Fiserv Inc. has purchased Mobile Commerce Ltd., a provider of mobile banking and payments technology, the Brookfield, Wis.-based banking-technology company announced March 1.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – Mid-Atlantic Corporate FCU launched a joint initiative with Bluepoint Solutions to assist credit unions with lower check volumes to adopt Check 21-enabled branch capture, and to enable credit unions of all sizes to convert check processing operations to the corporate’s systems.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – ESL FCU said yesterday it has installed March Networks’ Financial Solution to secure its new corporate headquarters, retail banking branches and standalone ATMs.

Oberthur Technologies of America Corp. is in talks with U.S. issuers planning to migrate their debit and credit card portfolios to EMV chip-and-PIN technology “over the next couple of quarters,” an executive for the card manufacturer tells PaymentsSource.

The number of U.S. credit card accounts rose slightly during last year’s fourth quarter, to 380 million accounts from 378 million the previous quarter, reversing a trend of declining accounts that had gone on since the second quarter of 2008, according to the New York Federal Reserve.

Celcom Axiata Bhd. is teaming with Maybank Bhd. to enable Maybank’s subscribers to make immediate payments of their mobile bills, a spokesperson from the Malaysia-based mobile operator tells PaymentsSource.

BOSTON – After a two-year hiatus, credit unions are planning significant boosts in their spending on Information Technology, with much of the focus switching to so-called Cloud Computing. A new study release by IT consultants Aite Group shows that 65% of participants have budgeted more money for IT this year, with 35% citing increases of more than 10%. Mobile banking continues to be the top IT priority, with remote deposit capture and enhancement of member experience, such as use of e-statements or social media, close behind. But the new buzzword for IT departments is cloud computing, or location-independent computing. Aite found that 41% of credit unions plan to make significant investments in cloud computing this year or next, with cost savings and disaster recovery being the driving motivations. Other purposes for implementing cloud computing are: it enables greater focus on business issue; it enables more effective security monitoring; it helps address more complex auditing requirements; and it enables a credit union to outsource compliance monitoring. Many credit unions are looking at technology solutions to help them attract a greater membership from younger people, the study found. Aite said the average age for credit union members is in the mid-40's. Aite also said it previous surveys found that only 4% of Gen Yers would be very likely to consider a credit union the next time they needed a financial product and 18% didn’t even know what a credit union is. The study was based on a survey of 83 credit unions, most of them over $100 million in assets, in December and January.

ATLANTA – First Data said two credit unions, Alabama CU and Innovations FCU, are among the first institutions to sign on for its new mobile banking product, which uses technology from mFoundry. First Data‘s Mobile Manager – mBanking product enables financial institutions to offer all three modes of mobile banking: SMS, mobile web, and downloadable applications, including a branded iPhone app available through the App Store online store. First Data plans to roll out the same capabilities for Android phones, with availability in the Android Market during the first half of 2011. The Mobile Manager integrates seamlessly with First Data’s FundsXpress online banking platform, enabling a consistent experience with the same capabilities as online banking on a mobile device, and only one set of logon credentials to manage. First Data offers the Mobile Manager – mBanking solution as a fully hosted and integrated service. This results in lower costs for a financial institution than developing a solution in-house. Two Texas banks are the first to go live with the system, American Bank of Texas and Waggoner National Bank.

The anticipated proliferation of Near Field Communication technology has prompted a fledging company to create a device that features contactless functionality consumers would use to make payments, store loyalty cards, and communicate with NFC-enabled smartphones and posters, PaymentsSource has learned.

RED BANK, N.J. — Life is about to get a little bit easier for the 22,000 members of United Teletech Financial.

Dubai later this year plans to extend its mobile platform for civil-service payments, an official from Dubai eGovernment tells PaymentsSource.

The Bank of Tanzania and the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority have agreed to jointly oversee of the country’s mobile-payments market, an official at the central bank confirms to PaymentsSource.

NetSpend Holdings Inc.'s fourth-quarter net income grew 79% from a year earlier, to $6.3 million, as customers loaded more money onto its prepaid debit cards and spent more frequently.

The company behind the eBillme online-payment system has announced a partnership with Discover Financial Services that furthers the alternative payments provider’s strategy of aligning itself with mainstream players.

The Central Bank of Kenya has established new regulations for the country’s mobile funds-transfer market designed to protect consumers and mitigate market risk, a spokesperson for the bank tells PaymentsSource.

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Union Square FCU signed with Diebold to provide it with monitoring, remote services and enhanced security for its network of 21 ATMs. The agreement also includes the addition of Diebold's deposit automation technology to six of the credit union's ATMs. The $220 million credit union selected Diebold to provide several integrated services, including Advisor ATM status monitoring, OpteView remote services, endpoint protection monitoring, software subscription management and help desk support. The combination of these services will enhance Union Square's ATM uptime and security, while enabling the credit union to minimize its operational infrastructure and equipment investments. Automated note and check verification at the deposit automation-enabled ATMs will allow Union Square to evolve from posting transactions the next business day to real-time posting, giving members immediate access to their deposited funds. In addition, Union Square will now collect deposits for those ATMs weekly instead of daily, which reduces the frequency and cost of ATM deposit collections.WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Union Square FCU signed with Diebold to provide it with monitoring, remote services and enhanced security for its network of 21 ATMs.

BRILLION, Wis. – Best Advantage CU said it has implemented Xtend’s Xtension Contact Center to assist its staff following its recent core data processing conversion project. The credit union recently converted to the CU*BASE application suite from CU*Answers, Inc., and signed with Xtend to help handle an increased volume of basic member service and online banking calls that typically accompanies a core system conversion. Xtend is a CUSO based in Grand Rapids, Mich.BRILLION, Wis. – Best Advantage CU said it has implemented Xtend’s Xtension Contact Center to assist its staff following its recent core data processing conversion project.

TEAGUE, Texas – Freestone CU has signed with Fifth Third Processing Solutions for electronic funds transfer services including ATM and debit card processing services, card production, fraud protection, debit marketing, rewards programs, and gateway services. Fifth Third Processing is a joint venture owned by Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Bancorp and Boston venture fund Advent International.TEAGUE, Texas – Freestone CU has signed with Fifth Third Processing Solutions for electronic funds transfer services including ATM and debit card processing services, card production, fraud protection, debit marketing, rewards programs, and gateway services.

ATLANTA – Georgia’s Own CU signed with Fiserv to install the company’s account-processing, online banking and other software products, a new client for Fiserv. The $1.6 billion credit union will install Fiserv’s Acumen data processing system, as well as ZashPay, a person-to-person payment service; the Corillian online-banking technology; CheckFree electronic bill payments; and Mobile Money mobile banking. The value of the contract was not disclosed.ATLANTA – Georgia’s Own CU signed with Fiserv to install the company’s account-processing, online banking and other software products, a new client for Fiserv.

Etisalat Group last week inked a strategic agreement to offer Western Union Co.’s Mobile Money Transfer service in the 18 countries where it the Dubai-based mobile operator operates.