TSYS to Provide Processing for MLS Direct Network

Total System Services has agreed to provide processing services for MLS Direct Network.

Through its merchant services segment, TSYS will provide full-service payment processing, in addition to chargeback processing, technical support and risk management. The Birmingham, Ala.-based MLS Direct Network serves merchants for credit and debit card processing—it handled about $3.6 billion in credit card processing throughout its network in 2012.

"This new relationship extends our reach to provide service and support to an organization that offers its cooperative buying network members benefits they might not have access to on their own," says Mark Pyke, president of TSYS' merchant services segment, in a press release Feb. 26.

The companies did not disclose terms of the agreement. TSYS and MLS Direct Network did not return requests for comment on the full depth of the partnership by mid-day.

Last week, TSYS entered a deal to buy the prepaid card marketer NetSpend for $1.4 billion, creating a fourth line of business and marking the first time the 30-year-old processor would own a direct-to-consumer business.

TSYS, of Columbus, Ga., last week also extended its payments processing contract with the prepaid card issuer Green Dot for 16 months, despite GreenDot's rivalry with NetSpend.