Company on the Move: Optimal Payments, International Gaming Awards
Optimal Payments, a London-based online payment solutions provider, recently won an award at the International Gaming Awards dinner in London this month.
PayTech
People on the Move: Craig James, Prepaid International Forum Board
International nonprofit trade association, Prepaid International Forum today announced the appointment of Craig James, CEO of Neopay, as chairman of the PIF board of directors.
People on the Move: William Mills, Sionic Mobile Advisory Board
Sionic Mobile, an Atlanta-based m-commerce company providing mobile gifting, payments and rewards, named William Mills, CEO of William Mills Agency, to its advisory board of directors.
Isis Touts Progress as Wells Fargo Dangles 20 Percent-Off Promo (Feb. 6, 2014)
Isis, the NFC-based mobile payment initiative backed by the nation’s major wireless carriers, has hit a few key milestones recently that will go a long way toward building the scale vital to the effort’s success.
Weve, MasterCard Partner in U.K. to Push NFC Mobile Payments Forward (Feb. 6, 2014)
MasterCard has joined forces with Weve, the mobile payments joint venture from the U.K.’s three largest mobile telecom providers, to accelerate adoption of NFC mobile payments.
Transportation Official: Utah’s Reloadable Prepaid Transit Card Gaining Popularity (Feb. 6, 2014)
The Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) prepaid reloadable contactless FAREPAY card in Salt Lake City, supported by InComm, appears to be a hit with riders, as one of several promising new mass-transit payment options around the U.S.
Calls for Regulatory Overhaul as Congressional Hearings Continue on Data Security (Feb. 6, 2014)
Lawmakers yesterday continued their calls to strengthen regulations protecting consumers’ financial data in the wake of recent retailer data breaches.
Blog: Beyond the Receipt: New Tools Combined with Old Offer Consumer Behavioral Insights
While receipts offer tantalizing indirect evidence of past activities, they tell us only a very modest amount about the habits, personalities or needs of the purchaser. For merchants, it’s where consumers are going next—and why they’re going there—that really matters.
Blog: Online Gamblers and Digital Wallet Providers Cash In
More than 125,000 online gambling accounts were created in less than a month, according to New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement. As one of three states where online gambling is now legal, the Garden State presents significant opportunity for digital wallet providers.
Blog: The Top Four Mobile Musts in 2014
From smartwatches to voice-recognition capabilities, 2014 promises to be mobile’s best year yet. And these and other mobile trends will influence payments and financial services innovation.
Visa: U.S. EMV Migration Gains Broader Awareness, Momentum (Feb. 5, 2014)
Momentum has accelerated in recent weeks for the U.S. shift to EMV, driven by growing public awareness of the need to enhance card security, Stephanie Ericksen, Visa’s head of authentication product, told attendees today at the kickoff keynote address at the Smart Card Alliance’s 7th annual Payments Summit in Salt Lake City.
Cannabis Sales Set To Go Mobile (Feb. 5, 2014)
SinglePoint Inc. has developed Mobile Cannabis Currency, a mobile payment system branded for the cannabis and medical marijuana industry, enabling merchants to accept credit card payments using their mobile phones.
People on the Move: Marla Blow, Fenway Summer LLC
Marla Blow has left the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to serve as CEO of Fenway Summer’s credit card venture.
People on the Move: Ingrida Kovalioviene, Contis Group
Contis Group, a U.K.-based provider of online banking and prepaid card technologies and services, has appointed Ingrida Kovalioviene country director, Baltics, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
People on the Move: Chris Spinella, Joe Kaplan and Paul Rosenfeld, Electronic Transactions Association
The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) recently named new committee appointees.
People on the Move: Michael F. Jackson and Peter Reynolds, Fundtech
Fundtech, a Jersey City, N.J.-based provider of global transaction banking solutions, has hired Michael F. Jackson and Peter Reynolds.
People on the Move: GlobalPlatform, Board of Directors
GlobalPlatform, a nonprofit organization that standardizes managing applications on secure chip technology, has announced its board of directors for fiscal year 2014.
People on the Move: Matt Frye, Ingo Money
Ingo Money, an Atlanta-based technology and solutions provider, has hired Matt Frye as senior vice president and head of network sales.
People on the Move: Rebecca Polley, Traxpay
Traxpay, a Mountain View, Calif.-based financial transactions platform provider, has appointed Rebecca Polley chief financial officer.
FTC Calls for Legislative Help to Protect Data in Senate Subcommittee Hearing (Feb. 4, 2014)
Although the consensus in yesterday’s Senate subcommittee hearing on “Safeguarding Consumers’ Financial Data” seemed to be around the shared responsibility of all stakeholders, including government, to protect financial data, the FTC specifically called for legislative action.
