Mobile Payment Industry News

Thursday, October 29, 2009

FinTech Top 25 Enterprise Technology Vendor Rankings

New York, Oct. 29, 2009 -PIN Payments News Blog- American Banker and Bank Technology News, SourceMedia’s renowned publications for banking and financial services professionals, and IDC Financial Insights, an independent research services firm, today released the 2009 FinTech Top 25 enterprise technology vendor rankings.

Now in its sixth year, the FinTech Top 25 is comprised of leading horizontal technology firms that provide products and services across multiple industries, with significant reported revenue within the financial services industry. This year’s highlights include:

IBM (NYSE: IBM) continues its six-year streak as the largest provider of technology products and services to the financial services industry;

10 of this year’s Top 25 companies have headquarters outside of North America, underscoring the global nature of solutions providers to the financial services industry; and

Two of the Top 25 companies are from India, (Wipro and, new to the Enterprise 25 this year, HCL Technologies).

Vendors included in the Top 25 Enterprise Technology Companies are as follows:

IBM, Armonk, N.Y., USA

Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto, Calif., USA

Dell, Inc., Round Rock, Texas, USA

Fujitsu Limited, Tokyo, Japan

Microsoft, Redmond, Wash., USA

Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif., USA

Accenture, Bermuda, N.Y., USA

Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan

EMC, Hopkinton, Mass., USA

Intel, Santa Clara, Calif., USA

Sun Microsystems, Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., USA

Oracle Corporation, Redwood Shores, Calif., USA

Computer Sciences (CSC), Falls Church, Va., USA

Thomson Reuters, New York, N.Y., USA

Capgemini, Paris, France

ATOS Origin S.A., Paris, France

Unisys, Blue Bell, Penn., USA

CGI Group, Montreal, QC, Canada

Wipro, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Siemens, Munich, Germany

Deloitte & Touche Tohmatsu, New York, N.Y., USA

Logica CMG plc, London, UK

SAP AG, Walldorf, Germany

Reed Elsevier, London, UK

HCL Technologies, Noida, UP, India

“Despite the recession, nearly all of this year’s Enterprise 25 list showed strong growth,” said Rebecca Sausner, editor of Bank Technology News. “This year’s list includes three new entrants — SAP, Reed Elsevier and HCL Technology. Dropping off the list are Electronic Data Systems (acquired by HP), Getronics (acquired by KPN and CompuCon), and Infosys.”

“When we look at the FinTech Enterprise 25 we are looking at the world’s largest hardware, software and services integrators into the financial services industry,” said Dana Wiklund, research director, Risk Management, IDC Financial Insights. “Many of these companies, including IBM and Oracle, have been branching beyond their core competencies in hardware and data processing to round out their value propositions with enterprise risk management solutions. The companies that make up the Enterprise 25 have deep, embedded positions within the financial services industry and leverage unique perspectives on driving economic value for their clients through an unprecedented financial crisis.”

Consideration for the top 25 enterprise technology companies for 2009 is determined by calendar year-end revenues (CY08) and the percentage of revenues from sales to financial services industry clients, with final rankings based upon total sales to financial institutions. In addition to the FinTech Top 25 Enterprise Technology Companies, American Banker, Bank Technology News and IDC Financial Insights also released the 2009 FinTech 100 ranking of the top technology providers to the financial services industry.

The 2009 honorees will be honored at the BAI Retail Delivery Conference & Expo in Boston at an awards breakfast on November 4 at the Westin Boston Waterfront.

To obtain a complete copy of the report, please visit http://www.americanbanker.com/fintech100/ .

About American Banker, Bank Technology News and SourceMedia, Inc.

American Banker, (www.AmericanBanker.com ), is the banking industry’s daily source of information, news, and analysis for executives at banks of all sizes. Founded in 1836, with a current readership of more than 65,000, the publication covers topics including national and global banking issues, mortgages, consumer finance, legislation, investment products, card and payment systems and technology.

Bank Technology News (www.BankTechNews.com/ ) is written for 27,000 banking professionals who identify, recommend, purchase and support the front-, middle- and back-office technology needs across all business units of their financial institutions. Bank Technology News provides critical information and analysis on the relationship between banking strategy and technology execution.

SourceMedia (www.SourceMedia.com ), an Investcorp company, is the pre-eminent provider of timely and essential news, analysis, research, and insights for members of the financial services community, and the related fields of professional services and technology. SourceMedia offers its clients and subscribers professional publications, industry-standard data applications and in-depth seminars and conferences.

