.; Williamson County, Tenn.; Northwest Texas; Newton (Mass.) Public Schools; and Pleasanton (Calif.) Unified School District.

Other companies that target youth payments with electronic commerce include Virtual Piggy, a company that enables young people to make payments within parameters set by their parents;  PushCoin, which offers a mobile payment system for teens; and SpendSmart, formerly BillMyParents, which offers prepaid cards promoted by Justin Bieber.