HARRISBURG, Penn. – PSECU has launched a new page at its website aimed at helping consumers make sound financial decisions.

A United Kingdom-based smart card software company has launched Branch in a Box, a proprietary chip card service designed to encourage local spending in the UK and to enable consumers to organize their finances through their credit unions.

VeriFone Holdings Inc. on Thursday named Chase Paymentech Solutions LLC as one of its preferred merchant processors for users of its mobile phone card reader.

Transaction Network Services Inc. and Blue Bamboo have entered into an agreement that enables independent sales organizations, acquirers and processors to sell a mobile-payment system, according to the companies.

Erste Bank Hungary plans to conduct a pilot during which customers may pay utility bills using ATMs, the Budapest-based bank announced April 1.

ERIE, Penn. – Erie General Electric FCU has begun offering its members Intuit Financial Services’ FinanceWorks, an online financial management solution aimed at providing members a more complete and easy way to budget, gain control over their spending, manage debt or student loans, and save.

Residents of the Indian city of Ahmedabad soon will be able to use contactless smart cards to pay their fares in the city’s bus and rapid-transit system, an official from the local transport authority Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd. tells PaymentsSource.

Wall Street is hungry for risk management expertise and appears to be opening up the checkbook with recruiters to get it.

Visa Inc. has promoted Elizabeth Buse to group executive, international from global head of product. Jim McCarthy, previously senior sales executive for North America, succeeds Buse. Rupert Keeley, previously group president for several international regions, is leaving the company.

Ukash, a London-based firm that sells prepaid cash vouchers, has signed a deal with Transact Network Ltd. to issue a “virtual” prepaid MasterCard for Ukash customers in two countries, PaymentsSource has learned.

As many as 100,000 contactless key fobs could be in use this year in a new transit scheme launched in Rio de Janiero, according to Inside Contactless, a France-based contactless-technology firm.

An Indian technology vendor plans to launch a service later this year that will enable investors in India to buy and sell mutual funds using mobile phone text messages.

BROOKFIELD, Wis. – Fiserv has launched a bill payment widget that enables consumers to pay bills from within their online banking homepage.

ELKRIDGE, Md. – CRI Solutions has formed a new strategic partnership with Wycom Systems, Inc., a provider of solutions that improve check, receipt and document processing for businesses and financial institutions.

Hoping to cut its payment card acceptance costs, Royal Dutch Shell PLC in January last year launched its own debit card after learning a $20 purchase settled over the automated clearinghouse system would cost the petroleum company about 60% less to accept than traditional credit cards. Thus far, the company says, the product has exceeded expectations.

OLYMPIA, Wash.-A new law signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire will encourage financial institutions to take extraordinary measures to protect consumers from identity theft and financial fraud, according to the Washington CU League.

Editor's Note: The following exclusive report is part of our ongoing coverage of niche markets. To contribute to our health care stories, or to comment, write to: darren.waggoner@sourcemedia.com

Oita Prefecture, a jurisdiction located on Kyushu Island of southern Japan, plans to roll out a contactless payment card for its bus transport service in the cities of Beppu and Oita.

DENVER – Bellco CU yesterday said it has implemented CO-OP ATM Check Imaging from CO-OP Financial Services in its 50 ATMs.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Credit union executives now can get real time news from NCUA on Twitter.