Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Heartland Payment Systems Named to InformationWeek 500 for Fifth Consecutive Year


Heartland recognized for innovations in payment card data security and data center modernization

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the fifth year in a row, Heartland Payment Systems® (NYSE: HPY), one of the nation’s largest payments processors, has earned recognition as a top technology innovator by InformationWeek. The company’s Top 250 ranking on the InformationWeek 500 List was revealed at a gala awards ceremony on September 13 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, CA.
“Earning a spot on the InformationWeek 500 List for the fifth consecutive year is an honor”
“Earning a spot on the InformationWeek 500 List for the fifth consecutive year is an honor,” said Bob Carr, Heartland’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Technological innovation is the lifeblood of our company. Our best-in-class payments processing technologies help merchants across America protect their businesses against cybercriminals, improve operational efficiencies, and, ultimately enhance their profitability.”
Heartland was recognized for its industry-leading E3™ end-to-end encryption technology that is designed to protect merchants — and their customers — with the highest level of payment card data security without charging extra fees or requiring a large equipment investment. E3 safeguards sensitive credit and debit card data from the moment of card swipe or key entry — through the Heartland network — rendering information useless to cybercriminals in the event of a compromise. With EMV/chip card technology and near field communication (NFC) capabilities, Heartland’s E3 is helping merchants prepare for Visa’s Technology Innovation Program that will go into effect on October 1, 2012.
E3 also provides merchants added financial protection with the E3 Warranty. Heartland will reimburse merchants for any compliance fines, fees, assessments or forensic audits in the unlikely event that an E3 device does not prevent the unauthorized decryption of cardholder data within the one-year warranty period.
“For 23 years, the InformationWeek 500 has chronicled and honored the most innovative users of business technology,” said InformationWeek Editor-In-Chief Rob Preston. “In this day and age, however, being innovative isn’t enough. Companies and their IT organizations need to innovate faster than ever before to stay a step or two ahead of their customers, partners, and competitors. This year’s ranking placed special emphasis on those high-octane business technology innovators.”
Heartland was also honored for its data center modernization and consolidation. The first large payments processor to move its core payments processing platforms to a cloud model, Heartland is leveraging a private, hybrid cloud datacenter from a cloud service provider to consolidate its nine data centers into three, streamlining both operations and costs for the company. This initiative has significantly reduced operating expenses for one of Heartland’s lines of business and increased the availability of critical services, allowing Heartland to better serve its merchant customers.
InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America’s best-known companies. InformationWeek 500 rankings are unique among corporate rankings as it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.
Additional details on the InformationWeek 500 can be found online at www.informationweek.com/iw500/.
About Heartland Payment Systems
Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE: HPY), the fifth largest payments processor in the United States, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, gift marketing and loyalty programs, payroll, check management and related business solutions to more than 250,000 business locations nationwide. A FORTUNE 1000 company, Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. The company is also a leader in the development of end-to-end encryption technology designed to protect cardholder data, rendering it useless to cybercriminals. For more information, please visit HeartlandPaymentSystems.com, MerchantBillOfRights.org, CostOfABurger.com and E3secure.com.
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Friday, September 16, 2011

E-Debit Global Corporation Commences Roll Out of Proprietary Mobile Payments Platform


E-Debit Global Corporation 
September 16, 2011 13:39 ET

E-Debit Global Corporation Commences Roll Out of Proprietary Mobile Payments Platform

