COGNICAL Zibby
CardWeb.com’s CardData database of Company Profiles today features COGNICAL a/k/a Zibby
Other Breaking News
In today’s CardFlash News Que: E-COMMERCE 4 (high risk POS); CASHSTAR (AlwaysOn): MIND COMMERCE (mPayments); and PCIPOLICYPORTAL (PCI DSS).
Cannabis Investments
While the banking industry is avoiding the emerging marijuana-related business, mainstream investors are preparing to jump in as it is expected to become legal in many more states within the next three years.
American Express Inspires Cardholders
American Express kicked off its #PassionProject, bringing together experts, how-to advice, personal profiles and a monthly contest to inspire consumers to pursue the projects that are important and meaningful to their lives. The program reflects the findings of the recent American Express LifeTwist study, revealing that Americans now believe success is no longer rooted in a sense of arrival, but defined primarily by the experiences they accumulate, detours they embrace and passions they pursue throughout their lifetime. American Express has been synonymous with success and the successful for much of its 163-year history, and its products and services have changed over time to reflect consumer attitudes towards achievement. The new program, launching on YouTube, shines a light on Members of the #PassionProject through profile and how-to “do-torial” videos of people who are making an impact in large and small ways. Each feature is designed to motivate, educate and inspire consumers to pursue their own passion projects. Individuals who have a specific project in mind can share their passion project and vie for one of ten $2,000 awards, sharing at youtube.com/americanexpress.
VocaLink Announces Senior Appointments
VocaLink payment provider announced Nick Millar joins as Strategy and Customer Insight Director, Jim Wadsworth as Product Development Director and Phil Harrison as Commercial Director, Alternative Payments. With 20 years’ experience, Millar joins VocaLink from Visa Europe, where he was Head of Strategy. In his new role, Nick will lead the Strategy and Customer Insight team, developing VocaLink’s corporate strategy to maximise the value of core infrastructure capabilities and support emerging payment models. Wadsworth brings over twenty years’ experience working with market leaders in the payments sector and joins VocaLink from Accourt, where he led its mobile and digital payments practice and advised a wide range of international clients. Harrison joins the company from Clairmail Mobile Solutions where he was Managing Director for EMEA, bringing with him more than 25 years’ experience in retail banking and payment technologies.
American Express Active Sponsor at 2012 U.S. Open
As American Express embarks on its 19th season as a partner with the US Open, it’s introducing its digital and on-site benefits, designed to serve tennis fans at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. American Express is offering even more ways for tennis fans to get involved with the action of the US Open with the “US Open American Express Fan Experience.” For the second year at the US Open American Express Fan Experience, fans can perfect their game, catch the action on the courts and challenge their friends to a match. The Experience, which is located just inside the East Gate, has moved indoors and now features 20,000 square feet of interactive elements for all fans at the US Open. This offers Swing Analysis; a Game Center with virtual tennis; a Fan Court with live programming, match previews and player meet-and-greets; and Exclusive Offers for Cardmembers.
U.S. Bank and Plastic Jungle Partner on Credit Card Rewards
U.S. Bank partnered Plastic Jungle secured gift card exchange, allowing FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature cardholders to exchange select merchants’ gift cards for highly valued FlexPoints, reward points that can be redeemed for travel, merchandise and more. U.S. Bank and Plastic Jungle pioneered this concept of offering credit card rewards in exchange for gift cards. FlexPerks Travel Rewards cardholders can visit the FlexPerks Visa Promotion Center to exchange their gift cards for FlexPoints. Cardholders simply enter the details of the card, such as the merchant, gift card number and card value. Plastic Jungle determines the value of the cardholder’s gift card, which then is translated into a FlexPoints value.
Purdue Federal Launches Student-Designed Debit Cards
Purdue Federal Credit Union (Purdue Federal) announces a new way for the community to show school spirit for their favorite high school with custom, student-designed debit cards for Benton Central, Central Catholic, Faith Christian and McCutcheon high schools. The cards are original designs created by Benton Central student Caleb Owens, Central Catholic student Nathan Budny, Faith Christian student Theodora Yu and McCutcheon student Travis Baugh for a high-school debit card design contest hosted by Purdue Federal. Customers can now switch to a new card design at no charge.
Givex and Plastic Jungle Partner to Integrate Gift Card Services
Givex, a global technology company which powers loyalty and gift card programs across 50 countries worldwide, announced an integrated partnership with Plastic Jungle, the web’s largest secured gift card exchange, to enable Plastic Jungle users to easily buy and sell select merchants’ gift cards processed by Givex and enjoy instant funding, an immediate electronic transaction on the Plastic Jungle website. Plastic Jungle helps unlock the estimated $30 billion in unredeemed gift cards by allowing consumers to sell gift cards for up to 92% of the gift card value, buy new gift cards at their favorite brands for up to 35% off, or donate the value of their unused cards to their favorite cause. The first brand to sign onto the platform is Buca di Beppo family style Italian restaurant chain.
ChargeSmart and Plastic Jungle Allow Gift Card Bill Payment
ChargeSmart online consumer bill payment portal and Plastic Jungle secured gift card exchange partnered to let customers use unredeemed gift cards to make payments on utility, car and mortgage bills. This new gift card exchange solution was officially debuted this afternoon at FinovateSpring 2011, the high-profile banking technology conference held in San Francisco, and will be available to the public within the next couple months. Merchant-issued- or closed loop – gift cards now represent $90 billion of the U.S. economy, and an estimated $30 billion in gift cards are unredeemed at any given time. Plastic Jungle brings liquidity to the secondary gift card market by allowing consumers to buy gift cards at their favorite stores for savings up to 35 percent, sell unredeemed gift cards for up to 92 percent of the gift card value, or donate the value of unused cards to their favorite cause.
Secondary Gift Card Economy Up to $90B
Merchant-issued — or closed loop — gift cards now represent $90 billion of the U.S. economy, of which an estimated $30 billion go unredeemed. Gift card value sold on the website exceeded $10 million, an increase of 5 times over 2009 and during the 2010 holiday season, there were 6 times the gift card sales volume over the same period in 2009. These findings, according to Plastic Jungle- which served double the registered users in 4Q/10 than in the prior year- also show consumers are now using secondary gift card marketplaces more than ever to extend their purchasing power and receive extra value at merchants. Plastic Jungle ultimately helps consumers get the most value out of gift cards by allowing them to sell unredeemed gift cards for up to 92% of the gift card value, buy gift cards at their favorite stores for savings up to 30%, or donate the value of their unused cards to their favorite cause. Plastic Jungle’s innovations have also sparked an increased interest in alternative payouts, and especially in electronic payouts, with users Amazon.com Gift Card payout transactions having jumped by nearly 30% in the days before Christmas.
Plastic Jungle Names New VP, Business Development
Loren Scott has been appointed Plastic Jungle Vice President, Business Development. Loren has held executive responsibility for Gap gift card programs and brings with her more than 15 years’ experience in gift credit and other prepaid card programs to Plastic Jungle. Through the Plastic Jungle marketplace and its proprietary payments applications, users can sell unredeemed gift cards for up to 92% of the verified gift card balance or buy gift cards to their favorite stores at up to 30% off.