Despite sluggish economic growth and worrisome unemployment rates, certain indicators on the eve of payment card issuers releasing third-quarter results suggest credit and debit card purchase volumes remained relatively healthy through September, according to two new reports from New York-based equity firm Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.

Leveraged loan issuance slumped in the third quarter, but the amount funded by deposit-rich banks held up and investment grade volume was healthy. Now, dollar shortages at European banks are adding a new dimension to the turmoil.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is close to awarding a contract for its open-loop contactless fare collection system.

DULUTH, Ga. – NCR Corp. announced this morning it is working with PayPal and S1 Corp. to enable real-time person-to-person payments from a credit union or bank ATM to almost anyone with a mobile phone or e-mail address.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Redstone FCU is developing new member applications with Open Solutions’ DNAappstore and DNAcreator.

Participants in a large international credit card-skimming ring allegedly stole credit card data from thousands of U.S. and European consumers over a 16-month period, resulting in at least $13 million in losses, the Queens, N.Y. district attorney’s office announced.

Participants in a large international credit card-skimming ring allegedly stole credit card data from thousands of U.S. and European consumers over a 16-month period, resulting in at least $13 million in losses, the Queens, N.Y. district attorney’s office announced Oct. 7.

As EMV chip-and-PIN payment card technology spreads to new markets, an Argentina technology company sees opportunity in developing a biometric fingerprint-scanner to replace personal identification numbers for card authentication.

The Reserve Bank of India has released a final roadmap and a fixed timeline for banks to ensure the systems they use to process card transactions are secure.

PALO ALTO, Calif. – Stanford FCU, the first financial institution in the country to offer Internet banking, has signed with Open Solutions to convert to the company’s DNA core processing system with its new DNAweb Internet banking solution.

CHICAGO – Harland Financial Solutions and its Harland Clarke affiliate announced this morning during the annual BAI Retail Delivery Conference the launch of their own person-to-person payment network for credit unions and banks.

KENNEWICK, Wash. – Tri-Cities FCU said it has signed with FLEX to implement the company’s core processing solution.

MULBERRY, Fla.-Magnify Credit Union could shed the traditional, generic ".com" domain next year and emerge with a precise, creative online identity: www.magnify.cu.

LAS VEGAS-During Fiserv's recent "Innovate 2011" client conference here, Credit Union Journal asked: "Which technology investment has your credit union made that has really shown a good return on investment?"

Five months after migrating to a full-featured online banking system, Q2 online banking, total logins have nearly doubled at SAC FCU.

GRAND MARAIS, Minn.-Electronic statements are suddenly popular at North Shore FCU here-and the credit union is saving $900 per month by generating the documents internally.

SPOKANE, Wash.-IT managers are going to love how virtualization makes it easy to manage computer servers, but they are also being urged to watch out for three potential hazards: storage options, server sprawl and paranoid end-user.

BRIDGETON, Mo.-Mixing banking transactions with social media may seem like oil and water to many members, but some credit unions see the value in allowing members to view transactions at Facebook or transfer money at Twitter.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.-When members walk in with a deposit at Western FCU here, they may walk out with a funded loan.

NCO Group Inc. officials have announced plans to hire 500 seasonal and full-time employees at its Joplin, Mo. call center in the next several weeks.