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Sept. 16, 2011) - Further to our release of August 3, 2011 E-Debit Global Corporation ("E-Debit") (OTCBB:WSHE) in conjunction with its joint-venture with ebackup Inc. ("ebackup"), Capital Six Limited ("Capital Six") announces its agreement with European and South African mobile Telco software and infrastructure provider IN-CORP AG's Canadian subsidiary MapleTel.com ("MapleTel") to roll out its mobile and internet based payment platforms.
Overview
"After a comprehensive review with MapleTel president Johan Kok we find that we have a very dynamic opportunity to leverage our 12 years of PIN based financial transaction processing operational experience and our 2010 acquisition of DigiCoins Canada Inc. loyalty program and contactless technology with MapleTel telecom applications to initiate our E-Debit payment platform," E-Debit Chief Executive Doug Mac Donald said in a joint statement with ebackup Inc. President Rowland Perkins.
"Our entry point and first priority is the immediate integration of our P2P (person to person) application and E-Debit's PIN based and micro payment capabilities into our new joint-venture," stated Johan Kok, President of MapleTel. "We are focused directly on a PIN secured Internet payment product and a subsequent related mobile payment solution built on E-Debits payment experience and suite of business operations currently in place. I anticipate a very quick Beta development and look to our current 250,000+ subscriber base in South Africa and South America for the initial large scale test/roll-out in tandem with a North American implementation," Mr. Kok added.
"Our Alberta joint-venture is based on equal participation between E-Debit's and ebackup's Capital Six Limited with 50% ownership and 50% with MapleTel and incorporates exclusive processing agreements with E-Debit's wholly owned subsidiary and Interac member Westsphere Systems Inc.," stated Mr. Mac Donald.
"Our secure on-line and mobile payment management and processing solution fills the nonexistent Canadian and international secured payment segment and the combination of ebackup's "cloud" based PCI compliant data centre, technical and back up support and E-Debit's "processing switch and micropayment system currently in place allows for a quick entry into this marketplace," concluded Mr. Kok.
About E-Debit Global Corporation
E-Debit Global Corporation (WSHE) is a financial holding company in Canada at the forefront of debit, credit and online computer banking. Currently, the Company has established a strong presence in the privately owned Canadian banking sector including Automated Banking Machines (ABM), Point of Sale Machines (POS), Online Computer Banking (OCB) and E-Commerce Transaction security and payment. E-Debit maintains and services a national ABM network across Canada and is a full participating member of the Canadian INTERAC Banking System.
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Wells Fargo Ranks Highest for Mobile Banking



yeah mahn
By Simon Zhen Fri Sep 16,2011 A new ranking scorecard puts Wells Fargo at the top for overall quality of mobile banking products and services. Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) took home the top prize in the “mobile banking” category versus the biggest banks in …
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Google’s Initial Wallet Partners Will Lose Exclusivity “Within A Few Months"



Exclusivity
When Google launched its Wallets program in late May it had a very specific set of partners set for the initial rollout. CitiBank was the primary banker,MasterCard was the financial institution, Sprint is the first carrier.There are a plethora of others as well. Yet,those partners are just the first steps.
Google’s first round of partners will lose their exclusive rights as the only members in the Wallet program “within several months,”according to MasterCard group executive for mobile and emerging payments Mung Ki Woo. 
He would not more specific than that but the thought is that by early 2012,Google Wallet will be able to spread its wings to other phones,carriers,banks and financial institutions. This will be good for consumers.

ReadWriteWeb


Read more: http://nfcdata.com/blog/#ixzz1Y8L0t1Q4
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MasterCard Gives Sneak Peek Into Mobile Payments Future


Nexus S phones now on the market incorporate Near Field Communication (NFC) technology on an embedded chip,which allows for payment information to be transmitted via the tapping technique. Google Wallet will work on PayPass terminals already deployed …
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iPhone 5 Rumors;Netflix Drops on Subscribers Cut
TheStreet.com
The new phone reportedly will come with an eight-megapixel camera (the iPhone 4 has a five-megapixel),a super-fast A5 dual-core processor and near field communication that can be used to make mobile payments. Shares of Apple rose 0.6% to $395.15 in …
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NCR Launches Mobile Banking Platform to Help Banks Drive Adoption of Mobility within Multi-Channel Self-Service

Sep 16, 2011, 10:10am

NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) today launched NCR APTRA Mobile Banking 3.0, a new global mobile banking platform enabling banks to offer their customers banking services via downloadable apps, mobile browser or SMS. The solution provides all the features consumers need to manage their money on the move and enables banks to scale and integrate mobile with other online, kiosk, ATM and teller banking channels, helping to drive adoption of mobile banking and deliver new services across integrated channels.

