Cards

Whether a merchant is struggling financially or not, the cost of transaction fees on credit card services may not be as big of an issue as the difficulty understanding the monthly merchant-account statement, an executive with the Michigan Retailers Association believes.

A service that lets consumers make electronic payments to online merchants without disclosing their bank account details is expanding into more financial institutions through a deal with the online banking software vendor Jwaala.

Wells Fargo & Co. likely is about to experience a flood of customer complaints as it starts to experiment with debit card fees to offset revenue losses it expects from the Federal Reserve Board’s interchange-rate cut, observes one analyst.

It made headlines in Europe, but this week’s announcement that three major telecommunication companies in Germany have joined forces to bypass supporting banks in handling Mpass mobile-payment transactions is a concept not likely to quickly take hold in other countries, one industry observer says.

BillMyParents appears to be promoting the concept that “mother knows best.”

Eager to exploit new growth opportunities in a sluggish economy, certain payments-industry technology suppliers already are positioning themselves to capitalize on opportunities Visa Inc.’s U.S. EMV chip card initiative may trigger as participants upgrade systems and equipment, observers say.

The recent turmoil in the financial markets has not yet altered banks’ immediate technology spending plans, Jack Henry & Associates Inc.’s top executive says.

Acknowledging that community banks and credit unions also can have “big bank” ATM security and reliability, NCR Corp. is seeking to expand its ties with smaller financial institutions by offering them an affordable version of its ATM services major banks use, the company announced Aug. 16.

Cardtronics Inc.’s acquisition of Access To Money Inc. continues to keep the ATM independent sales organization on the path it set for itself when the company went public in 2007, notes one observer.

Prepaid card marketing is on the rise as the major card brands set their sights on new markets and opportunities for growth to counter legislative and regulatory changes constraining their ability to grow their more traditional debit and credit card products.

Starbucks Corp. changed its mind about allowing a customer to share his prepaid card with the world.

Credit unions should get a better understanding of MasterCard’s intentions regarding supporting a two-tiered debit interchange system.

Isis, the telecommunication consortium intent on offering a mobile-payment scheme, is building out a wider range of mobile-wallet capabilities to keep up with its aggressive rival, Google Inc.

Cardtronics Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Access To Money Inc. for $21.2 million, the Houston-based ATM independent sales organization announced Aug. 15.

Google Inc.’s Aug. 15 announcement of an agreement to acquire Motorola Mobility Holdings strengthens Google’s position in mobile payments, one observer says.

When Pago Mobile Inc. launched its mobile wallet with 53 merchants in Mountain View, Calif., last week, initial industry reaction focused on the smaller payments-application company venturing into turf more commonly associated with Google Inc. in northern California.

Closing out the tab in a busy restaurant or bar just got easier with the help of a mobile-payments application appropriately called “Tabbedout” from ATX Innovation Inc.

A former waiter at a TGI Friday’s restaurant in Maryland has been indicted on 16 counts of identity theft, theft and conspiracy to commit theft in a credit card skimming scheme that prosecutors say affected 73 individuals.

With Google Inc.’s Aug. 15 announcement of an agreement to acquire Motorola Mobility Holdings, the search giant potentially has turbocharged its mobile-payment plans.

A venture involving Visa Inc. and health care payments processor 3Pea International Inc. is enabling doctors’ offices and hospitals to provide prepaid cards to patients for use in paying copayments on prescription drugs to encourage repeat prescription refills.