Bank technology

The top three financial tech vendors all say that big-bank spending remains largely on hold, unless the investment is absolutely necessary or can generate an immediate return.

By offering imaging technologies, for example, banks can generate more revenue by refining a steady flow of deposit business through the Web from the home, office or ATM.

Fiserv Inc. is evaluating a check imaging system that enables consumers to deposit checks using their mobile phones.

Visa is hoping to get off to a quick start in supply-chain management by launching a business-to-business payments network with U.S. Bancorp.

Citigroup Inc. plans to fold its year-old "myFi" discount financial-advice platform after losing the primary source of referrals when it sold the Smith Barney brokerage unit in May.

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Western Union Co.'s push for bank partnerships is advancing on a new front — expedited payments. The Englewood, Colo., company has signed a string of deals this year to offer its remittance services through bank branches, and it said Tuesday that Wells Fargo & Co. of San Francisco has become the first financial company to offer its same-day bill-payment capabilities online. As the first major bank to offer such speedy payment services, Wells Fargo's move may prompt other companies to follow suit.

The convenience store marketing company Royal Buying Group has agreed to recommend automated teller machine services from Cardtronics to its clients.

Global Payments said income fell in its fiscal 2009 fourth quarter, which ended May 31, and it said weakness in its remittance business was largely to blame.

PNC Financial Services Group is betting that its new Virtual Wallet Student account will help parents of college-age students get more involved with their children's spending — and that it will turn the parents into PNC customers as well.

PayPal recently spotlighted innovative electronic payment formats that do not involve the familiar trappings of a Web page or digital shopping cart.

Technology Market Watch

A group of large prime brokerage banks are trying to reduce their costs and risks in foreign exchange settlement by standardizing the processes of clearing high-velocity trades for hedge funds and other retail traders.

PayPal Inc. expects to generate new sources of business when it introduces its open development platform in November, executives said Thursday.

NCR Corp. said its revenue suffered from lower hardware sales to the financial services industry and other markets.

Metavante Technologies reported second-quarter earnings Thursday that topped analysts' estimates, and raised its full-year forecast.

The administration's plan needs a way to provide consumers with reliable and systematic decisions on eligibility for the many loan workout and refinance options.

As financial management tools become a more common online banking feature, executives have realized that to be successful, they have to be different.