NBPCA Issues Updated Guidance for AML Compliance (Feb. 4, 2014)
The Network Branded Prepaid Card Association (NBPCA) has released an updated version of its Recommended Practices for Anti-Money Laundering Compliance.
European Parliament Backs EC Proposal to Extend SEPA Deadline to Aug. 1 (Feb. 4, 2014)
The European Parliament this morning approved the European Commission’s proposal to extend the deadline for payments to comply with SEPA regulations to Aug. 1, 2014.
Australian Investment Firm Bets Big on Mint Wireless (Feb. 4, 2014)
Australia is lighting up as the next hotbed of m-POS activity as Mint Wireless makes key moves to target a fast-growing base of small businesses going mobile and Square Inc. reportedly is considering expansion Down Under.
Monitise targets Turkish mobile money
Mobile money firm Monitise has acquired Pozitron Yazilim, an Istanbul-based mobile technology specialist, in a £24 million all-shares deal that highlights the growing demand for mobile financial services in the eastern Mediterranean’s largest market.
InComm Data: Digital Gift Cards Strong in Holiday ’13 (Feb. 3, 2014)
Digital gift cards were a hot item during the 2013 holiday season and got even more popular than plastic as Christmas neared, according to data from prepaid services provider InComm.
RBC Launches Facebook-based P2P Service for iPhone (Feb. 3, 2014)
Could Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) make a breakthrough with P2P by making it a cinch to send funds to Facebook friends?
Dunkin’ Bolsters Closed-Loop Card, Mobile App with New Rewards Program (Feb. 3, 2014)
Dunkin’ Donuts has launched a new nationwide loyalty program enabling customers to earn points toward free beverages.
Latest Monitise Acquisition Accelerates Mobile Money Capabilities (Feb. 3, 2014)
Monitise plc has acquired Pozitron Yazilim A.S., an Istanbul-based, privately owned mobile technology company.
Amazon Eyes P2P Payments and Physical Commerce (Jan. 30, 2014)
E-commerce behemoth Amazon isn’t satisfied with success in the digital world.
U.S. Bank Testing Voice-Based Biometrics for Mobile Financial Services (Jan. 30, 2014)
U.S. Bank is testing a voice-based biometrics mobile banking feature that could foreshadow the future of mobile payments if consumers warm up to it, Dominic Venturo, chief innovation officer at U.S. Bank, told attendees today at the Card Innovation Summit in Tempe, Ariz.
Service Gives Bitcoins for Starbucks Card Balances, New Virtual Currency Hits Market (Jan. 30, 2014)
Starbucks gift card holders now can redeem the unused balances on their cards for Bitcoin.
Senate Committee Sets Hearing on Consumer Data Security (Jan. 30, 2014)
The Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing next week on safeguarding consumers’ financial information in the wake of recent data breaches at several major U.S. retailers.
SIX “greatly regrets” debit card mishap in Switzerland, Liechtenstein
SIX Payment Services has apologised after a technical glitch caused a number of debit card transactions in Switzerland and Liechtenstein to be accidentally booked twice on 22-23 January. Following the disaster, SIX managed to reverse 99.93% of the double bookings, with the remainder due to be reversed individually in the coming days. On average SIX […]
StoreFinancial Teams with Twins for RAN Gift Card (Jan. 28, 2014)
Pitchers and catchers might not report to spring training until mid-February, but StoreFinancial already is thinking about baseball.
BitInstant CEO Charged with Money Laundering in Silk Road Scheme (Jan. 28, 2014)
ederal prosecutors have charged the head of digital currency exchange BitInstant with conspiring to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Special Delivery? Agency Says Postal Service Should Consider Prepaid (Jan. 28, 2014)
The United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General has once again suggested that the Postal Service should consider providing financial products, including prepaid cards.
European Department Store Giant Goes Contactless (Jan. 28, 2014)
Madrid-based El Corte Inglés, Europe’s largest department store chain, this year plans to upgrade the majority of its POS terminals to accept contactless payments from NFC-enabled cards and handsets.
Russian firm streamlines customs payments with BPC systems
Russian online customs specialist firm Multiservice Payment System has begun using a new system designed by Swiss tech firm BPC Banking Technologies, which promises to make customs easier by combining a web portal with an e-declaration service via POS terminal.
WSJ: Apple Laying Groundwork for Mobile Payments Platform (Jan. 27, 2014)
Apple Inc. is making plans to launch a mobile wallet service for its iPhone, iPad and iTunes users, according to a Jan. 24 Wall Street Journal report.
CFPB Looks to Supervise Largest Nonbank International Money Transfer Providers (Jan. 27, 2014)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed a rule it says would enable the agency to oversee larger, nonbank, international money transfer providers to ensure they are following the CFPB’s new protections for consumers sending money abroad.