Mobile banking usage rates by consumers have increased by 100 percent in a wide range of countries since 2010 according to TNS research. ABI Research predicts 400 million global consumers are expected to be using mobile banking by 2014.

NCR’s new mobile banking platform builds on NCR’s existing mobile banking experience and travel mobile services leadership, through its acquisition of Mobiqa, to provide support for more than 10,000 mobile devices, more than 600 wireless providers, and in more than 200 countries. The solution gives financial institutions a simple and fast way to set up a range of mobile banking services, such as account balances checks, transaction history, money transfer between accounts, bills payment, and branches and ATM location. The consumer interface is consistent across multiple devices and modes, providing support for multiple languages and currencies. NCR mobile banking also offers multi-channel enrolment, letting consumers sign up at ATMs, online or in-branch kiosks.

“Smart phone growth and financial inclusion are driving mobile banking adoption on a global scale,” said Michael O’Laughlin, senior vice president, NCR Financial Services. “Our new mobile banking solution gives financial institutions a flexible and secure way to meet the immediate mobile banking needs of their customers. As importantly, it provides a platform that will scale with the explosion of device choice, mobile bandwidth growth and migration from SMS, to apps and next generation of mobile browsers using HTML5. As mobile devices become more central to how people manage their finances, mobile banking will need to evolve to deliver new services that leverage the advantages of the channel and integrate seamlessly with other self-service channels. Scheduling and managing appointments across the mobile and other channels, receiving e-receipts on transactions at the ATM and mobile check deposits are examples of how banks will create competitive advantage by delivering an integrated experience for their customers across banking channels.”

APTRA Mobile Banking will serve as the core mobile solution as existing NCR solutions are extended to the mobile channel, giving financial institutions and their customers the full benefits of truly integrated multi-channel solutions.

Financial institutions will have the option to extend and customize the solution via NCR’s Global Professional Services and can choose among multiple deployment and support models.

Learn more about NCR APTRA Mobile Banking 3.0 on YouTube.

About NCR Corporation

NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a global technology company leading how the world connects, interacts and transacts with business. NCR’s assisted- and self-service solutions and comprehensive support services address the needs of retail, financial, travel, healthcare, hospitality, entertainment, gaming, public sector, telecom carrier and equipment organizations in more than 100 countries. NCR (www.ncr.com) is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia.
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Mobile Commerce in LTE: The Future of Commerce in 4G and Beyond


September 16, 2011 06:26 AM Eastern Daylight Time 
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Mobile Commerce in LTE: The Future of Commerce in 4G and Beyond" report to their offering.In addition to analyzing specific applications such as 3D, virtual reality, and augmented reality, we forecast the future of mobile commerce and the impact of LTE from 2012 through 2017.
Our experts in LTE and mobile commerce take a visionary look into the future of commerce in 4G and beyond. We evaluate how various emerging technologies, solutions, and business models are converging and will benefit greatly from higher bandwidth. For example, we analyze the future of location-based services joined with LTE and mobile commerce.
Audience:
  • Mobile network operators
  • Mobile commerce vendors
  • Mobile network infrastructure providers
  • Next Generation application and service providers
Keywords: LTE, 4G, 5G, Long Term Evolution, Mobile Commerce, Commerce
Key Topics Covered:
  • The M-Commerce Future
  • 3D M-Commerce
  • The VR-Mall Concept
  • VR-mall Personalization Engine
  • VR-world Generator
  • 3D in Mobile Phones
  • 3D Mobile Commerce Applications
  • Challenges of the 3D M-Commerce
  • Solutions to Overcome Challenges
  • List of Phones that Uses 3D technology
  • Future of 3D Commerce
  • E-government Concept with M-commerce Applications
  • E-Government
  • The Future of E-Government Concept
  • Mobile Banking
  • Introduction
  • M banking Devices
  • Banks Role in M-Banking
  • Mobile Banking Technologies
  • Future of M-Banking
  • SMS
  • SWOT Analysis for SMS Mode
  • Visa Teams With Monitise to Launch Mobile Banking Solutions
  • Introduction
  • and much more....

