Other Breaking News
In today’s CardFlash News Que: MASTERCARD (Sri Lanka); TSYS (The Edge) and VISA (Deutsche).
Barry McCarthy
CardWeb.com’s CardExecs database of payments industry movers and shakers today features Barry McCarthy, President of First Data’s U.S. Financial Services.
FDC Management
First Data announced two promotions and two new hires to its senior leadership team. Among the promotions: Barry McCarthy to lead four strategic businesses including the STAR Network.
Visa invests in LoopPay
LoopPay announced that it has received an investment from Visa, part of a larger strategic funding round for LoopPay. LoopPay invented Magnetic Secure Transmission™ (MST) technology which leverages existing point-of-sale infrastructure to receive contactless payments from mobile devices of all kinds with no hardware changes required by merchants. MST aims to reduce reliance on magnetic stripes to store and transmit cardholder data, and instead uses a secure chip to store and transmit data to existing POS terminals via a small low-cost inductive loop that could be embedded in a variety of devices, including smartphones.LoopPay will also work with card issuers and app developers through its SDK to leverage its platform to enhance consumer commerce experiences via mobile. It also has its own LoopPay app, LoopWallet, to help users store and organize all their payment cards, membership cards, ID cards and rewards cards, helping users carry fewer plastic cards with more convenience and better security than traditional physical wallets.
First Data and Union Bank Ink Debit Processing Partnership
First Data and Union Bank commercial bank providing a broad mix of financial services announced the companies finalized a multi-year agreement for debit processing, ATM driving, and card fulfillment output services. First Data will provide the efficiency, scale and functionality required for the $107.2 billion bank and its nearly one million cardholders while the bank continues to manage its own portfolio.
Bank of the West renews First Data contract
First Data will continue to provide debit processing, ATM driving and network services through its card processing platform and Star Network to Bank of the West, an FDIC-insured bank serving customers for more than 135 years. This renewed five-year agreement will also expand the relationship. First Data has provided debit processing and network services to the bank since 1996, and has driven its ATMs since 2008. With this expanded agreement, First Data will also provide credit processing.
Fexco mplatform connects to Zapp
Zapp announces a partnership with FEXCO that will make it easier for consumers to make mobile payments at the point of sale within stores. The partnership – one of many that Zapp is establishing with technology providers – means that acquirers will be able to seamlessly support Zapp transactions via FEXCO’s FLASHiZ mobile payment platform on existing Point of Sale hardware. This makes it easier for retailers to integrate mobile payments using both QR codes and NFC so their customers can use their mobiles to pay in shops, online, and pay paper invoices. Research by the Cebr2 predicted that 20 million adults will use their mobiles to pay for goods and services by the end of the decade, with the value of purchases tripling from current levels to £14.2bn in 2018. By 2020, mobile payments will represent 1.4% of total consumer spending.
First Data and MasterCard Partner to Advance Debit EMV
First Data and MasterCard announced an agreement in which First Data’s STAR® Network will participate in MasterCard’s common U.S. Debit EMV solution. This agreement provides a cost-effective solution and accelerates the ability for EMV functionality to be implemented across the U.S. EMV/ chip cards better protect account information from fraud because they have dynamic data, rather than the static data stored in the magnetic stripe. By working together, MasterCard and First Data will deliver enhanced choices in how debit card issuers identify and apply multiple network relationships to ensure Regulation II compliance in a cost-effective way. Merchants and acquirers will continue to route transactions as they prefer, without costly host systems reprograming.
First Data and TMG Deploy Quick EMV Implementation
First Data and The Members Group (TMG) are now offering an expedited EMV implementation to qualifying TMG clients. First Data is a global leader in payments processing and electronic commerce solutions. TMG, a leading payments processor, provides innovative, end-to-end payment solutions and proprietary, web-based card servicing and reporting tools to credit unions and community banks. First Data has qualified with both Visa and MasterCard to offer an expedited EMV credit card issuance program to financial institutions. The streamlined program, using standardized processes, supports TMG’s brand promise of “making life easier” for its clients by enabling them to launch their EMV programs quickly, efficiently and with reduced complexity. First Data has completed the steps necessary to offer the expedited EMV implementation process to qualifying financial institutions.
First Data and TMG Offering Streamlined EMV
First Data and The Members Group (TMG) have begun offering an expedited EMV™ implementation to qualifying TMG clients. First Data has qualified with both Visa and MasterCard to offer an expedited EMV credit card issuance program to financial institutions. The streamlined program, using standardized processes, supports TMG’s brand promise of “making life easier” for its clients by enabling them to launch their EMV programs quickly, efficiently and with reduced complexity.
Clinkle Names New CFO
Clinkle Corporation announced the appointment of Mike Liberatore as chief financial officer. Liberatore joins the company from PayPal, where he served as senior director of large enterprise finance and the North America financial planning and analysis (FP&A) group. Earlier, Liberatore was based in Singapore and served as senior director of finance for Asia-Pacific, during which time he helped triple the APAC business over four years. Before PayPal, Liberatore worked at eBay in several roles, including director of corporate FP&A. Previously, Liberatore held a variety of financial positions at Adobe Systems, Intel Corporation, and Hewlett-Packard.
Visa Enhances Offers Platform
Visa’s announced its processing enhancement for Visa Offers, allowing Visa issuers, acquirers and merchants of all sizes to deliver targeted rewards to Visa cardholders. Cutting out paper coupons, allowing consumers, who opt in, to earn points and discounts as well as redeem special offers instantly at checkout by simply using their enrolled Visa card. the platform supports Visa’s commitment to offer solutions for retailer and financial institution clients of any size that allows them to deliver customized and differentiated benefits to Visa cardholders at the point-of-sale. The VisaNet payments processing network allows the efficient delivery of these offers that can enhance the consumer checkout experience, increase merchant sales and strengthen issuer relationships. New capabilities include Fully Customizable Offer Content; Real-Time Offer Relevancy; Consumer Loyalty Qualification; Multiple Redemption Options; and Support for Multiple Offers Programs.