First Data Q2/14
First Data Merchant Solutions up 2% in Q2/14 while Financial Services jumps 6% and the International segment gains 5%. During Q2/14 First Data introduced two new solutions for small to medium businesses (SMB), PerkaT and Insightics.
Heartland Acquiring TouchNet
Heartland Payment Systems announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire TouchNet Information Systems, Inc., an integrated commerce solutions provider to higher-education institutions. TouchNet adds over 600 higher education clients serving over six million students – nearly one-third of the higher-education enrollment in the United States – to Heartland’s Campus Solutions business. Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., the fifth largest payments processor in the United States, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, mobile commerce, e-commerce, marketing solutions, security technology, payroll solutions, and related business solutions and services to more than 275,000 business and educational locations nationwide.
Visa AP Q2
Visa’s (VS) AP Gross Dollar Volume (GDV) was up 9.3%, on a local currency basis, to U.S. $487 billion in Q2/14, compared to US$481 billion in Q1/14 and US$456 billion in Q2/13. VS has an estimated 740 million cards-in-force (CIF) currently in the AP region, compared to 692 million in Q2/13.
Visa Canada Q2/14
Visa’s Canadian region slows down with the overall global economy, gaining less than 8% year-on-year. Visa’s Canadian Cash Dollar Volume (CDV) decreased 1.5%, on a local currency basis in Q2/14 to US$5 billion. However, Visa now has a record 44 million cards-in-force (CIF) currently in the Canadian region.
Social Media Traction
Mobile social behavior is certainly no longer niche, and if Facebook’s success hasn’t already driven marketers to better understand the mobile social user, they should take note now. A new report shows time spent on social applications via smartphone is also significant for consumers who engage with brands on their mobile device.
Payscout Reducing Fraud
In today’s age of increased use of credit cards for global eCommerce transactions, merchants are choosing to expand their accepted methods of payment not only in domestic regions, but abroad, as well. Merchants wanting to sell internationally are subject to high levels of fraud, high fees and misguided information, but this risk can be greatly…
Square EMV Q2/14
Square commits to EMV for 2015 and launches a dedicated EMV destination. The CA firm is also going to release a Square Reader for EMV chip cards.
Vegas Bitcoin ATM
The first Bitcoin ATM “Bitcoin Bodega” opens on the Las Vegas strip by Coin Cloud. The Bitcoin Bodega highlights a recent trend in bitcoin tourism, providing digital currency enthusiasts with a quick, easy and safe means to buy or sell bitcoin. Coin Cloud provides consumers convenient access to bitcoin, allowing customers to store money on the blockchain and access it with ease.