About IDC Financial Insights

IDC Financial Insights (www.financial-insights.com ) is one of the world’s leading providers of independent research, custom consulting, and advisory services focusing on the business, technology and operational issues, within the financial services community. We are the preferred research partner for over 250 of the world’s largest financial institutions and technology companies. For the past 6+ years we have been helping our clients understand and manage the challenges they face from a rapidly changing business, operational and technological environment. We proudly employ the industry’s most talented minds, which equip our clients with insights that they rely on and advice they trust. Furthermore, we are the only research firm that has a significant physical presence worldwide, with analyst community based in the America's, Asia Pacific and Europe.

About William Mills Agency

William Mills Agency was founded in 1977 and promotes companies that sell a variety of products or services in a number of highly specialized vertical markets. The Atlanta-based agency represents companies throughout North America and Europe. For more information, please visit www.williammills.com or call Mr. Kelly Williams at (678) 781-7202.

Source: Company press release.

PayPal Offers Big Savings with 2009 Holiday Promotions

PayPal Invites Holiday Shoppers to Kick Off the Season with Cash-Back, Free Shipping and a Small Gift that Makes a Big Impact

SAN JOSE, Calif. - October 29, 2009 - PIN Payments News Blog - PayPal today announced its 2009 holiday promotions including cash-back, free shipping and huge savings from major retailers. Starting November 3rd and available through January 12th, online shoppers can visit www.PayPal.com/holiday to receive up to 20 percent off, cash-back or free shipping from online retailers such as Zappos.com, Best Buy, Southwest Airlines and Walmart.com.

"The consumer is in the driver's seat this holiday season, with retailers offering great deals on gifts ranging from the practical to the fun and frivolous," said Amanda Pires, senior director at PayPal. "By using PayPal, shoppers can find gifts for everyone on their list and still save time and money with free shipping and cash-back throughout the holiday season and into the New Year."

PayPal is also working with MicroPlace to provide holiday shoppers with a unique gift that helps the world's working poor. Shoppers who purchase a gift certificate on MicroPlace.com will get a free $20 gift certificate to give to someone else on their list. These gift certificates will provide much needed capital to organizations that provide financial services to poor people around the world. This gift could help someone get access to a loan to start a business, generate income and work their way out of poverty.

PayPal's 2009 Holiday Promotions

According to this year's National Retail Federation prediction, nearly half of all holiday shoppers will be shopping online. PayPal is working with several retailers to offer holiday promotions to help online shoppers find great gifts that won't break the bank. These include, but are not limited to:

Savings and Cash-Back:

Best Buy will offer $20 cash-back on purchases of 100 dollars or more when you pay with PayPal between November 10^th and November 16^th.

Southwest Airlines, Omaha Steaks and Smart Bargains will offer up to 20 percent savings on all PayPal purchases.

Free Shipping:

Walmart.com will offer free Site to Store shipping.

Beauty.com will offer PayPal customers free shipping from November 3^rd through 9^th.

Zappos.com will offer free shipping both ways on shoes and free overnight shipping on clothing from November 10^th through 16^th.

For more information about the 2009 PayPal holiday promotions, and to see a full list of participating retailers, visit www.paypal.com/holiday beginning November 3^rd.

About PayPal

PayPal is the faster, safer way to pay and get paid online. The service allows members to send money without sharing financial information, with the flexibility to pay using their account balances, bank accounts, credit cards or promotional financing. With more than 78 million active accounts in 190 markets and 19 currencies around the world, PayPal enables global ecommerce. PayPal is an eBay company and is made up of three leading online payment services: the PayPal global payments platform, the Payflow Gateway and Bill Me Later. More information about the company can be found at https://www.paypal.com.

Media Contacts:

Charlotte Hill

Manager, Corp. Communications

chhill@paypal.com

408-967-5754

2009 eCommerce Report (formerly Pago Report) Published by Deutsche

E-Commerce Report 2009 – Trends in Consumer and Payment Behaviour in E-Commerce on the Basis of Real-Life Transactions

In 2009 the E-Commerce Report (formerly known as "Pago Report") has been published for the eighth time.

The annual study (first published in 2002) has established itself as one of the most important e-commerce surveys all over Europe because it is the only report based on real transactions instead of interviews. For this comprehensive market survey millions of real purchasing transactions processed through the platform of Deutsche Card Services were evaluated statistically.

