Cards

Facebook Connect is an increasingly prevalent way for Internet users to skip registration for other websites by using their Facebook credentials instead — and to WePay, it's also a tool for fighting payment fraud.

Google is not including a physical payments card as part of its mobile wallet, at least for the immediate future, according to the tech news site allthingsd.com.

The masterminds behind the recent crime spree that netted $45 million in fraudulent ATM withdrawals focused their attention on prepaid cards, highlighting yet another risk banks face when offering such products.

Through a partnership with Bitcoin payment processor BitPay Inc., Gyft now accepts bitcoins for its mobile gift card product. This extends the virtual currency's reach to more than 50,000 retail locations.

The U.S. Government has charged eight people in a cyber-scheme that prosecutors say used stolen prepaid debit card data to drain millions of dollars from two banks in a matter of hours.

Southwest Airlines, Pacific Convenience & Fuels LLC, RaceTrac and Brinker International Inc. have joined the retailer-driven effort to establish a mobile wallet for merchants and consumers, the Irving, Texas-based MCX announced May 9. Brinker is the parent company of Chili’s Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy.

Anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks can again accept credit card donations after Valitor hf, the Icelandic partner of MasterCard Inc. and Visa Europe Ltd., began processing payments after losing a court case.

Near Field Communication technology has many detractors, yet it continues to advance as a mobile payments instrument. Banks should thus view NFC as an opportunity to ensure they stay relevant to customers' payments, according to a new Celent report.

Advantage Refreshments knows its vending machines look just like those operated by rivals, so it's trying to attract repeat business with a loyalty program from payments hardware maker USA Technologies.

Koupah, which is providing a new point of sale card acceptance tablet, aims to offset credit card transaction fees with ads.

CardFlight aims to make in-person purchases easier by enabling merchants to accept swiped card payments within their own mobile apps.

U.K. retail giant Marks & Spencer is claiming big results in emerging payments technology.

Prepaid card accounts have hit their stride as a viable option for banks to target consumers who are unhappy with traditional products, a Javelin Strategy and Research report says.

Simplee uses a personal financial management-style system with payment capabilities to help healthcare providers cut costs by making bill payments more straightforward.

American Express is pursuing a new chief financial officer to help it manage the opportunities and financial stress borne by the future of digital commerce and emerging merchant acquisition strategies.

Alaric Systems Ltd. will add myPinPad software to its card-not-present security offerings for payments service providers.

American Express Co. said Chief Financial Officer Daniel T. Henry is retiring later this year.

Revel Systems Inc. is launching a system that adds security to swiped card payments by displaying the accountholder's photo on its iPad-based point of sale terminal.

CO-OP Financial Services is offering a card-based local merchant rewards program that encourages credit union members to shop within a small area.

Two payments technology veterans are working on a mobile wallet that would not require changes to the hardware and software at the point of sale.