MasterCard & Wearables
MasterCard has launched a major push to bring MasterCard payments to a wide array of consumer products across the automotive, fashion, technology, and wearables.
Everlink PIN & CUs
Everlink Payment Services announced the release of their new PIN Services Locator for credit union cardholders. A member of Credit Union A will now be able to change or reset their PIN at a PIN Station located in a Credit Union B branch.
CheckFreePay
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) is now enabling members to pay their healthcare premiums in person via Fiserv’s CheckFreePay solution. CareFirst offers health insurance products and administrative services to 3.4 million individuals and groups in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia.
MAP App
Seattle-based MAP Prepaid, a provider of Visa®Prepaid card programs for credit unions, has introduced its “MAP App” for smartphones. With the MAP App, cardholders can manage their Visa Prepaid card account directly from an iOS or Android mobile device.
StreetSmart SmartWallet
Boston-based StreetSmart has unveiled the world’s smartest wallet which includes a built-in Bluetooth LE locator, USB sync cable and a backup battery station for charging on the go.
Vodacom Announces m-pesa Redesign
The Vodacom m-pesa slution is now used by more than 18 million people across 13 countries to perform banking and money transfer services via mobile phone. Specifically redesigned for the South African market, the service introduces a number of entirely new elements including a chip and pin protected Visa card, and a voucher system to upload cash. The new m-pesa Visa card gives access to approximately 27,000 ATMs and over 240,000 merchant outlets in South Africa, dramatically increasing the versatility of the service. Another key innovation is the introduction of a voucher system which allows people to convert cash to m-pesa at all Vodacom shops, selected spaza shops, and at selected retailers. The process is similar to buying airtime and makes topping up the m-pesa wallet quick and convenient. On top of this, traditional services like person to person transfers have been optimised. Additional functionality is planned for the near future. In short, this is true mobile banking that has something to offer for all income groups across South Africa.
Navy FCU Deploys Cachet mMoney for Prepaid Cards
Cachet Financial mobile money management partnered with Navy Federal Credit Union to implement a money management tool geared towards students. The credit union’s Visa(R) Buxx program will use Cachet’s Select Mobile(TM) Money prepaid mobile application to view balances, request money from parents through SMS, email or in-app notification, and use the locator feature to easily locate the nearest branch or ATM. Cachet’s Select Mobile Money prepaid mobile platform is a cloud-based SaaS solution that enables financial institutions to offer their prepaid cardholders a full suite of convenient financial services in one easy-to-use mobile application. Available for iOS and Android systems, the Select Mobile Money platform can be integrated with existing card programs or used to develop a new prepaid card program.
MoneyPass ATM Network Launches Contest for Cardholders
The MoneyPass Network is celebrating another year of increased growth with a contest for cardholders. The MoneyPass “Caught Without Cash” contest gives cardholders an opportunity to win one of two weekly $100 drawings and a grand prize of $1,000. The “Caught Without Cash” contest runs through June 1, 2014. Contestants enter by sharing a brief story about a time they were caught without cash when it was needed, such as paying a babysitter or shopping at a farmers market. Two $100 winners are drawn each week during the contest. Entries can be voted on by visitors to the contest site and one entry will be chosen from the top ten entries as the grand prize winner at the end of the contest. MoneyPass participants are encouraged to promote the contest to cardholders as a way to increase awareness of the benefits of MoneyPass access.
Cardtronics & BBVA Compass Ink ATM-branding Deal
Cardtronics announced a licensing agreement with BBVA Compass, providing the bank branding rights to more than 300 ATMs in H-E-B stores. The deal equates to a nearly 50% jump in the bank’s Texas ATM network, bringing its total to nearly 1,000 machines. The deal provides the bank with potential access to shoppers at more than 300 H-E-B operated stores. The agreement between Cardtronics and BBVA Compass is part of a growing relationship established in 2012. Prior to this H-E-B announcement, BBVA Compass had branded 268 Cardtronics-owned ATMs in convenience and grocery stores throughout Colorado and Texas.
JCB 2013
Currently the only international payment brand originating in Japan grew leaps and bounds last year. During 2013, the JCB card reached a milestone as it now has more than 15 million cardholders outside Japan. JCB also expects annual transaction volume to surpass $200 billion in 2014. JCB now has more than 350 issuing and acquiring partners worldwide, with card issuance in 15 countries and acceptance in 190 countries and territories. More than 23 million merchants worldwide serve JCB’s 81 million affluent cardholders. Here is an overview of JCB’s progress in 2013.
Associated Bank Launches New Tablet App
Fiserv, Inc. this morning announced that Associated Bank has expanded its mobile banking and payment capabilities and added a tablet banking app with Mobiliti from Fiserv. These changes are in response to customers’ desire to conduct more banking activities via their smartphones and tablets. With the addition of mobile remote deposit capture, branded by the bank as Associated SnapDeposi, customers can now deposit checks by snapping photos with their smartphone camera, while the addition of Popmoney(R) enables them to initiate and accept person-to-person payments directly from their phone. These capabilities are also available in the bank’s new tablet app.
Ally Bank Upgrades mApp for Popmoney Payment
Ally Bank expanded its Ally Mobile Banking app to include two new offerings designed to help customers conveniently access and manage their money on the go. Customers can now use their smartphones to send and receive Popmoney payments as well as make recurring electronic fund transfers between Ally and non-Ally bank accounts. Popmoney, a payment service that allows customers to electronically send money to other people, offers a convenient alternative to sending cash or checks to friends and family or to pay service providers. The service allows Ally Bank customers to send money to anyone in the U.S. who has a U.S. bank account – the recipient does not need to have an Ally Bank account. Popmoney has been available to Ally customers since 2011. In addition to using their smartphones for regular Popmoney transactions, users will now be able to view scheduled payments and payment history as well as set up and manage Popmoney contacts in Ally Mobile Banking.