MOBIbucks Launches First Smart Mobile Banking Application That Works on Any Mobile Phone

SOURCE: MOBIbucks

October 11, 2011 08:00 ET

New Smart App Features "Alerts," Transactional Analysis and Virtual Card Capability in Addition to Standard Banking Features

LOUISVILLE, KY--(Marketwire - Oct 11, 2011) - Mobile payments and marketing leader MOBIbucks (www.mobibucks.com) is encouraging financial institutions to "bring the bank to the customer -- all customers" with the launch of the industry's first smart mobile banking app that works with any phone -- Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Nokia, etc. MOBIBanked™ has all the usual mobile banking capabilities such as viewing account balances, history and transactions, transferring funds and paying bills. But the app goes further with real-time account alert push notifications and transactional analytics and is the only app with the ability to serve as a virtual card at the point of sale.

The new MOBIBanked smart app is based on MOBIbucks' patent-pending technology platform that enables mobile payments on essentially every phone -- using a phone number and PIN. The platform provides an all-in-one mobile payments and marketing solution for banks and financial institutions. MOBIBanked integrates with financial institutions' existing applications as a new vertical. It is customizable to an institution's brand and can include an array of feature sets. Many of the features of the new smart app are also available in the current text messaging app from MOBIbucks.

MOBIBanked's "Alerts" let customers easily and securely manage their finances better. Alerts can be set up to show the daily balance and notify customers of low balances, checks cleared, and when thresholds on withdrawals and deposits are exceeded. On the flip side, "Alerts" allow banks to create in-the-moment sales opportunities by notifying customers of important account activity, and introducing new or enhanced bank service opportunities at the moment of need.

With the smart app's "transactional analytics" feature financial institutions will be able to deepen their understanding of customers and provide opportunities to increase customer loyalty and retention. The smart app's marketing features provides new value added services such as personalized mobile coupons, loyalty campaigns and promotional messages to customers.

The MOBIBanked "virtual card" capability enables consumers to make payments at the point of sale, without a debit or credit card. Customers can create a "virtual card" through their bank account. Utilizing MOBIbucks virtual technology which connects to the point of sale, the "card" enables the user to pay with their phone number and pin.

"Mobile banking has now taken hold," said Jorge Fernandes, CEO of MOBIbucks. "Today's customers want to fit their banking chores around their lives and not their lives around their banking chores, and using their mobiles, they can."

He added, "Banks need to start offering full mobile banking services which allow their customers to make deposits, balance transfers and the like as soon as possible, because it's those banks which build up mobile trust in the short-term who are going to gain the most when m-commerce becomes commonplace."

Fernandes also noted that while we continue to see rapid growth in e-commerce, the unbanked and under-banked population has typically been excluded from this transformation due to limited access to acceptable forms of electronic payment. "MOBIBanked offers financial institutions an opportunity to reach this segment of the population too."

The new smart app includes the full suite of mobile banking features:

• View accounts/Check balances. The application securely displays all the customer's accounts and account details such as account number and balance, as well as transaction summary and details.
• Transfers. Transfer money between linked accounts or transfer money to third-party accounts.
• Pay bills on the fly. The app will let customers manage the same bill pay preferences they have set up through their bank's online site.
• Pay people. The app lets customers send money to existing contacts in the Person2Person address book.

In addition to these standard features, the new app also includes a helpful "Find ATM/Branch" feature that uses geo-location capabilities to find the nearest bank. For the bank, this means it can contact customers where they are with an appropriate alert, if needed or desired.

MOBIBanked integrates with social media applications. It lets users check out what savers have to say with one touch access to the bank's social media networks, including Twitter and Facebook.

"My expectation is that someday you won't need a wallet, you won't need a bank branch, you'll do all of your banking on your mobile device, and it will also become your payment device," Fernandes said.

The MOBIBanked smart app is currently available. MOBIbucks also provides support for web banking and text messaging.

About MOBIbucksMOBIbucks is a global mobile payments technology company and a leading provider of mobile marketing and payments solutions for banks and merchants. MOBIbucks is led by a combination of payment industry veterans from Apple, SGI, Stored Value Solutions and ViVOtech and innovative entrepreneurs working together with leading edge banks and retailers to create the next generation payment infrastructure. For more information, please visithttp://www.MOBIbucks.com/.