Contacts

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager,
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
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Plastic Cards - China - A Snapshot (2011) Provides Market Forecasts for Five years


September 16, 2011 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time 
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and has announced the addition of the "Plastic Cards - China - A Snapshot (2011)" report to their offering.


Plastic Cards in China by Mintel Global Market Navigator provides you with annual year-end market size data, most recently updated in 2011. This market covers all credit & debit plastic cards for consumer and commercial use. It excludes store/retail cards. Market volume is based on numbers of cards in circulation; market value is the total value of transactions Market size for Plastic Cards in China is given in CNY and cards with a minimum of five years' historical data. Market Forecast is provided for five years. Included with this snapshot is socio-economic data for China. Population, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Exchange Rates.
Key Topics Covered:
  • Figure 1: Volume - Absolute size (2004 - 2015)
  • Figure 2: Volume - Growth (2004 - 2015)
  • Table 1: Volume (2004 - 2015)
  • Figure 3: Value in Local Currency - Value (2004 - 2015)
  • Figure 4: Value in Local Currency - Value growth (2004 - 2015)
  • Table 2: Value in Local Currency (2004 - 2015)
  • Figure 5: Value in USD - Value (2004 - 2015)
  • Figure 6: Value in USD - Value growth (2004 - 2015)
  • Table 3: Value in USD (2004 - 2015) Market segmentation
  • Figure 7: China - Plastic Cards: Market segmentation by volume (2010)
  • Table 4: China - Plastic Cards: Market segmentation by volume (2010) Market shares
  • Figure 8: China - Plastic Cards: Company market share by volume - 2008 (%)
  • Figure 9: China - Plastic Cards: Company market share by volume - 2009 (%)
  • Figure 10: China - Plastic Cards: Company market share by volume - 2010 (%)
  • Table 5: China - Plastic Cards: Company market share by volume (2008 - 2010) Company details
  • Table 6: China - Plastic Cards: Website Links Compound annual growth rates
Companies Mentioned:
Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), Bank of China (BOC), Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., China Citic Bank, China Construction Bank (CCB), China Merchants Bank, China Minsheng Bank Co., Ltd., Industry and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Postal Savings Bank of China, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank
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Citibank Simplifies Banking Package Options


Sep 16, 2011, 9:00am

Citibank today announced changes to its banking relationship packages in response to direct feedback from clients on providing clearer choices, more simplicity and greater rewards. Existing customers will begin receiving notification of these changes at the end of this month, with the enhancements becoming effective for all clients in December of this year.

“We’re constantly listening to our clients and looking for ways to make their banking experience easier and more rewarding,” said Stephen Troutner, Head of Banking Products for U.S. Consumer Banking. “More than anything, clients want simple and straightforward choices, the ability to earn rewards for doing business with us, and no hidden fees.”

Simple Banking Package Options

For its Basic Checking package, Citibank will offer three clear options for clients to get great value and worry-free pricing: 1) Clients pay no monthly service fee if they make one Direct Deposit and one Online Bill Payment during each monthly statement period; 2) Clients can also avoid a monthly service fee by maintaining $1,500 in combined average monthly balances in their Basic Checking and linked Basic Savings accounts; or 3) Clients can choose to pay a flat $10 monthly service fee for the Basic Banking package, which includes more standard features and services than competitor offerings.

“Giving clients more than one way to avoid a monthly service fee was important,” said Troutner. “And even more, we designed an option based on activities our customers said they do every month, such as getting a paycheck or pension payment, and paying bills. At the end of the day, they prefer the simplicity of not having to remember a list of activities to complete each month to avoid a service fee.”

For its full-service and premium checking packages, Citibank is keeping the choices simple: clients can either choose to maintain a minimum relationship balance level that recognizes all their savings, borrowing, and investing activities, or they can pay a competitive monthly service fee for the expanded features and services these packages offer.

