[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”0″ ihc_mb_template=”1″] The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. was up 0.6% in April to 95.0, following a 0.2 percent decline in last month and 3 months of steady increases prior to March. The rebound was mostly due to housing permits and the interest rate spread and, with a 3.5%…
ACI Worldwide announced Desert Schools Federal Credit Union ($3.1 billion in assets) selected its online banking and bill payment services to enhance its technology services to over 321,000 members. The institution selected ACI’s Architect Banking for its flexibility and configurability for delivering online and mobile banking capabilities. By utilizing the Software Developers Kit (SDK), DSFCU will have the tools needed to grow its online banking application to meet the ever-changing needs of its member base, all while providing a user experience that is highly intuitive and personalized. ACI’s Electronic Biller Directory and proprietary Real-time Digital Scanline technology maximizes payment accuracy for both DSFCU and its members, resulting in faster payment delivery and fewer payment errors.
TSYS announced that it has signed a long-term payments agreement with KeyBank to provide payment processing for the bank’s consumer credit card portfolio. KeyBank made the strategic decision to bolster its payments business last year and begin self-issuing credit cards. At that time, Key purchased a $725 million Key-branded credit card portfolio from Elan Financial Services. KeyBank has selected TSYS’ TS2 platform to convert the portfolio and issue new cards going forward. In addition, KeyBank has contracted with TSYS to provide fraud prevention and risk management services to bank clients. TSYS’ past success with KeyBank involved a smaller portfolio acquisition conversion to the TSYS Program Solutions (TPS) platform in 2012.
Agilysys announced that Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas water park selected its “InfoGenesis” POS solution to streamline food and beverage operations and enhance guest service. The park opened Memorial Day weekend. Agilysys “InfoGenesis POS” POS software combines powerful reporting and configuration capabilities in the back office with a fast, intuitive and easy-to-use terminal application. The flexible system is easy to set up, and its scalable architecture enables customers to add workstations without having to build out expensive infrastructure. It also integrates easily with other applications, such as gift card and guest management solutions. The system’s detailed and high-quality reporting capabilities give insight into sales data and guest purchasing trends. Other features include packages and prix fixe menus, signature capture and multi-language capability. InfoGenesis POS is available as an on-premise solution or through a subscription service.
FIS named 25-year FIS veteran and current President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Gary A. Norcross to its board. Having assumed the role of President and COO on March 30, 2012, Norcross is responsible for the steering and execution of the company’s global business strategy. Prior to his current role, Norcross held several leadership positions within the company and was instrumental in the 2009 acquisition and integration of Metavante Technologies, Inc. He was also instrumental in the acquisition of leading organizations such as Certegy and eFunds and more than 15 other companies, helping to grow FIS to more than 35,000 employees with over $5.8 billion in annual revenue. Norcross is active in the local North Florida community and serves on the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board for the Sam M. Walton School of Business at the University of Arkansas.
Alaric fraud prevention and payments solutions hired John Smith as Fraud and Payments Specialist, who joins the Company from Visa Europe. Following 9 years focused on fraud detection and prevention, Smith will be working alongside the Fractals team at Alaric, promoting the intelligent fraud detection solution. Smith brings 30 years’ experience in the cards and payments industry around the world. He has worked with organisations across the payments spectrum, from card schemes to issuers, acquirers and vendors. He has played a prominent role in the introduction of innovative new products and services in the UK, including the first PIN/debit pilot scheme and the first universal debit card scheme (Switch). As well as Visa, John has worked for various companies including Euronet Worldwide, Global Insight, IFS International, SEMA Group and ACI Worldwide.
CardSpring payments infrastructure startup partnered VeriFone to integrate the CardSpring web service platform with VeriFone’s open interface to its PAYware Connect (PWC) gateway, enabling developers to easily create card-linked services for any POS system interfaced to PWC. The partnership enables retailers and third-party developers to use the CardSpring APIs to easily create card-linked services for POS systems and VeriFone devices without requiring changes to shoppers’ purchase experience or existing store infrastructure. Card-linked applications let retailers turn traditional retail tools like paper coupons, gift cards, loyalty programs, or paper receipts into digital services that consumers can add to their existing credit or debit cards. Retailers can now leverage their existing devices to create digital, personalized relationships with their customers through card-linked services, at a fraction of the cost and complexity of installing new software or hardware.
United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued the industry’s first-ever patent for Cardlytics Card-Linked Marketing. Covering its proprietary, unique method of merging, or injected, targeted marketing offers within a transaction display of an online portal, U.S. Patent # 8,438,061 was awarded to Cardlytics’ CEO. Allowing Cardlytics to deliver millions of targeted marketing offers through its network of nearly 400 banks including Bank of America, PNC and Regions Bank. Cardlytics has a total of 5 patent applications related to its work in Card-Linked Marketing.
Softgate Systems, a leading provider of retail bill payment solutions, and The Pay-O-Matic Corporation, the largest check-casher in New York and Metro area provider of walk-in payment services, announced that the two companies are working together to build an enhanced new payment platform for use with Pay-O-Matic’s independent agents. The new solution will create a fully integrated platform that leverages Softgate’s bill payment processing engine and combines the two companies’ complimentary products like expedited payments, prepaid wireless, international top-ups, and prepaid debit cards. Those using Pay-O-Matic’s current agent software will transition to POMLINK™, a single source solution, powered by Softgate, which will support all their payments needs.
Discover Bank and Delaware’s Congressional Delegation of U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Congressman John Carney recognized the first group of employees to join a new Discover work-at-home jobs program for military personnel and their family members at a ceremony today at Dover Air Force Base. Discover’s work-at-home program provides training, resources and job opportunities for new employees seeking careers within the financial services industry. In addition to training, Discover supplies each new employee with the proper equipment and installation support to ensure a successful working environment at home. The new employees’ work will be coordinated out of Discover’s New Castle call center. Recruitment efforts for the new program focus on military personnel and their family members from the Dover Air Force Base and those associated with the base in the surrounding area.
TIO Networks announced its partnership with the State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services and payment processor Paymentus to assist residents in paying State bills anywhere in the country. TIO will provide self-service kiosks and clerk-assisted software at key retail locations in the State, as well as on TIO’s existing network of approximately 57,000 locations throughout the U.S. for customers to make child support payments. Paymentus was built exclusively for the self-service channels (Web, IVR, Recurring), making it cost effective and easier for customers to pay bills. The company specializes in offering solutions for recurring, scheduled and one-time payments with patent-pending, real-time technology.
JPMorgan Chase announced that Mike Passilla has been named chief executive officer of Merchant Services to oversee Chase’s growing payments and merchant services business including Chase Paymentech, Chase’s merchant offers business, as well as Chase’s recently-announced merchant payments initiative. Passilla has been a leader in the field of payments and technology for 23 years and joins Chase from Elavon payments processing, where he most recently served as president and CEO. Meanwhile, Dan Charron was named president of Chase Paymentech, the global payment processing and merchant acquiring business of JPMorgan Chase, and will report to Passilla. Since March, Charron has been the acting head of Chase Paymentech and prior to that served as the head of Client Services.
