NIC Enables Residents to Pay Property Taxes with Cash via CheckFreePay® Despite COVID-19 Office Closings

Distributed by Business Wire
10th December 2020

Cash payment option has rolled out in Arkansas with opportunities to expand nationwide

OLATHE, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–With government offices closed due to COVID-19, residents preferring to pay property taxes with cash have been left without many options. Leading digital government solutions firm NIC is striving to change that.

An in-person payment option will be made available by NIC to state governments to make payment easier and more convenient for residents who either prefer to pay with cash or do not have a bank account. Residents will be able to make payments in cash at any CheckFreePay® agent location, which include thousands of retailers, convenience stores, grocery stores and neighborhood bodegas. Many consumers appreciate the convenience and security of paying in person and getting a receipt at the time of payment. According to the Aite Group Survey, How Americans Pay Their Bills: Sizing Bill Pay Channels and Methods, cash payments accounted for $233 billion in bill payment services in the first half of 2020.

“CheckFreePay gives citizens a convenient, easy way to make safe and secure tax payments during COVID-19 and beyond,” said Harry Herington, NIC CEO and Chairman of the Board. “This solution, and our valued collaboration with Fiserv, is what NIC is all about – helping our government partners provide essential digital services. Since this pandemic began, we have been laser-focused on offering options like CheckFreePay that not only connect residents to government but do so in a way that keeps everyone safe and healthy.”

CheckFreePay is a subsidiary of leading global payment and financial services technology provider Fiserv and meets the consumer need for convenient cash payment solutions by enabling billers and merchants to offer in-person payment options at over 30,000 locations nationwide.

The in-person cash payment option launched in Arkansas in late September, allowing Pulaski County residents to pay their property taxes in-person with cash at approximately 30 retail sites in the county, including Walmart and Kroger locations. The option was met with excitement with more than $300,000 in cash payments collected on behalf of the county within the first few weeks. One week after rolling out in Pulaski County, the state of Arkansas expanded the CheckFreePay solution to all 50 counties.

“Not all consumers have the means or desire to pay electronically, and when they have the option of paying in cash and in person, an important community need is satisfied,” said Jose Garcia, Senior Vice President, Government Solutions, Fiserv. “These consumers also have the ease and convenience of one-stop payment options because they have the ability to pay at well-known retail locations — places where they are already shopping.”

About NIC Inc.

NIC (Nasdaq: EGOV) is a leading digital government solutions and payments company, serving more than 7,000 federal, state and local government agencies across the nation. With headquarters in Olathe, Kan., NIC partners with the majority of U.S. states to deliver user-friendly digital services that make it easier and more efficient to interact with government – providing valuable conveniences such as applying for unemployment insurance, submitting business filings, renewing licenses, accessing information and making secure payments without visiting a government office. In the COVID-19 era and beyond, NIC helps government agencies rapidly deliver digital solutions to provide essential services to citizens and businesses alike. Having served the public sector for nearly 30 years, NIC continues to evolve with its federal, state and local government partners to deliver innovative and cost-effective digital government to constituents. Learn more at www.egov.com.

About Fiserv

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ:FISV) aspires to move money and information in a way that moves the world. As a global leader in payments and financial technology, the company helps clients achieve best-in-class results through a commitment to innovation and excellence in areas including account processing and digital banking solutions; card issuer processing and network services; payments; e-commerce; merchant acquiring and processing; and the Clover® cloud-based point-of-sale solution. Fiserv is a member of the S&P 500® Index and the FORTUNE® 500 and is among FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies®. Visit www.fiserv.com and follow on social media for more information and the latest company news.

*In-Person payment services are provided by CheckFreePay Corporation (NMLS# 908760), a licensed money transmitter, CheckFreePay Corporation of California, and CheckFreePay Corporation of New York, which is licensed and regulated as a money transmitter for payment services by the New York State Department of Financial Services, (collectively, “CheckFreePay”), each a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiserv, Inc. Fees may apply and are subject to change. Ask clerk for details. CheckFreePay is a registered trademark of CheckFreePay Corporation. Other products referenced in this material may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.