No Fees for Using Debit Cards and Online Bill Pay

Regardless of which option clients choose, Citibank does not charge additional fees for debit card usage or online bill payments, tools that clients consistently say are among the most important for simplifying the complexities of their financial lives.

“Unlike many of our competitors, we will not charge fees that discourage use or make it unreasonably expensive to take advantage of the tools and services that consumers say are important for managing their finances,” continued Troutner. “The bottom line is that customers don’t want to pay to use their debit card, make bill payments online, or to use a teller. Customers said they find this unacceptable – and we listened.”

Citibank’s position on usage fees reinforces its broader commitment to give clients the control they need to better manage their finances, including not allowing any form of opt-in for debit card point-of-sale and ATM overdrafts, posting transactions from lowest to highest order for both checks and automated clearing house (ACH) transactions to reduce overdraft fees, and not charging for ATM balance inquiries or transfers at non-Citibank ATMs.

Maintaining ThankYouSM Rewards for Banking

While Citibank did make the hard decision to stop giving reward points for debit card transactions, it is keeping its ThankYou banking relationship rewards program, and will increase the maximum rewards earning opportunity for all clients. Eligibility requirements will be aligned with the same activities that enable customers to avoid incurring monthly service fees – direct deposit and online bill pay.

“We value our customers, and our ThankYou program is our way of showing them how important they are to us,” said Troutner. “While many banks are eliminating rewards programs, we are keeping ours and even making it more rewarding for customers who use us as their primary bank.”

Customers who have questions can visit their nearest branch, call 1-877-248-4454 to speak with a Citibank representative, tweet @askciti, or visit www.citibank.com.
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Announces Extension of Its Tender Offer for Any and All of Pro Rata’s Preferred Shares


Sep 16, 2011, 9:00am

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citi”) announced today the extension of the previously announced tender offer (the “Offer”) to purchase any and all of the outstanding 33,000 Preferred Shares, par value U.S. $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Shares”) issued by Pro Rata Funding Ltd., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Issuer”) to 11:59 p.m. New York City Time on September 16, 2011. Accordingly, all holders of Preferred Shares that are validly tendered at or prior to 11:59 p.m. New York City Time on September 16, 2011, unless extended or earlier terminated (such date and time, the Expiration Time), and that are accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer will receive the applicable tender offer consideration.

Withdrawal rights in connection with the Offer expired at the Withdrawal Deadline, which was 11:59 p.m. New York City Time on September 14, 2011. Tendered Preferred Shares, whether submitted prior or subsequent to such time, may not be withdrawn.

The Offer is being made upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated August 17, 2011.

Additional Information

Global Bondholder Services Corporation is the Information Agent and Depositary for the Offer. Questions regarding the Offer should be directed to Citi, attention John Clements, Managing Director, Structured Credit Group at (212) 723-6173 (collect). Requests for documentation should be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at (212) 430-3774 (for banks and brokers only) or (866) 294-2200 (for all others toll-free). This announcement is for informational purposes only. This announcement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase with respect to any Preferred Shares. The Offer was made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and related documents. The Offer was not made to holders of Preferred Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction.

Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.
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Innovative Rewards Company Launches a Unique Bill Credits Program


