In another sign that U.S. consumer credit card issuers are beginning to see some new-account growth following the recession, Equifax Inc. on May 20 reported new bankcard accounts in February were up 28% compared with a year earlier.

CHICAGO–Evolving mobile technology is leading payment companies to develop new business models to capture revenue in a market many observers believe soon will offer enormous opportunities, executives said here May 20 during a panel discussion at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s annual conference.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson’s office on May 20 sued debt collection giant Encore Capital Group Inc. for allegedly using fraudulent “robo-signed” affidavits in lawsuits against consumers.

U.S. banks and payments companies are attracted to China’s explosive population growth and surging economy, but the country’s regulatory climate makes the market a wild card.

Forming new partnerships with mobile-payments players is a top priority for Barclaycard, the new head of the issuer’s U.S. mobile business said May 19.

LAKE JACKSON, Texas – Texas Dow Employees CU has implemented UniFi’s FI-MOBILE co-branded mobile banking application platform.

Australian credit card debt has climbed to a record high, with total outstandings reaching AU$49.3 billion (US$52 billion or 36.8 billion euros) in March, up 4.7% from AU$47.1 billion a year earlier, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia.

A payment-terminal maker and a restaurant-software provider are teaming up to enable restaurant patrons to use Near Field Communication-equipped smartphones to pay their tabs at the table. The contactless technology also integrates transaction information with business software.

CHICAGO–Traditional U.S. payments players should adjust their industry approach to address evolving consumer preferences that are causing dramatic market changes to occur, an executive from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta told attendees here May 19 during a panel discussion at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s annual conference.

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act last year put an end to many consumer credit card practices lawmakers considered unfair, but it had little effect on business-oriented credit cards, most of which continue to skirt the new rules, a new study suggests.

PayPal Inc. has added the ability for users of Android smartphones to fund their accounts by taking a picture of a paper check.

In the rush to offer mobile banking to as many customers as possible, several banks have taken a fragmented approach, making different apps for separate regions, customer bases and even different functions tied to the same account. But a startup says it doesn't have to be that way.

Matt Weidler, IT Asset Coordinator with Evangelical Christian Credit Union of Brea, Calif., has been named the winner of the first annual CO-OP THINK Prize for his idea to allow members to access ATMs using their cell phones.

The average U.S. credit card charge-off rate in April likely fell again as it headed toward historic lows, suggest preliminary monthly account-default data from the nation’s top credit card issuers Moody’s Investors Service analyzed.

DULUTH, Ga. – NCR unveiled new technology this morning that lets consumers video conference with live, remote credit union or bank tellers directly from the ATM.

Dwolla Corp., an alternative payments provider, is developing technology to help banks cut fraud as they start allowing transactions from mobile devices — and also help them decide which mobile devices are worth investing in to begin with.

LATHAM VILLAGE, Mich. – Michigan First CU said it working with CUTEK on a custom programming project.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame FCU announced yesterday has joined shared branching CU Service Centers’ shared branch network.

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. – TopLine FCU has deployed Riverbed Steelhead appliances between its data center and its remote disaster recovery site, helping it to improve the credit union’s business continuity and compliance capabilities.

ATLANTA – Delta Community CU said yesterday it has contracted with PSCU Financial Services Total Member Care call center services to support account and lending member inquiries.