Harland Financial Solutions and Harland Clarke Launch P2P Payment Network

October 11, 2011 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

Financial Institutions Invited to Participate in Charter Membership of Direct Payment Exchange

LAKE MARY, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Recognizing the need for financial institutions to meet increasing demand for person-to-person (P2P) electronic payments, Harland Financial Solutions and Harland Clarke have collaborated to launch their own P2P payment network, Direct Payment Exchange. As part of the launch, they are introducing a complimentary charter membership program for financial institutions. The companies are debuting the service at the BAI Retail Delivery Conference this week in Chicago.

“We are proud to demonstrate our leadership in helping define the changing landscape and delivery of P2P payments”

The Direct Payment Exchange provides a common P2P platform for the companies’ 11,000 plus clients, facilitating lower cost movement of money while providing a more convenient enrollment process for consumers wishing to use the network’s DPXPay^™ desktop or mobile solution.

DPXPay will enable financial institutions to offer their account holders the ability to send and request electronic payments to and from another person using only their e-mail address or mobile phone number. In addition, consumers can use DPXPay for account to account (A2A) transfers between accounts they hold at different institutions. Not only will this offering satisfy consumer requests for easier and more secure methods to send and receive money, it has the potential to generate profitable, transaction-based revenue for the institution.

To coincide with the launch of the Direct Payment Exchange network, a charter membership program is being extended for financial institutions that wish to secure early membership in the network. Charter members will benefit from special, exclusive considerations, including waived membership fees, access to consumer marketing support and name recognition in promotional campaigns. More than 3,000 financial institutions have already been enrolled to participate in the Direct Payment Exchange network.

“With Harland Clarke being known as one of the largest and most respected secure payment suppliers in the industry and Harland Financial Solutions providing leading financial services software to thousands of institutions, it’s only natural for us to work together to set the standard for P2P payment networks,” said Raju Shivdasani, president, Harland Financial Solutions. “The Direct Payment Exchange delivers the features and benefits both financial institutions and account holders are seeking for executing secure P2P payments.”

“We are proud to demonstrate our leadership in helping define the changing landscape and delivery of P2P payments,” said Dan Singleton, president, Harland Clarke. “With this service offering, financial institutions will reinforce to consumers their commitment to remaining on the forefront of technology, supporting customer acquisition and retention, while providing opportunities for improving performance.”

About Harland Clarke Corp.

Harland Clarke Corp. (www.harlandclarke.com) is a leading provider of best-in-class integrated payment solutions, marketing services and security solutions. It serves clients in multiple industries, including financial services, retail, healthcare, insurance, and telecommunications, and ranging in size from major corporate brands and trade groups to micro-businesses and individual consumers. Within its payment solutions business, Harland Clarke provides needed products and services to nearly 11,000 banks, credit unions and major investment firms. Harland Clarke Marketing Services’ portfolio is expansive, with a dozen solutions designed to address the needs of banks and credit unions and their account holders through life cycle management. Harland Clarke delivers integrated marketing campaigns focused on acquisition, onboarding, engagement, retention, and cross-selling, utilizing extensive print, phone and email channels for campaign execution. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Harland Clarke employs more than 4,500 people nationwide and operates manufacturing and contact center facilities in multiple states and communities. Harland Clarke is a wholly owned subsidiary of Harland Clarke Holdings Corp., which also owns Harland Financial Solutions and Scantron.

About Harland Financial Solutions

Harland Financial Solutions, Inc. (www.harlandfinancialsolutions.com) supplies software and services to thousands of financial institutions of all sizes, offering its solutions in both an in-house and service bureau environment. It is a leader in core systems, business intelligence, branch automation, payment processing, enterprise content management, lending solutions, risk management, compliance, financial accounting, mortgage solutions, and self service solutions. The company is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Harland Clarke Holdings Corp., which also owns Harland Clarke Corp. and Scantron Corporation.

