Bank technology

Though they are optimistic that near-field-communication mobile payments can make a splash in the United States, industry executives disagree on whether consumers want to carry phones with the technology.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it is eager to deploy chip-and-PIN card technology as a stronger barrier against point of sale card fraud but that card issuers are balking.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it is eager to deploy chip-and-PIN card technology as a stronger barrier against point of sale card fraud but that card issuers are balking.

Socialwise Inc.'s BillMyParents envisions a future where teenagers' spending becomes more social in nature — and parents can put a curfew on their kids' spending if necessary.

VeriFone Holdings Inc. has changed its name to VeriFone Systems Inc. The Holdings part of the name dated to the 1990s, when Hewlett-Packard Co. owned VeriFone, a VeriFone representative said.

Consumers' changing spending habits coming out of the recession present payments companies with an opportunity to deliver new products and services, a MasterCard Inc. executive says.

Sen. Tom Harkin has dropped plans to impose a 50-cent cap on automated teller machine surcharges, the National Association of ATM ISOs and Operators reported Wednesday.

With threats to interchange fees growing, issuers are looking for ways to hand off more of the costs of rewards programs to merchants.

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Visa Inc. has developed a social networking site tied to its sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament that it hopes will encourage fans to use its cards.

IPayment Inc., a processor based in Nashville, has agreed to resell Roam Data Inc.'s RoamPay mobile phone card-acceptance system.

Fidelity National Information Services Inc. plans a recapitalization and share buyback after an investor group ended talks to acquire the company in what would have been the largest leveraged buyout in three years.

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Fraudsters tie up the phone lines; phisher forgets to renew his domain name; Facebook ramps up security measures; another suspect arrested in TJX breach; and more.

Banks have devoted much of their mobile banking efforts to making apps for Apple Inc.'s popular iPhone, but a rival system may be more important to consumers who handle their finances by phone.

BPS SA says it is Europe's first bank to deploy an automated teller machine with biometric security.

The ATM Industry Association and vault-cash provider Cash Connect are urging automated teller machine operators to lobby against legislation that would limit ATM surcharges.

Bling Nation Ltd. wants to see how well its hands-on approach to deploying mobile payment systems can scale, with a new partnership that gives it access to over 330 potential bank clients.

First Data Corp.'s first-quarter loss widened on a reduced income tax benefit while operating earnings more than doubled and revenue increased on a merchant alliance with Bank of America Corp.

A quick online search of "Citi" and "blog" will call up hundreds of blogs about the banking giant, most of which are entirely beyond Citigroup Inc.'s control and many with decidedly critical posts.