SAN FRANCISCO-The exponential adoption of smart phones has helped stabilize mobile banking rates, and mobile banking growth is poised to begin a steady and upward growth trend in 2011, according to a new study from Javelin Strategy & Research.

LAKE MARY, Fla.-The computer desktops at CFE FCU last twice as long as those at other CUs-and they're most likely more secure.

LAS VEGAS-Virtual desktops are seductive, but it may be best to deploy them slowly. That's according to Michael Norton, manager, information systems, Spokane Teachers CU (STCU), who spoke at the CUNA Technology Council Summit here.

LAKE MARY, Fla.-Kevin Wright, VP-information technology at CFE FCU, offered some key tips for deploying virtual desktops.

The online loan facilitator Prosper Marketplace Inc. has expanded the types of loans available on its website.

Financial institutions should focus on marketing to individuals between the ages of 18 and 34 to grow their emerging consumer-payments businesses. But the so-called Millennial Generation surprisingly is nonplussed by mobile payments, despite its growing exposure in the market, suggest the results of a recent study.

Two more retailers have joined Commonwealth Bank’s contactless-payments initiative in Australia, adding more momentum to adoption of the technology throughout the country.

LAS VEGAS — In their efforts to sign people up for mobile banking, banks can be their own worst enemy.

Allied Interstate Inc., a large collection agency based in St. Louis Park, Minn., will pay $1.75 million to settle federal allegations that employees repeatedly tried to collect debts from the wrong person, the Federal Trade Commission announced Thursday.

TEMPE, Ariz. – TruWest CU has teamed up with Intuit Financial Services to offer text message-based mobile banking and FinanceWorks, an online financial management solution.

Karnataka Bank Ltd. on Oct. 20 became the latest bank in India to launch a biometric smart card for cash withdrawals, according to the Bangalore-based bank.

Zimbabwe’s first mobile-payment system launches next month.

EBay Inc.’s payment unit, which includes PayPal Inc. and Bill Me Later, continues to gain momentum as it expands its offerings into mobile and contactless payments.

CashEdge Inc. hopes to help its client banks reach a wider audience through its Popmoney electronic payment service by making it possible to get cash payments.

Lending Club Corp. is lowering its person-to-person loan rate to better compete with credit cards.

ATLANTA – Delta Community CU said more than 10,000 members have signed on to its mobile banking service, provided by Fiserv.

TUKWILA, Wash. – BECU members now can use a newly launched virtual assistant, “Ask BECU,” at the credit union’s website, to find information by simply entering questions in their own words – just as though they were interacting with an actual BECU representative.

NetSpend Holdings Inc.’s initial day as a public company fared well, but it might have done better had it debuted on the market a week earlier, according to one analyst.

NetSpend Holdings Inc.’s initial day as a public company fared well, but it might have done better had it debuted on the market a week earlier, according to one analyst.

Dynamic Card Solutions’ mobile-payments personalization platform has begun supporting Tyfone Inc.’s SideTap microSD memory card for contactless payments, the Englewood, Colo.-based provider of instant card-issuing technology reported on Oct. 19.