Peet’s Coffee & Tea Offers Quick and Convenient Payment Options With Google Wallet and MasterCard® PayPass™

October 11, 2011 08:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

Near field communications (NFC)-enabled technology gives consumers additional payment options

EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Peet’s Coffee & Tea, the premier specialty coffee and tea company, announced today that it will begin accepting payments made with cards loaded into Google Wallet and MasterCard^® PayPass™ contactless cards at all of its company-owned locations by the end of October 2011.

“I’m thrilled that we’re able to embrace this new technology, because it’s an opportunity for us to engage with our customers in new ways”

In addition to accepting traditional magnetic-stripe cards for payment, Peet’s customers can pay for their purchases by simply tapping either their NFC-enabled smartphone that has been loaded with the Google Wallet app, or other contactless payment devices on any MasterCard PayPass-enabled terminal at the register for faster transactions and greater payment flexibility. Google Wallet is a smartphone application that allows the phone to function as a wallet. It securely stores virtual versions of the user’s existing plastic cards, and the app uses NFC technology to make secure payments with the tap of a mobile phone.

“I’m thrilled that we’re able to embrace this new technology, because it’s an opportunity for us to engage with our customers in new ways,” said Kay Bogeajis, Peet’s Vice President of Retail. “In the short term, our customers can use the cards in their Google Wallet app with their NFC-enabled smartphones to pay for Peet’s handcrafted espresso beverages, artisanal coffees, teas and merchandise without reaching into their wallets for cash or credit cards. In the longer term, we hope to use this technology to strengthen the loyalty of our existing Peet’s fans by incorporating new ways of connecting with them, and build relationships with people who haven’t yet been introduced to Peet’s.”

Eighteen Peet’s stores in and around San Francisco and San Jose already accept payments from customers through NFC-enabled smartphones and plastic MasterCard cards that are enabled with PayPass™ technology. NFC readers will be installed on all registers at the remaining Peet’s retail locations nationwide by the end of October. For a complete list of Peet’s retail locations, visitwww.peets.com/stores/store_locator.asp.

About Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc.

Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEET) is the premier specialty coffee and tea company in the United States. The company was founded in 1966 in Berkeley, Calif. by Alfred Peet. Peet was an early tea authority who later became widely recognized as the grandfather of specialty coffee in the U.S. Today, Peet’s Coffee & Tea offers superior quality coffees and teas in multiple forms, by sourcing the best quality coffee beans and tea leaves in the world, adhering to strict high-quality and taste standards, and controlling product quality through its unique direct store delivery selling and merchandising system. Peet’s is committed to strategically growing its business through many channels while maintaining the extraordinary quality of its coffees and teas. For more information about Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc., visitwww.peets.com.

First Data Releases September 2011 SpendTrend®

Image via CrunchBase

October 11, 2011 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

Credit Card Spending Growth Continued to Improve in September Due to Inflation

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Data Corporation, a global leader in electronic commerce and payment processing, today released its First Data SpendTrend^® analysis for the full month of September 2011 compared to September 2010. SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

“Rising inflation, particularly on non-discretionary purchases such as food and gas continued to boost dollar volume growth and average ticket growth”

Overall year-over-year dollar volume growth continued to show improvement at 9.5% in September versus 9.0% in August. Transaction growth was flat at 7.1% in September compared to 7.2% in August. General merchandise stores (including value retail) continued to perform well with dollar volume growth of 9.5% in September.

Average ticket values increased 2.2% in September on a year-over-year basis, up from August’s 1.6% growth. While gas price increases have stabilized, prices for other non-discretionary goods continued to rise. Food/beverage stores (supermarket/grocery) average ticket growth rose 2.3%, up from 0.9% in August.

“Rising inflation, particularly on non-discretionary purchases such as food and gas continued to boost dollar volume growth and average ticket growth,” said Silvio Tavares, SVP and division manager of First Data Global Information and Analytics Solutions, which publishes SpendTrend.

Sept. Transaction Growth

CHANGE

Sept. Dollar Volume Growth

CHANGE

Credit

+11.0%

Credit

+11.9%

Signature Debit

+6.0%

Signature Debit

+5.8%

PIN Debit

+5.8%

PIN Debit

+9.2%

Check

-9.6%

Check

-9.5%

Note: All transactions are same-store growth.

