The American Express OPEN “Small Business Monitor” shows 70% of entrepreneurs purchase and source goods and services from other small businesses while 96% support their local communities. This support includes donating to local causes (70%) and participating in community projects (49%) while 83% shop at independently-owned businesses in their neighborhoods. Meanwhile, 54% are optimistic about…
SumUp, allowing merchants to take debit and credit card payments with their smartphones, partnered Revel Systems, a leading provider of high-tech tablet-based cash registers. This will equip Revel Systems to process debit and credit payments, as well as cash, using the SumUp API. Revel Systems already provides iPad-based tills to over 1000 chain stores and restaurants throughout the US, Canada, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. This partnership will enable Revel Systems to grow into the European market. Their tills run on an award-winning mobile point-of-sale platform that allows for real-time reporting, secure, centralized management, and rapid scalability.
MasterCard has been recognized as a top corporate leader for diversity by DiversityInc, having jumped 10 spots to fifth place of top 50 companies. MasterCard puts a premium on nurturing an inclusive culture where employees with wide-ranging backgrounds and qualities are highly motivated, engaged and connected. The company’s culture is built on the fundamental belief that by bringing together people with a variety of strengths, skills and experiences, it will be best able to meet the unique payment needs of those they serve. The survey in its 14th year ranks based on CEO Commitment; Human Capital; Corporate and Organizational Communications; and Supplier Diversity.
The Board of Directors of Oberthur Technologies appointed Didier Lamouche CEO. Well-known in the industry, Lamouche brings to the role more than 25 years’ experience gained across multiple industries like Semiconductor, Information Technology and Wireless communications. He replaces Xavier Drilhon and is determined to support and accelerate the growth ambition of the company, across all its strategic segments and enforce its leadership on a worldwide basis.
Financial incentives and mobile-based financial-management tools could increase consumers’ use of smartphones as payment devices, according to an Accenture survey of 4,000 smartphone users. More than half of respondents who currently use their smartphones to make payments said they were highly likely to pay by phone more often if they could use their phone to track receipts (cited by 60 percent of respondents), manage their personal finances (56 percent), or show proof of insurance (56 percent) or of a valid driver’s license (54 percent). In addition, more than half of those who currently make mobile payments also said they were highly likely to pay by phone more often if they were offered: instant coupons from retailers when buying by phone (cited by 60 percent of respondents); reward points stored on their phone for future purchases at the store (51 percent); coupons that could be automatically stored on their phone (50 percent); or preferential treatment, such as priority customer service (50 percent).
TSYS Merchant Solutions merchant acquirer launched its TSYS “Pay in Your Currency” and “Shop in Your Currency” multi-currency solutions, powered by Planet Paymentinternational and multi-currency payment processor, to TSYS Merchant Solutions’ merchants. The “Pay in Your Currency” solution gives eligible international customers the choice of paying in their home currency at the point of sale, offering significant benefits to TSYS merchants and their customers. Customers are handed a receipt, or pointed to an electronic terminal which displays the transaction amounts in U.S. dollars and their home currency, with the daily exchange rate and other service details. The customer chooses their currency on the receipt or device. Meanwhile, “Shop in Your Currency” allows e-commerce merchants to more effectively target foreign markets and more sales from international customers.
VeriFone Systems announced WorldPay electronic payment processing solutions completed its compatibility certification for VeriFone’s “VX 520” countertop payment system. WorldPay will also offer a secure audio card-reader version of VeriFone’s PAYware Mobile for small merchant mobile payments using smartphones, tablets and other smart devices. The “VX 520” of the VX Evolution family offers an advanced countertop payment device and supports VeriShield Total Protect for end-to-end encryption and tokenization. WorldPay is also in process of certifying compatibility of the VX 805 and VX 820 PIN pads and wireless VX 680, which like the VX 520 offer contactless and smart card payment acceptance capabilities that are crucial to emerging NFC wallet technology and EMV compliance. The portable VX 680 is available with WiFi and Bluetooth or GPRS communications for merchants on the move.
Chase ranked #1 for both U.S. and global banks in Forrester Research’s 2013 Global and U.S. Mobile Banking Functionality Rankings for a score of 71 out of 100 – fifteen points above the report’s average score of 56 in the 15-bank study. Chase stood out for its mobile banking offerings across multiple touchpoints, including smartphone apps, mobile websites and two-way Short Message Service (SMS). Forrester also recognized Chase’s money movement features such as bill pay – including the ability to add a payee – and mobile transfer capabilities. Chase Mobile provides apps on multiple platforms and Instant Action Alerts to notify customers of a low balance, and to allow them to transfer money by replying to the text message.
MoneyGram international money transfer service is now available in Liechtenstein, expanding its country network to 198. Provided through Valora, a long-time MoneyGram agent based in Switzerland, the initial service allows consumers to send money to friends and family from its Valora location in Schaan. Additional locations and service options, including the ability to receive remittances internationally, are planned for later in 2013. Coincidentally, MoneyGram reported an 18% transaction growth in remittance sends originating outside of the United States both for the fourth quarter and full year of 2012.