 
FRESNO, Calif., Sept. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- From innovative rewards company, LifePays, comes an exciting loyalty program that will help subscription-based enterprises attract and retain customers by enabling customers to convert lifestyle purchases into lower bills. LifePays' Bill Credits program is the first loyalty program to focus on enabling users to lower their monthly subscription fees. "We are focused on giving our clients the ability to put the power of pricing in the hands of their customers. When customers use the LifePays program, they reduce their bill," says Kirk Nagamine, the President and CEO of LifePays, Inc.
LifePays is designed to help industries that have been struggling in recent years to reduce customer churn such as; Cable, Wireless, and other subscription-based service companies. How does it work? Subscription based companies make the LifePays Program available to their customers who can slash their bill three ways: 1. Trade unused gift cards to pay for their service. Currently, LifePays accepts trade-ins from over 400 national retailers. 2. Register their personal payment cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Debit) in the program and shop within the LifePays network of thousands of online and brick and mortar merchants. 3. Purchase discounted deals from local and national merchants available on the LifePays site. These deals are updated frequently and offer users substantial discounts in addition to lowering their bills. "With flexibility and power built into our uniqueBill Credits program we will continually add ways for consumers to convert their lifestyle purchases to extra cash so that our clients have the ability to offer their customers what they really want and that is a lower monthly bill," said Nagamine.
The Bill Credits program is a robust opportunity for companies to increase retention and customer satisfaction, leading to a sustainable competitive advantage. For customers, it's an exciting and simple way to save money without having to cut services such as cable, cell phone, or internet. For CEO Kirk Nagamine, the new programs represent a convergence of technology: "LifePays has always been on the cutting edge of building consumer loyalty, and unique rewards programs; Shop and Earn; Hot Deals and Convert2Cash are programs that exemplify LifePays' commitment to helping businesses engage consumers in a meaningful way while providing consumers with opportunities to save money."
For more information about LifePays, please contact Chelsi Silva at 1.866.632.0191 X 105 or email chelsi@lifepays.com
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Ground Labs to Showcase Cardholder Data Discovery at PCI Security Standards Council Community Meeting


 
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. and SINGAPORE, Sept. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Next week, a large gathering of global stakeholders in the payment card industry will be attending the fifth annual PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) Community Meeting in North America. Ground Labs, a leading developer of security and auditing software solutions for the payment card industry, will be a sponsor of this year's event in Scottsdale, Arizona and participate in the Vendor Showcase.
The PCI SSC Community Meetings provide an opportunity for industry stakeholders to learn from each other's experience working with the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Participants also have opportunities to raise new ideas for future versions of the Standards and learn about best practices for protecting cardholder data as they interact with solution vendors and other service providers in the industry.
Singapore-based Ground Labs is one of the international sponsors of the upcoming Community Meeting. The company's flagship products, Card Recon and Enterprise Recon perform cardholder data discovery to assist companies identify storage risks and help prevent security breaches that result in the theft of customers' credit and debit card numbers.
"Over the past year Ground Labs has continued to provide major advancements in the field of cardholder data discovery," saidStephen Cavey, Director of Corporate Development for Ground Labs. "This PCI SSC event provides a unique opportunity to meet with many of our global QSA partners and customers to ensure our software delivers on their requirements now and into the future."
Card Recon and Enterprise Recon assist organizations in thoroughly identifying unencrypted cardholder data in all types of data storage, including emails, databases, documents and log files. This process is becoming a critical step toward achieving compliance with the PCI DSS and ultimately securing sensitive customer payment information.
The sold-out Vendor Showcase will present an opportunity for delegates to meet a large number of participating vendors and learn about their important work in the field of cardholder data security. As a participant in the Vendor Showcase, Ground Labs will provide live demonstrations of its Card Recon software for QSAs and Enterprise Recon software for large merchant organizations.
The 2011 North American Community Meeting will be held September 21-22 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The European Community Meeting will be held October 17-19 in London, United Kingdom. Ground Labs will sponsor both events. Additional information about the 2011 PCI SCC Community Meetings is available online at http://bit.ly/nR0mda.
About Ground Labs
Ground Labs is a global leader in the development of security and auditing software solutions for the payment card industry. Its flagship products, Card Recon and Enterprise Recon, identify data storage risks on thousands of computer systems worldwide, helping companies prevent security breaches that result in the theft of customers' credit and debit card numbers. For more information and product demos, visit http://www.groundlabs.com.
For more information, please contact:
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Fiserv to Produce Personalized EMV Cards

Sep 16, 2011, 9:30am

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), the leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, announced today that it will begin personalizing chip payment cards based on the Europay MasterCard Visa (EMV) standard. The EMV card features a micro-processing chip that stores cardholder data securely, helping reduce the number of fraudulent transactions resulting from counterfeit, lost and stolen cards.