In co-operation with experts from a popular market research institute, purchasing and payment behaviour of consumers from Germany, UK, the rest of Europe, and the non-European countries were analysed using established statistical methods. The result is an comprehensive insight into the status quo in e-commerce concerning purchasing and payment behaviour, non-payment risk and industry specifications.

The unique information is essential for e-commerce merchants and online shop owners. The E-Commerce Report answers several questions for examplewhich payment methods (credit card, direct debit, Maestro and giropay) are preferred by customers from different countries.

The E-Commerce Report 2009 is available in the [Shop] for 500 euros plus VAT.

Highlights at a glance

the only survey based on the analysis of about 30 million real purchase transactions

about 160 pages including many tables and diagrams

in German and in English language

data analysis conducted in cooperation with experts from a popular market research institute

European licensing area with merchants from Germany, the UK, and the rest of Europe

Consumers from Germany, the UK, the rest of Europe, and the non-European countries

including new payment methods – such as giropay and Maestro

Trusteer Warns of New Two Headed Trojan Attack Against Online Banks - W32 Silon

W32.Silon Circumvents Transaction Authentication Systems to Commit Financial Fraud

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2009 - PIN Payments News Blog - Trusteer, the customer protection company for online businesses, today issued a security advisory on a new Trojan called W32.Silon that bypasses security tokens, banking card readers and uses a two pronged payload to steal login information and commit online financial fraud. The Trusteer Rapport browser security service has blocked repeated attempts in-the-wild by the W32.Silon Trojan to compromise consumer internet banking accounts. Findings gathered from a sample of the new malware are available in a report that explains its functionality, as well as how to detect and remove W32.Silon. The report is available at http://www.trusteer.com/webform/w32silon-malware-analysis.

W32.Silon is new malware variant that intercepts Internet Explorer web browser sessions, and has been associated with fraud incidents at several large banks. Trusteer retrieved and analyzed a sample of this two headed Trojan which is designed to steal generic login information and commit bank-specific fraud.

To steal user credentials, W32.Silon performs its initial attack when a user initiates a web login session and enters their username and password. The malware intercepts the login POST request, encrypts the requested data, and sends it to a command & control (C&C) server.

When it targets users of online banking applications that are protected by transaction authentication devices such as tokens or banking card readers, W32.Silon waits until the user has logged on and then injects dynamic html code into the login flow between the user and the bank’s web server. First, the malware presents authentic looking web pages that appear to be from the bank asking the user to employ their transaction authentication device. Next, the user is asked to enter information from the device into the webpage. This information is then used by the criminals to execute fraudulent transactions on behalf of the user.

Editor's Note: Not a threat to HomeATM users because we have embedded a PIN Pad (a PCI 2.x certified one) into our card reader. This imagine this threat is targeted towards companies that manufacture card readers WITHOUT a PIN Pad...which is everyone BUT HomeATM. Besides...and I'm sure you'll agree, I can't see the logic behind anyone entering their PIN on our device and then being spoofed into typing it into a box on a website. (See Graphic Below)

“This new Trojan illustrates how advanced malware writers have become in their ability to dynamically execute multiple, bank-specific attacks with a single piece of software,” said Amit Klein, CTO and chief researcher at Trusteer. “The level of sophistication built-into W32.Silon is concerning, as is its focus on circumventing strong authentication systems like card and PIN readers. We have put all of our banking customers on alert, and are attempting to get the word out with this advisory.”

About Rapport

Rapport from Trusteer is a lightweight browser plug-in plus security service that prevents criminals from tampering with a user’s browser and protects against man-in-the-browser, man-in-the-middle, and phishing attacks. When users browse to sensitive websites such as internet banking, Webmail, or online payment pages, the Rapport plug-in immediately locks down the browser and prevents any unauthorized access to web pages and confidential information that flow through the browser. Rapport is available for download here. Trusteer also offers in-the-cloud reporting services. When unauthorized access attempts are detected by Rapport, these are analyzed by fraud experts who provide actionable intelligence to financial institutions.

About Trusteer

Trusteer enables online businesses to secure communications with their customers over the Internet, and protect personally identifiable information (PII) and transactions from a user's keyboard into the company's Web site. Trusteer's flagship product, Rapport, allows online banks, brokerages, healthcare providers, and retailers to protect their customers from identity theft and financial fraud. Trusteer’s services are used by more than 30 financial institutions in North America and Europe, and by over 3 million users. Trusteer is a privately held corporation led by former executives from Cyota/RSA Security, Imperva, and NetScreen/Juniper. For more information visit www.trusteer.com.

