Apply Financial Launches Global Payments Validation

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Apply Financial launched their Validate service online at applyfinancial.co.uk. The new Validate service is designed to provide high-quality global payments validation, enrichment and account conversion in combination with data that is updated daily. It is easily accessible either through an online user portal or API integration into payments, ERP and accounting systems. Validate is an automated, cloud-based service that allows any size financial institution, business, or individual that send international payments to check and enrich client payment data before it is communicated to, or transmitted by the bank. Not only does this minimize errors, but Validate is also much more cost-efficient than traditional data vendors, manual cross-checking or other directories.

Opus Bank Appoints EVP, Chief Operating Officer

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Opus Bank announced that Romolo “Ron” Santarosa has joined Opus Bank and has been appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and a member of Opus Bank’s Executive Committee. As the Bank’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Santarosa is responsible for leading, managing, and directing the operational and support functions of Opus Bank, including Banking Operations, Information Technology, Project Management, Corporate Real Estate, and Vendor Management and Procurement, as well as being responsible for acquisition integration, and process improvement and efficiency management. Mr. Santarosa, a 22-year banking veteran, joins Opus Bank most recently from First California Financial Group and its bank subsidiary First California Bank (together “FCAL”), where he served as Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Santarosa is a graduate cum laude of Ithaca College and a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the California State Society of CPAs.

MPR Drops Significantly from April Figure

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[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”0″ ihc_mb_template=”1″] Fitch’s May Monthly Payment Rate(MPR) Index continues to sit above the 20% mark, currently at 23.52%. Up over 10% since the year ago period and down nearly 4% from the April figure, MPR has consistently remained well above the historical average of 16.55% since 2009. MPR, which measures how quickly cardholders…

The Mobile App Market Slated at $27B by 2014

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ABI Research projects the mobile app market will value at $27 billion in 2013, as mobile apps continue to be a critical factor in the battle between the mobile OS. BlackBerry and Windows are slowly augmenting their apps catalogue as they compete for the 3rd ecosystem, but are still far behind Apple and Android. An interesting aspect of the mobile app market is revenues generated by smartphone versus tablets. App revenues generated from smartphones have significantly dwarfed app revenues from tablets. However, tablet revenues are quickly catching up and it is projected tablet app revenues will overtake smartphones by 2017. The inclination for tablet users to pay more for apps than their smartphones because of the larger screen size and better user experience for gaming and reading are the primary drivers.

InstaLoan & FactorTrust Partner on Consumer Credit Options

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FactorTrust underbanked consumer data, analytics and risk scoring solutions on those underserved by traditional banking channels announces a new relationship with InstaLoan, one of the fastest growing consumer loan companies in the U.S. Utilizing FactorTrust’s proprietary data and custom scoring models, InstaLoan can now better qualify customers, providing each individual with the best, most customized type of loan for their personal situation. FactorTrust has been providing alternative credit data, analytics and risk management solutions regarding consumers that lack traditional credit options for short-term lenders since 2005. The company has millions of data points on this consumer segment and works with its customers to provide instant and informed lending decisions utilizing its comprehensive scoring platform.

VeriFone and Lenovo Launch Windows-based mPOS

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VeriFone Systems and Lenovo partnered to offer a versatile, enterprise-class, mPOS platform. Powered by Windows 8 Pro, it easily integrates with existing retail store systems. VeriFone and Lenovo introduced a versatile, enterprise-class, mobile point of sale (mPOS) platform to meet retail needs for a Windows-based system compatible with existing retail store systems. The platform integrates a ThinkPad(TM) Tablet 2 based on the Intel(R) Atom(TM) Z2760 processor with VeriFone’s secure PAYware Mobile technology designed exclusively for the Lenovo tablet. The mPOS platform integrates a ThinkPad™ Tablet 2 based on the Intel® Atom™ Z2760 processor with VeriFone’s secure PAYware Mobile technology designed exclusively for the Lenovo tablet. The integrated device is based on the Microsoft Windows 8 Pro operating system and will enable retailers to easily transition to a mPOS platform that works with their existing business infrastructure and operations, including multichannel management, store operations, e-commerce, merchandising, financials, and supply chain management.

U.S. Bank and Polaris Launch Polaris Visa Card

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U.S. Bank and Polaris, a leader in the power sports industry, have created the Polaris Visa card where customers can earn points for every dollar spent at Polaris dealerships and for everyday purchases. With the Polaris Visa, cardholders earn points on all of their purchases and can redeem those points for Polaris Cash. For example, for every dollar of net purchases spent on the card at a Polaris dealership, they will earn two points. They also earn two points at gas stations and one point everywhere else. Once a cardholder earns 2,500 points, they can redeem the points for $25 in Polaris Cash, which can only be used at participating Polaris dealerships.

Retail Velocity Taps Direct POS Data Sharing Database

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Retail Velocity signal management and retail execution announced the expansion of their Velocity POS Data Sharing Knowledgebase. Designed to educate the CPG manufacturer community on the availability of direct POS (or ePOS) from over 300 retailers and distributors, registered visitors to the Retail Velocity website can quickly identify what type data each Retailer makes available to their manufacturer partners. Velocity® (http://www.retailvelocity.com/solution/repository.php) is an enterprise Demand Signal Repository (DSR) that delivers retail insights and in-store visibility providing a single source of “Big Data” analytics for consumer goods manufacturers to drive their sell-through and profitability at the store, item and SKU level. Velocity provides actionable insights to all areas of the manufacturer including C-Level suite, category management, sales, market research, customer logistics, finance, merchandising and demand planning.

GfK Debuts mSolutions, Shares Perspectives on Big Data

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GfK will be debuting cutting-edge solutions and perspectives on key topics facing today’s marketers and researchers at the ESOMAR 3D Digital Dimensions conference and related events. Tom Dailey (COO, GfK Consumer Choices North America) will describe the potential uses of location and mobile data to help retailers and others make wise business decisions. He will also introduce a new product in which GfK makes judicious use of this data to provide insights for marketers while respecting consumer privacy. Also, David Krajicek (CEO, GfK Consumer Experiences North America) will present a vision of how researchers can turn Big Data into Smart Data by adding expertise and business knowledge. This presentation demonstrates the potential for a fundamental shift in how consumers and companies alike access and leverage data.

Cardholders Still Paying Down, Despite Unemployment Uptick

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[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”0″ ihc_mb_template=”1″] When superimposed over one another, unemployment and consumer credit outstanding swells and lulls indicate very positive correlation. With the total outstanding revolving US consumer credit down 2.4% in March to an adjusted $846B, it erased all positive momentum in April, springing to $849.8B. Meanwhile, payroll employment was up 175,000 in May…

FreedomPay Announces Ben & Jerry’s Latest Cloud Client

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FreedomPay announced that Ben & Jerry’s is deploying the FreedomPay Commerce Platform across their domestic US franchise scoop shop system. The cloud-based FreedomPay Commerce Platform puts Ben & Jerry’s on the fast track of technology innovation. FreedomPay delivers a high-performance, secure user experience driven from the cloud to any device, anytime, anywhere. The platform seamlessly bridges the gap across in-store, web, and mobile by interconnecting POS systems, transaction hosts, incentive engines, and other disparate systems to a cutting edge transaction superhighway. FreedomPay is an early leader in true Point to Point Encryption (P2PE) for MICROS point of sales systems including support for NFC, EMV and magnetic stripe in a single solution.