“As the U.S. payments industry looks for ways to minimize card-related fraud loss and comply with new data security standards, EMV provides a next-generation alternative to magnetic stripe bank cards,” said Jorge Diaz, president, Output Solutions, Fiserv.

EMV sets the worldwide standard for bank cards used by businesses and consumers and was established to define the functional requirements for both chip card and chip-reading terminals. The EMV chip requires the merchant terminal to provide a PIN before it allows the card data to be read. Once the PIN is entered and verified, the smart card chip authorizes payment. According to EMVCo, the organization responsible for managing the EMV specifications globally, approximately one billion EMV cards have been issued worldwide and 15.4 million point-of-sale terminals accept EMV cards.

“Increasingly, U.S. travelers abroad find that their magnetic stripe bank cards are rejected,” said Diaz. “This leads to embarrassing and compromising situations that can now be avoided with EMV chip cards. Along with greater convenience and merchant acceptance, cardholders may also benefit from reduced card fraud.”

The adoption of dual-interface chip technology also helps prepare the U.S. payment infrastructure for the arrival of near-field communication (NFC) mobile payments by building the necessary infrastructure to accept and process chip transactions that support either a signature or PIN at the point of sale.

“Fiserv is committed to delivering the payments technology that our clients want now, while anticipating what they will need in the future,” said Diaz. “In 2012, Fiserv will also implement solutions to process EMV transactions.”

About Fiserv

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) is the leading global provider of information management and electronic commerce systems for the financial services industry, driving innovation that transforms experiences for financial institutions and their customers. Fiserv is ranked No. 1 on the FinTech 100 survey of top technology partners to the financial services industry. For more information, visit www.fiserv.com.
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Thursday, September 15, 2011

Visa Celebrates Fans Who Make Football Better Together with Trip for One Winner and 10 Friends to Super Bowl XLVI


