Technology

With fewer credit cards in their wallets after the recession, U.S. consumers are tapping more of the total credit lines available on the cards they do have while racking up less overall debt than they were a year ago, according to data Experian released March 2.

Dwolla, a low-cost mobile-payments provider, has launched of what it is calling the first location-based payment technology, which will enable users to check in at various retailers and use their mobile phones to pay for purchases, the company. announced March 2.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve are reviewing proposed amendments to the Risk-Based Pricing Rule requiring creditors, as of July 21, 2011, to disclose credit score information to consumers when a score is used in setting or adjusting credit terms.

Small-business owners complain that it's tougher to get loans from banks these days. But now, thanks to a new Small Business Administration program, some won't need banks at all. They will be able to get government-guaranteed loans directly from nonprofits that specialize in economic development.

Axis Bank Ltd. has begun offering a service that allows customers to make income-tax payments at its ATMs in India, becoming the country’s first private-sector bank to do so.

Following a recent report on Missouri's "top scams" by the state's Attorney General Chris Koster, the Missouri Collectors Association issued a statement to clarify that debt collection is a legitimate, legal activity governed by federal and Missouri law.

Heartland Payment Systems Inc.’s Steve Elefant readily admits software-based payment-acceptance products are less secure than those requiring hardware. But that did not prevent the payments processor from supporting Acculynk Inc.’s PaySecure checkout software, which enables merchants to accept PIN-debit cards online.

Signals are mounting that consumer credit card borrowing will begin to grow again this year after going into a decline at the start of the recession in fall 2008. But it will be at least a few more months until that trend is solid, according to economists at Moody’s Investors Service.

Fiserv Inc. announced three acquisitions this week, including its long-time partner for mobile banking.

Fifth Third Bancorp is enhancing its mobile-banking service using technology from ClairMail Inc. designed to improve customers’ ability to access and manage their accounts from smartphones, San Rafael, Calif.-based ClairMail announced Feb. 24.