Cards

The use of barcode readers as a transaction and marketing tool¬–a mobile-commerce method popularized by early movers such as Starbucks Inc.¬–is getting a shot in the arm from a new American Express Co. partnership.

PARK CITY, UTAH –Consumer advocates still aren’t sure if new federal caps on debit card interchange will end up helping or hurting consumers.

Larger banks may feel threatened by the string of new, aggressively priced prepaid cards, but a group of credit unions is attempting instead to embrace this trend by modifying their ATMs to sell fee-free prepaid gift cards.

Intel Corp. is using an authentication system from SecureKey Technologies Inc. in its Ultrabook computers.

It appears it might take at least a few more painful payment-terminal tampering breaches like those Lucky Supermarkets and Michaels Stores Inc. experienced last year before U.S. merchants and card issuers take action to support EMV chip cards.

Three Arizona credit unions are partnering with Visa Inc. and Better ATM Services on new technology that is allowing the credit unions to dispense Visa-branded gift cards in addition to cash at their ATMs.

A 17-year-old McDonald’s employee on Jan. 9 was sentenced to 60 days in jail for skimming credit cards at the drive-thru window to steal more than $13,000 from cardholders. He also was ordered to pay $13,000 restitution.

PARK CITY, UTAH¬–Banks are asking for more data from card networks as they attempt to comply with new regulations capping debit card interchange fees.

Prepaid cards have struggled against the perception that they are disposable and predatory. A card designed around the teachings of personal finance guru Suze Orman is aiming to break those stigmas, and it may displace long-term banking relationships in the process.

Given all the time and money banks have been putting into nascent mobile payment systems, the last thing they need is a new competitor parachuting into the mix, and in a more advantageous position.

Visa Inc. appears to have one up on other international brands when it comes to debit card acceptance at at least one Canadian airline.

U.S. Bancorp has implemented the electronic payments system Secure Vault Payments with the Nebraska Child Support Payment Center for parents to make child-support payments online.

The number of companies caught in data breaches exposing consumers’ credit, debit and bank account numbers is growing, but the best way to make amends to customers is not yet clear.

As politicians wrangled over the leadership and authority of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that might turn the spotlight on more abuses, a certain shady payment practice that defrauded thousands of consumers took root and flourished for more than two years.

E*Trade Financial Corp.’s securities unit has introduced mobile deposit for the Apple Inc. iPhone, the company anounced Dec. 5.

NCR Corp. on Jan. 5 joined with social organizations in India to launch an ATM designed to accommodate the blind.

The Members Group and Co-op Financial Services have entered into a strategic partnership to create the largest payment-services provider for credit unions, the companies announced Jan. 5.

Visa Inc. says it plans to convert $1.6 billion of the shares that it holds on behalf of credit unions and banks to help fund a potential $4 billion settlement with merchants over a civil price-fixing suit.

Mumbai, India’s financial capital, soon will have an integrated smart card-based transit-ticketing system if the plans drawn out by the city’s Metropolitan Region Development Authority play out.

SAN FRANCISCO – Visa Inc. said it plans to convert $1.6 billion of its shares which it holds on behalf of credit unions and banks to help fund a potential $4 billion settlement with merchants over a civil price-fixing suit.