For more information on First Data SpendTrend, visit www.firstdata.com/infoanalytics or call SpendTrend Customer Care at 800-430-0169. A supplementary podcast including further analysis of the SpendTrend September 2011 report is available here.

To participate in the SpendTrend conversation, please follow First Data at http://twitter.com/FirstData and join us athttp://on.fb.me/spendtrend.

Around the world, every second of every day, First Data makes payment transactions secure, fast and easy for merchants, financial institutions and their customers. First Data leverages its vast product portfolio and expertise to drive customer revenue and profitability. Whether the choice of payment is by debit or credit card, gift card, check or mobile phone, online or at the checkout counter, First Data takes every opportunity to go beyond the transaction.

First Data SpendTrend, a macro-economic indicator, is based on aggregate same-store sales activity in the First Data Point of Sale Network. First Data SpendTrend does not represent First Data’s financial performance.

Datacard® CardWizard® Issuance Software Selected by First Financial Federal Credit Union to Instantly Issue ATM and Debit Cards

October 11, 2011 10:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

Instantly Issued Unembossed and Personalized Cards Provide Members Optimum Service and Convenience

MINNETONKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Datacard Group, the world leader in secure ID and card personalization solutions, today announced that First Financial Federal Credit Union has selected Datacard^® CardWizard^® issuance software and Datacard^® FCP 20/20 financial card printers for its instant debit and ATM card issuance program.

“We selected Datacard because the CardWizard software and hardware is a field-proven instant issue solution and can be easily integrated with our existing core and processor systems, which increases efficiency and security.”

First Financial Federal Credit Union has implemented the Datacard^® instant card issuance software and associated hardware in its five branch locations around New Jersey. Immediately after opening a new account or requesting a replacement card, members leave the branch with a permanent, personalized, unembossed and activated ATM or debit card.

“We are very pleased to have implemented Datacard Group’s instant card issuance technology,” said Alice Stevens, chief operating officer for First Financial Federal Credit Union. “We selected Datacard because the CardWizard software and hardware is a field-proven instant issue solution and can be easily integrated with our existing core and processor systems, which increases efficiency and security.”

After members select either an image from the gallery or if they have uploaded an approved custom photo to use for their card background, the CardWizard issuance software transfers the personalization data fully encrypted to the FCP 20/20 financial card printer, which quickly and securely prints in high-definition color onto both sides of white blank card stock. The member can then begin utilizing their card immediately.

“After implementing the program, we have seen a tremendous increase in speed of our card issuance – which takes only a few minutes to customize and print our cards in branch,” said Stevens. “Instant issuance of personalized unembossed cards has proven to be a value-add service and competitive differentiator for us. By enabling card background choices, our goal is to become top-of-wallet for our members, thus increasing card usage rates and improving the overall members’ satisfaction levels.”

Instant card issuance and activation is part of Secure Issuance Anywhere™ infrastructure from Datacard Group, enabling financial institutions the ability to issue secure cards anytime. Made possible by Datacard Group’s platform of hardware, software, supplies and services, Secure Issuance Anywhere integrates central issuance, instant issuance and mobile issuance into a single, unified program, giving banks unprecedented flexibility and security when issuing cards.

For more information, please visit www.instantissuance.com.

U.S. Bank First in Industry to Launch Mobile-Enabled Credit Card Application at Select Retail Locations

October 11, 2011 12:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time 

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S. Bank, lead bank of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), announced today the launch of a new U.S. Bank Card app for select retail partners. The new iPhone app brings convenience and buying power into the users’ hands by giving them the opportunity to apply for and receive on-the-spot credit to make immediate in-store purchases. Currently, the app is being piloted with REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.), a leading retailer of quality outdoor gear and apparel, and will be introduced to other retail partners later this year. The new iPhone app expands U.S. Bank’s leadership in the mobile banking space.

“We are excited to partner with REI to offer consumers the convenience of instant access as well as the ease and security of managing their account through their mobile device.”

