Near Field Communication technology is regaining its momentum as a payments tool with Desjardins Group's planned mobile payments rollout.

Since becoming CEO of U.K.-based VocaLink last year, David Yates has launched a separate mobile payments unit while keeping the processor focused on speeding up payments throughout Europe.

ONTARIO, Calif. – The California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues have launched a new business unit, Image Arc Marketing Services – a creative marketing firm to serve and assist member credit unions, affiliates, and business partners.

LONDON – The number of payment cards worldwide increased by 12% in 2012 to reach a landmark 10 billion, according to a new report from specialist research and consulting firm RBR.

AUSTIN, Texas – Mobile end-user engagement continued to strengthen in July, according to data released as part of the Monkey Insights survey conducted by Malauzai Software.

LAS VEGAS – One Nevada Credit Union is running a marketing campaign promoting its suite of checking products called BACON – an acronym for Bad A$$ Checking from One Nevada.

Micros Systems, which provides services for the hospitality and retail industries, is collaborating with PayPal to provide payments technology.

SmartMetric Inc. has requested summary judgment on its claim that Visa and MasterCard infringed on its smart card patent.

The Online Lenders Alliance wants Nacha, the group that manages a U.S. payment system, to clarify warnings on illegal use of the network by payday-loan firms, saying the message is posing a threat to legitimate business.

A new Baltimore federal court filing shows that more than $2.9 million was seized by the Department of Homeland Security from Mutum Sigillum LLC, a U.S. subsidiary of Tokyo-based Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox, in May.

Payment processor Mercury Payment Systems is collaborating with PayPal to allow Mercury's software developers, resellers and 80,000 mostly local merchant clients to accept PayPal payments in stores.

Schools are increasingly relying on digital payments for the cafeteria and activities — a trend that is proving to be fertile ground for payments technology as frantic parents seek ways to keep their kids properly fed and supplied for their education.

As check registers and passbooks fade into obscurity for a growing number of bank customers, Realex seeks to further modernize payments by putting a human face on accounts.

MADISON, Wis. – The Filene Research Institute is partnering with digital strategy research firm Novarica with a new Digital Strategies program it said is designed to a enhance credit unions’ online sales.

ONTARIO, Calif. – With new data showing 32% of U.S. adults bank using their mobile devices, every credit union should have a mobile strategy, according to Brad Ganey, COO with Catalyst Corporate.

With another iPhone announcement expected in the next month, a recent Apple patent application for digital content gifting could provide insight into how Apple would develop Near Field Communication technology for payments.

While some Bitcoin businesses hesitate to respond to the evolving regulatory framework surrounding digital currency, Robert Pargac, director of global investigations and compliance at Navigant Consulting, says Bitcoin businesses should stay proactive and aggressive in their approach to risk and compliance.

Recognition by a market-based standards organization such as ISO, in the form of a three-letter code, would set the stage for increasing market depth and liquidity of bitcoin trading — in turn facilitating overall consumer and merchant adoption.

Payments processor Total System Services, or TSYS, has added a fraud mitigation program from Fair Isaac Corp., a data analysis and credit risk company commonly known as FICO.

The German Finance Minister has ruled that Bitcoin is a “currency unit” and a form of “private money," and that the digital currency's users should pay sales tax as well as capital gains tax, Ars Technica reported on Aug. 18.