Consumer credit card originations rose 32% during the first eight months of this year, though the amount of total new credit issued still lags behind pre-recession levels by a full 45%, recently released data show.

Google next year plans to expand its application program interfaces to make it easier for third parties such as Groupon, merchants and banks to interact with the Google Wallet, according to Rob von Behren, co-founding engineer for Google Wallet.

The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against an operation that allegedly violated the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule by helping clients make illegal robocalls, call phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry and mask Caller ID information.

Two years after launching its first version of mobile banking, U.S. Bancorp has upgraded the service by integrating it with online banking and expanding its remote deposit check capture offering to include more devices.

South Korea’s telecommunication regulator is partnering with mobile-phone operators and card networks in a pilot to test a Near Field Communication-based mobile-payment system on the country’s busiest shopping street.

PORTLAND, Ore. – OnPoint Community CU yesterday became the first credit union to launch iCashé Mobile Wallet from Tyfone, a simple and fun way to purchase gift cards on mobile phones and send them to anyone instantly by text message or email.

HUNTINGTON, Utah – Desertview FCU has signed with TRC Interactive to train its staff with TellerSolutionOnline.

PROVO, Utah – MoneyDesktop, a provider of personal financial management solutions to credit unions and banks, said yesterday it has acquired MyJibe, a provider of PFM software.

VISTA, Calif. – Bluepoint Solutions announced the launch of its ImagePoint Mailroom system which enables financial institutions to capture and electronically process both deposits and remittances, including credit card, mortgage, auto and other loan payments, received in the mailroom.

Microsoft Corp. insists the online service associated with the Xbox 360 video-game console did not experience a security breach despite some United Kingdom consumers who say they fell victim to a phishing scam tied to the system.

Consumers who travel overseas may present the best opportunity for U.S. card issuers to roll out EMV chip cards and remain competitive in that market, according to Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Golden 1 CU has rolled out remote mobile deposits by cellphone for iPhone, BlackBerry and Android devices.

Retail shoppers who download a Shopkick Inc. mobile application on their smartphones to earn rewards points, or “kicks,” by walking into a store now may earn extra points by paying for purchases with a Visa-branded credit or debit card, Visa announced Nov. 21.

International funds-transfer providers have begun to acknowledge that most consumers in their remittance-heavy target markets use mobile phones as a primary tool. As such, services that require visits to a physical location or access to a personal computer are unlikely to catch on, some insiders say.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is rolling out its third chip card, which also marks the first U.S.-issued airline card to use EMV technology, the company announced Nov. 21.

Average consumer credit card debt in October fell 11%, to $6,600, from a year earlier but rose 1% from the previous month, according to Credit Karma’s latest U.S. Credit Score Climate report.

Consumers sued a total of 498 different collection agencies and creditors between Oct. 16 and 31, down 17% from 597 during the first half of the month, according to data from U.S. district courts.

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-The nearly 10% increase in consumer loan volume at Empower FCU this year was made possible by electronic documents and signatures over the web.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.-Try to guess the top five mission-critical business processes at Finance Center FCU. If you think "maintaining headquarters" is on the list, you guessed right. And if you missed it, don't worry: many people get that one wrong, according to William Hord, VP-enterprise risk management at the $430-million CU.

SPARTANBURG, S.C.-Carolina Foothills FCU (CFFCU) here knew it was time to ask for IT help when it merged with nearby Community 1 CU. CFFCU, after all, is migrating to Community's core system, and Community is adopting CFFCU's managed IT services.