The U.S. Bank Card app allows consumers to easily apply for a U.S. Bank co-branded credit card. The REI version of the app, called the REI Visa App, is available at the iTunes App Store by searching for "REI". With instant credit approval, the new cardholder receives a secure, virtual credit card via their mobile phone. The virtual credit card contains account information that the cardholder can provide to the sales specialist so purchases can be made immediately. Furthermore, the app provides anytime access to account management tools, such as viewing the account balance and most recent transactions as well as making a payment to the account. It also features a convenient link to REI’s website to shop for favorite products. Although currently available for iPhone only, the U.S. Bank Card app will be available to Android users in the near future.

“The new U.S. Bank Card app provides our existing credit card partners, such as REI, the opportunity to enhance their relationship with their customers by moving the card-opening process from the checkout lane to the front of the store, using mobile technology,” said Dominic Venturo, chief innovation officer for U.S. Bank Payment Services division. “We are excited to partner with REI to offer consumers the convenience of instant access as well as the ease and security of managing their account through their mobile device.”

U.S. Bank Payment Services continues to be an innovation leader. Most recently, it introduced the first dual interface payment solution that combines EMV chip, Visa payWave and magnetic stripe technologies to enhance acceptance and compatibility with credit cards systems worldwide.

Adding to its list of firsts, U.S. Bank:

-- partnered with Visa to pilot contactless payment capabilities to an existing mobile device;

-- launched a full-suite mobile banking solution with bill pay capabilities for prepaid cardholders and

-- launched Visa person-to-person payment service to customers with a U.S. Bank Visa debit card.

About U.S. Bank

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with $321 billion in assets as of June 30, 2011, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 3,086 banking offices in 25 states and 5,086 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. U.S. Bancorp and its employees are dedicated to improving the communities they serve, for which the company earned the 2011 Spirit of America Award, the highest honor bestowed on a company by United Way. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.

Euronet Worldwide Announces Third Quarter 2011 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call Details

Image via CrunchBase

October 11, 2011 01:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time 

LEAWOOD, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Euronet Worldwide, Inc. ("Euronet" or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: EEFT) announced today it will release third quarter 2011 earnings results prior to the market opening on Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Euronet will hold a conference call the same day at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results.

The conference call will be accessible via webcast by following the link posted on www.euronetworldwide.com orhttp://ir.euronetworldwide.com. Participants should go to the website at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the event to register. A slideshow will be included in the webcast. The conference call will also be available by telephone by dialing 877-303-6313 (USA) or +1-631-813-4734 (non-USA).

A webcast replay will be available beginning approximately one hour after the event at www.euronetworldwide.com orhttp://ir.euronetworldwide.com. An audio replay of the event will also be available by dialing 855-859-2056 (USA) or +1-404-537-3406 (non-USA). The replay passcode is 16424370. The call and webcast replays will be available for one month and one year, respectively.

About Euronet Worldwide, Inc.

Euronet Worldwide is an industry leader in processing secure electronic financial transactions. The Company offers payment and transaction processing solutions to financial institutions, retailers, service providers and individual consumers. These services include comprehensive ATM, POS and card outsourcing services, card issuing and merchant acquiring services, software solutions, consumer money transfer and bill payment services, and electronic distribution for prepaid mobile airtime and other prepaid products. Euronet operates and processes transactions from 50 countries.

Euronet's global payment network is extensive — including 12,058 ATMs, approximately 53,000 EFT point-of-sale (POS) terminals and a growing portfolio of outsourced debit and credit card services which are under management in 33 countries; card software solutions; a prepaid processing network of approximately 588,000 point-of-sale (POS) terminals at approximately 276,000 retailer locations in 29 countries; and a consumer-to-consumer money transfer network of approximately 133,000 locations serving 133 countries. With corporate headquarters in Leawood, Kansas, USA, and 44 worldwide offices, Euronet serves clients in approximately 150 countries. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.euronetworldwide.com.

Green Dot Partners with Blackhawk Network to Expand Product Availability

October 11, 2011 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

Green Dot Prepaid Debit Card Products Coming to Blackhawk’s Vast Retail Network

MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT), a leading prepaid financial services company, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Blackhawk Network to sell Green Dot brand general purpose reloadable debit cards through Blackhawk’s network of retail partners. Blackhawk Network is a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses.

