Economy

As the pace of change quickens in the payments industry, ISOs and processors have to match that speed or risk falling behind. In the process, the business is becoming less friendly.

Now or later? When sales agents sign up a merchant for transaction services, they can choose the immediate gratification of an upfront bonus or wait for the delayed pleasure of residual payments.

Is tiny the next big thing for ISOs? Or is bigger better? That’s the dilemma ISOs have been facing ever since Square Inc. came on the scene two years ago, promoting card acceptance to babysitters, gardeners and one-man-band merchant outfits.

The Asian American Trade Association Council, which makes collective purchases for members through its Watchdog program, has selected Payment Alliance Inc. international to provide ATMs and transaction services.

LightSpeed Retail Inc. is integrating the Merchant Warehouse Genius Customer Engagement Device into its online point-of-sale systems to help retailers prepare for the payments industry’s uncertain future.

Payments are becoming secondary to marketing in mobile wallets, experts say. They contend that the emphasis is shifting toward using smartphones to deliver consumer-facing digital coupons, loyalty points or targeted promotions.

PayPal Inc.’s embrace of ISOs could signal a trend among the payment industry’s new or expanding players -- but not necessarily right away.

A member of the acquiring industry hears firsthand about micromerchants' frustration at Square's lack of tech support.

Experts are urging ISOs to expand beyond basic transaction services. They could cite he example of Merchant Warehouse, which has announced four products in its Genius suite.

CHICAGO – As new systems appear and old ones fade, ISOs are wondering who will triumph in the “mobile wallet wars.” According to the mobile-pay venture Isis, a clear winner may never emerge.

A company that specializes in digging up sales leads has made the merchant-acquiring business one of its main areas of specialization.

The term “friendly fraud” might strike many as a misnomer. It’s decidedly unfriendly for consumers to charge online goods or services on their credit cards and then deny they made the purchase.

Cardtronics Inc. has introduced a product that enables financial institutions to steer their customers to ATMs in their surcharge-free networks.

Attendance reached a record-breaking 874 at the Western States Acquirers Association 2012 Conference last week in Huntington Beach, Calif., up from the previous record of 722 set last year in Burlingame, Calif.

Capital Access Network Inc. is expanding its annual funding capacity to $1 billion.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Don’t seek immediate gain when networking with colleagues, an executive advised here Wednesday at the Western States Acquirers 2012 Conference.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- Acquirers stared into the face of the “enemy” here Thursday, and he didn’t really seem that scary

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- The days are just about gone when independent sales organizations and sales agents can sign up merchants for transaction services simply by offering a price a few basis points lower than the completion.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Don’t seek immediate gain when networking with colleagues, an executive advised here Wednesday at the Western States Acquirers 2012 Conference.