September 15, 2011 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time 
Integrated Marketing Campaign Features National Promotion, New Team Relationships and the Seventh Season of Financial Football
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), a proud sponsor of the NFL since 1995, announced today a new national promotion offering Visa cardholders the unique opportunity to win a trip for themselves and 10 friends to Super Bowl XLVI to witness first-hand all the sights, sounds and excitement of the biggest event in football. The Visa You & 10 Super Bowl Sweepstakes represents a key component of Visa’s integrated marketing campaign for the 2011 NFL season that will also include national advertising, social media executions, client and merchant activation programs, new NFL team relationships, and the seventh season of Financial Football, an educational program to promote financial literacy in high schools nationwide.
“This campaign and promotion aim to celebrate the social aspect of being an NFL fan and reward our cardholders who enjoy their NFL experience even more when they are surrounded by friends and family.”
Through Dec. 27, 2011, Visa cardholders in the United States will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for themselves and 10 friends to Super Bowl XLVI when they use their Visa card. The winner and all 10 of his or her guests will receive: tickets to the NFL Experience and Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Ind., roundtrip airfare and ground transportation, hotel accommodations, admission to a NFL-sponsored party, a meal with an NFL player, and a Visa gift card. Visitwww.visa.com/nfl for additional promotion details. No purchase or obligation is necessary to enter or win. The winner will be announced in early January.
“Fans experience the NFL in a variety of different ways throughout the season but one constant we've observed is that they enjoy it most when sharing it with other fans, whether that's through fantasy leagues, pre-game rituals, watching games or discussing the game as the season unfolds, face-to-face or on social networks,” said Alex Craddock, Head of North America Marketing, Visa Inc. “This campaign and promotion aim to celebrate the social aspect of being an NFL fan and reward our cardholders who enjoy their NFL experience even more when they are surrounded by friends and family.”
Advertising
In October, Visa will introduce its advertising campaign featuring national television commercials and social media extensions, celebrating the inherently social nature of enjoying NFL gameday with friends and reinforcing the ways that Visa enhances their experience.
For the eighth consecutive season, Visa also will present the Visa Halftime Report on FOX NFL broadcasts to further reinforce the company’s 16-year relationship with the league before millions of television viewers. Extending its relationship with Yahoo! for a third NFL season, Visa will also be a sponsor of Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football presenting the Yahoo! Sports StatTracker®, as well as mobile and iPad applications.
Client & Merchant Activation
Visa’s league and team sponsorships provide a wide range of opportunities for financial institution clients & merchant partners to connect with Visa cardholders – including access to the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl, the NFL Playoffs and the NFL Draft – and drive value for their businesses and shareholders.
This year’s NFL campaign will include participation by more than 600 financial institutions that issue Visa cards. Visa’s marketing support for financial institution clients includes participation in the national promotion, access to Visa Signature’s unique NFL experiences, and other customized promotional opportunities such as on-field access during the Super Bowl warm-up.
Team Marketing Programs
New for this season, Visa has become the exclusive payment services sponsor of the Houston Texans and San Diego Chargers, adding to its roster that already includes the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, and San Francisco 49ers.
As the proud sponsor of 15 NFL teams, Visa is the preferred card for ticket sales, concessions and merchandise and will have point-of-sale branding online and at all team payment terminals within the stadiums, including concession areas and team shops.
Financial Football
For the seventh consecutive year, Visa has teamed up with the NFL and NFL PLAYERS to help high school and college students take control of their financial future. Financial Football is a free money management video game and the centerpiece of a nationwide initiative to promote financial literacy. Visa has partnered with 29 state governments to distribute the Financial Football game to more than 12,000 high schools. Financial Football has been rolled out statewide to every public high school in: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Since the inception of the program, Visa has presented Financial Football to more than 6,000 students in live classroom settings and distributed more than 30,000 interactive CDs to teachers, parents and young adults. The online version of the game, available atwww.practicalmoneyskills.com/football, has been played more than 450,000 times.
Visa will kick off the 2011 NFL season on Sept. 13 in Atlanta, Ga. with a lively game of Financial Football with local students.

use your Visa card and you could win a trip for you and 10 friends to Super Bowl XLVI

because we know that football is better together.

Without the fans, there would be no football. And with no football, well, that just wouldn't be right, now, would it? So we're celebrating the greatest fans in the world by giving away a trip to Super Bowl XLVI for one winner and 10 friends. And guess what? When you use your Visa card, you're entered for a chance to win.
an epic Super Bowl experience
When you use your Visa card you're entered for a chance to win. It's that simple.
NO PURCHASE OR OBLIGATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN the Visa 2011 NFL Super Bowl Sweepstakes. Open to legal US residents, 18 years or older as of 9/8/11. PIN-based and ATM transactions are not eligible. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited. Sweepstakes ends 12/27/2011. For complete details on non-purchase entries, see Official Rules.
© 2011 NFL Properties LLC. Team names/logos/indicia are trademarks of the teams indicated. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League.

Visa and the NFL - a perfect team

Each NFL season, fans across the country gather to root for their favorite team. You gasp at every fumble. You cheer every time your team scores. You yell at every play that doesn't go your way. Whether you're watching at home, at your team stadium, or in rival territory, Visa is there with you every yard of the way. Visa is a proud sponsor of the NFL, Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, NFL Draft, NFL Kickoff, as well as the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.

Financial Football

Visa USA, the NFL, and its players have partnered up to engage high school students in a different kind of football game—one that prepares them to become fiscally fit adults. "Financial Football" is an engaging, educational video game that teaches students about personal finance using curriculum from Practical Money Skills for Life, Visa's free, award-winning money management program.
"Financial Football" is fast-paced and fun, but instead of using a game controller to gain yardage and score, players must answer personal finance questions correctly to advance down the field. "Financial Football" is available for free and can be downloaded for playing on computers and cell phones.
Go to Financial Football Training Camp. Play now.

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