Technology

Citigroup Inc. has appointed Jud Linville as CEO of its Citi Cards credit card unit, replacing Paul Galant, who was named Citi’s CEO of global enterprise payments. Linville previously was president and CEO of American Express Co.’s U.S. Consumer Services operations.

Fifth Third Processing Solutions LLC has bought Springbok Services Inc.'s prepaid card processing business as part of Springbok's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Merchants using VeriFi Inc.’s charge-back re-presentment service no longer have to use the Los Angeles-based company’s online payment gateway. Instead, merchants now may use any online payment gateway, and they do not have to switch payment processors, Jeff Sawitke, VeriFi chief product officer, tells PaymentsSource.

Telecom Canada International, a telecommunications and energy consultancy with offices in Canada, the United States and Hong Kong, will refer its Canadian and U.S. clients wanting merchant-processing services to Elavon Inc., the Atlanta-based payment processor announced Sept. 21.

A bank in the United Arab Emirates reportedly soon plans to launch a credit card designed for use exclusively online at Jordan-based Aramex Ltd.’s Shop&Ship service.

High-end spenders who tightened their belts in 2009 are starting to loosen them up, as such consumers likely are behind an overall increase in credit card spending last month, suggests First Data Corp.’s August SpendTrend payment card transaction analysis of all store sales activity that First Data processes.

Bling Nation Ltd. soon will tap in to VeriFone Systems Inc.’s vast reseller network to extend point-of sale acceptance of Bling’s rewards-based contactless BlingTags, the companies announced Sept. 21. The deal also will help extend acceptance of PayPal, traditionally an online payment service, to brick-and-mortar retailers nationally.

With another solid quarter behind Discover Financial Services, the Riverwoods, Ill.- based company now says it is focused on increasing merchant acceptance of its cards, growing its Pulse PIN-debit network and boosting customer retention.

As new legislation and economic issues tighten available credit lines, more and more consumers are turning to network-branded reloadable prepaid debit and payroll cards as alternative payment methods to credit cards and cash, new research suggests.

Loyola University in Chicago this fall plans to help make the areas around the campus safer by reducing the need for students to carry cash when the university updates its campus card program to include off-campus restaurants.