Cards

A wristwatch in the United Kingdom can do a lot more for its owner than provide an accurate time, if it happens to be a new watch2pay model that can complete contactless payments.

Cardtronics Inc. has agreed to replace the ATMs deployed at National Lumber & Hardware Co. locations in Puerto Rico, the nation’s largest ATM operator announced Dec. 8.

Fiserv Inc. has inked an agreement with Sunrise Community Banks to provide processing services for general-purpose reloadable prepaid debit and gift cards, the companies announced Dec. 8.

Executives from merchant-funded rewards companies dislike the title attached to the service they provide.

NEW YORK–It is a brave new world for retail bankers, who are struggling to mend their reputations and relationships with their increasingly disgruntled customers.

Contactless-payment terminal maker Ingenico SA has fueled a prepaid card project for Turkey’s public transportation system, the France-based company announced Dec. 6.

Many merchant-funded rewards companies try to entice bank credit or debit card holders with offers in their online statements. Two vendors are teaming up to bring those offers to the broader Web.

Getting businesses to adopt electronic payments has been frustrating for banks, which still face high use of paper checks and exceptions.

Phishing is old news, which is part of why it is so dangerous today.

Starbucks Corp.’s ability to integrate its closed-loop prepaid card with a loyalty program has helped drive customer usage of the company’s smartphone application to make mobile payments, notes one industry observer.

The battle between insurance firms and credit card networks in South Korea has intensified as both sides refuse to back down from their respective positions on the issue of card-related fees, opening the door to potential regulatory intervention.

By upgrading its compliance-reporting software, ControlScan Inc. plans to save independent sales organizations and merchant acquirers time and money when helping small-business merchants remain compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, the data-security program provider announced Dec. 2.

Meriwest Credit Union of San Jose, Calif., will use VSoft Corp.’s technology for remote deposit capture in branches and at ATMs, the vendor announced Dec. 6.

Western Union Co. has launched its Small Business Payments service, the company announced Dec. 6.

As it charts its course in mobile banking, Ameriana Bank faces competition in its eastern Indiana footprint from much larger banks that have been offering mobile banking for years, such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. and PNC Financial Services Group Inc.

NEW YORK–Public outrage over new bank fees is paying off at financial technology startup PerkStreet Financial Inc.

Contactless card issuance continues to grow, creating an opportunity for providers of sleeves designed to protect such cards to prosper. But the need for such a security measure may be low, one analyst contends.

Citigroup Inc.’s lucrative partnership with American Airlines is widely expected to weather the carrier’s bankruptcy process.

Casio Computer Co. Ltd. plans to make available in February a handheld payment terminal designed for public employees who need to take card payments and provide printed receipts, the electronic devices manufacturer announced Dec. 1.

Payment card-based merchant-funded incentives are saturating the market, leading observers to predict market consolidation among service providers could occur soon.