“As we expand our network, we will continue to look for ways to increase convenience and value for the consumers who depend on us.”

Through this agreement, Green Dot expects its prepaid debit card products to be available at 10,000 Blackhawk Network Prepaid Center locations over the next 24 months. Initially, the expected rollout will begin with 5,000 locations. Green Dot’s prepaid products are currently available at more than 55,000 retailers in the United States.

“Blackhawk’s large network of retail locations provides a great platform for Green Dot to further expand its national reach,” said Mark Troughton, Green Dot’s President of Cards and Network.

“This partnership ultimately benefits consumers throughout the country by making it easier for them to find the prepaid products they need for their everyday finances,” said Talbott Roche, President, Blackhawk Network. “As we expand our network, we will continue to look for ways to increase convenience and value for the consumers who depend on us.”

About Green Dot Corporation

Green Dot is a leading prepaid financial services company providing simple, low-cost and convenient money management solutions to a broad base of U.S. consumers. Green Dot also owns and operates the Green Dot Network, the nation's leading prepaid card reload network. Green Dot products are available online at http://www.greendot.com and at more than 55,000 retail stores, including Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, 7-Eleven, Kroger, Kmart, Meijer, and Radio Shack. Green Dot is headquartered in the greater Los Angeles area. For more details, visit http://www.greendot.com.

About Blackhawk Network

Blackhawk Network, a subsidiary of Safeway Inc., is a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses. The company's Gift Card Mall™ offers the industry's most popular prepaid gift card and telecom products. Gift Card Mall reaches more than 165 million people each week through an exclusive network of leading grocery stores, big box, convenience, pharmacy, and specialty stores and is available through Internet retailers including GiftCardMall.com. Blackhawk Network's business solutions include reward and incentive programs that offer choice and flexibility through a wide array of card brands, custom designed Visa® prepaid cards and fulfillment options.

Headquartered in Pleasanton, California, Blackhawk Network Inc. has offices in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Mexico and the United Kingdom. For more information about Blackhawk Network visit www.blackhawknetwork.com and www.giftcardmall.com.

Discover to Provide Cardmembers More Value by Offering Ability to Pay with Cashback Bonus® at Amazon.com

October 11, 2011 08:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

Cardmembers will also earn Double Cashback Bonus on all Amazon.com purchases in 2011

RIVERWOODS, Ill. & SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Discover and Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that Discover^®cardmembers can now pay directly with Cashback Bonus^® for purchases at Amazon.com. Additionally, Discover cardmembers can now earn double cash rewards on their purchases made at Amazon.com through the end of 2011.

“We are excited to offer Cashback Bonus as a new way for customers to shop at Amazon.com through our Shop with Points program”

Starting today, Discover cardmembers can pay for their Amazon.com purchases using Cashback Bonus when they link their Discover card to their Amazon.com account. Cardmembers can apply as much or as little of their Cashback Bonus as they want toward their Amazon.com purchase, with no required minimum, and have any remaining balance charged to their Discover card. Using Cashback Bonus to pay on Amazon.com is simple and straightforward, since a dollar in Cashback Bonus equals a dollar on Amazon.com. This gives Discover cardmembers another way to get clear value from theirCashback Bonus from Discover.

Discover cardmembers also can automatically earn Double (2%) Cashback Bonus on up to $250 in purchases each month on Amazon.com through the end of 2011. Cardmembers do not need to sign up: they simply need to use their Discover cards to start earning extra rewards. Discover cardmembers who have a Miles by Discover or Escape card will earn Double Miles.

“Providing more Cashback Bonus opportunities for cardmembers with Amazon.com is a natural fit for Discover. We know Amazon.com is just as committed to providing customers with value, convenience and service as we are,” said Dana Traci, vice president of rewards at Discover. “We also know Discover cardmembers love their Cashback Bonus and have earned more than $650 million of it this year alone. These new features will not only help them earn more of it, but also allow them to use rewards to get millions of items at Amazon.com, when they want them, without having to leave the site.”

"We are excited to offer Cashback Bonus as a new way for customers to shop at Amazon.com through our Shop with Points program," said Matt Swann, vice president of payments at Amazon. "Amazon's broad selection of products combined with the convenience of using Discover’s Cashback Bonus directly at Amazon.com provides our customers with an even better shopping experience."

To learn more about earning and using Cashback Bonus on Amazon.com, please visit www.amazon.com/cashbackbonus.

mFoundry Opens Downtown San Francisco Office

Company Expands Operations to Accommodate Growth and Attract More Talent

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- mFoundry, the fastest-growing mobile financial services provider in the U.S., today announced it has opened a new office at 160 Spear Street in San Francisco, CA. The company's headquarters will remain in Larkspur, California.  

The new office, located in San Francisco's South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood, is the company's second location in the Bay Area. It will be immediately occupied and will support the aggressive growth of the company's sales, product development and professional services organizations.

"The expansion of our operations into San Francisco is both practical and strategic," said John Pizzi, Chief Operating Officer, mFoundry. "Our company is growing rapidly.  The new SOMA location doubles our office capacity, allowing us to support our expanding employee base and extend our reach so we can continue to attract and retain the very best resources within the talent rich San Francisco Bay area."  

mFoundry recently announced that it now has more than 500 banks and credit union clients and over 100 new clients added since June alone.  The company is the leader in mobile financial services - an area of rapid growth as more and more consumers look to manage their finances on the go.  

The success of the business and the innovative culture makes mFoundry a great place to work.  There is no shortage of opportunities for business and technical resources.  For more information on mFoundry and current career offerings, please visithttp://www.mfoundry.com.

About mFoundry

mFoundry is most popular mobile banking solution in the U.S., currently the choice of more than 500 banks and credit unions nationwide. mFoundry's mBanking product is the leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) based mobile banking solution in the market today. mFoundry's mobile banking customers include leading financial institutions, such as Bank of America, PNC Bank and Zions Bank.

In addition to its mobile banking experience, mFoundry has established itself as a leader in mobile payments, through its work with retailers like Starbucks Coffee Company. mFoundry developed and manages Starbucks Card Mobile program, the most successful mobile payments program to date, currently used in more than 6,800 stores nationwide. mFoundry was founded in 2004 by Drew Sievers and Rodney Aiglstorfer.

The company is headquartered in Larkspur, California, with additional offices in downtown San Francisco. For more information on mFoundry, please visit http://www.mfoundry.com.

SOURCE mFoundry

Community Bank Announces That In Reaction to Competitor's Unbelievable Debit Card Fees It Will Pay New Customers $5 Per Month

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Bank & Company announced today that it is offering relief from unbelievable $5 per month fees charged by several of its national competitors.   Effective today every new customer that opens a Value Checking account with direct deposit will get PAID $5 per month for an entire year.

"We needed to do something to help consumers who are under attack from behemoth national banks charging fees that just don't make sense," said President Katie Pemble, adding "people have a choice of where to bank and at Community Bank we thought paying people $5 per month rather than charging them $5 per month was a good way to set us apart."

Rita Lowman, the Bank's retail banking executive said, "We have a great team of associates who have welcomed hundreds of new customers this year to Community Bank.  We make moving your money easy.   What we do is different, we focus on the client, their banking needs and how we can help them achieve their dreams."

About Community Bank:

Community Bank is a local, independent bank that serves thousands of sophisticated savers and borrowers across Tampa Bayfrom 17 locations in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Charlotte and Pasco counties and online atwww.communitybanknow.com.  Community Bank is a leader in checking, savings and money markets, residential mortgages, business loans, SBA loan programs, and association and treasury services.

Community Bank services include:

• Full Service Checking, Savings and Money Market depository products for consumers and businesses
• Residential mortgages, from "30 years fixed" to "jumbo" products all with fast local decision making
• Business and commercial real estate loans of up to $15 million to help local businesses grow
• Small Business Administration loans of up to $5 million – Community Bank is a Preferred Lender and is consistently ranked as one of the region's top SBA lenders
• Association and Treasury Services – providing lock‐box services to condominiums, doctors and other businesses who need to carefully track their accounts receivable

SOURCE Community Bank