Amazon Replaces Typing Username/Password with Typing Something Else

Amazon sidelines user names and passwords with 'PayPhrase' for online payment

Finextra: Amazon has moved to simplify the online checkout process with a feature that lets customers complete purchases by typing in a short, unique phrase and PIN.

Customers who store credit card numbers and shipping addresses with Amazon can choose to have that information represented by a "PayPhrase" and PIN. When making a purchase, they enter their own customised phrase - such as 'Knick Knack', 'Home Sweet Home', or 'Jake's Allowance' - and PIN and are shown an order confirmation before checking out.

Amazon says the system is easy and secure because shoppers do not need to type in their usernames and passwords or enter their payment information. Customers can adopt multiple PayPhrases to map against multiple shipping instructions and card accounts.

Editor's Note: Six of One...Half a Dozen of the Other...

Continue Reading at Finextra

Cisco to Acquire ScanSafe for $183m

Expects to broaden its existing on-premise web security offering and expand cloud-based service opportunities

Cisco said that it plans to acquire privately held software-as-a-service (SaaS) web security provider ScanSafe for around $183m in cash and retention-based incentives, in a move to broaden its existing on-premise web security offering and expand cloud-based service opportunities. ScanSafe, which is based in London and San Francisco, provides web security service that scans all web requests for malicious content and offers protection from zero-day threats.

Continue Reading at CBR

ACI Worldwide Announces Alliance with Bell ID to Provide Smart Card Solutions

Market leaders consolidate their activities to further develop best of breed solutions

New York, N.Y. – 29 October 2009 - PIN Payments News Blog - ACI Worldwide, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACIW), a leading international provider of electronic payments software and solutions, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Bell ID for ACI to license Bell ID’s solutions for smart card management to financial markets and retailers around the world. As part of this agreement, ACI will market and license the ANDiS suite of products, which will continue to be developed by Bell ID from its Dutch headquarters.

The Bell ID products include the ANDiS Card and Application Management System (CAMS) which supports all of the lifecycle phases of smart card management, including embossing file import, data preparation, personalization, EMV script management, and central or in-branch issuance. The ANDiS Key Management System (or KMS) allows users to define, maintain, and store cryptographic keys.

The ANDiS Script Delivery System (or SDS) supports the distribution of scripts to control or change card attributes remotely. Also included in the ANDiS suite is the ANDiS I-PIN application which supports PIN changes and synchronization over the Internet and Bell ID’s NFC mobile solutions. The combination of these solutions enables organizations to issue applications on smart cards, tokens and phones and manage every step of their lifecycle.

The cooperation will fund significant product enhancements including interoperability of the ANDiS suite with ACI’s Agile Payments Solution framework, to provide a seamless end-to-end solution for the payments industry.

This relationship expands ACI’s offerings in smart card management. It broadens ACI’s offerings in the market and provides ACI’s customers with agile solutions to deliver the products consumers want. Bell ID technology currently manages over 125 million cards for banking, government and corporate ID, healthcare and mobile projects worldwide, and ACI’s customers will benefit from the experience of these implementations. The ANDiS solutions have been deployed at organizations that are rolling out their initial smart card programs as well as organizations that have managed complex smart card portfolios for years. The flexibility of the ANDiS solutions makes them ideally suited to meet the changing needs of smart card issuers globally.

Philip Heasley, CEO of ACI Worldwide said, “Bell ID is highly regarded in smart card management and has extensive experience in helping organizations around the world to manage cards, applications and cryptographic keys. ACI Worldwide works with financial institutions and retailers of all sizes, and understands the unique pressures these organizations face. The combination of ACI’s experience and market knowledge with Bell ID’s proven, flexible solutions, will give these organizations the best possible solution for their needs today and tomorrow.”

Pat Curran, Chairman of Bell ID commented: “To be recognized by a world leader in electronic payments as the best of breed provider of EMV solutions for the financial industries acknowledges the strength of the ANDiS product range and will deliver significant growth opportunities for Bell ID. We are pleased to be working with ACI and look forward to a long and successful cooperation.”

# # #

For more information contact:

Catherine Eyres

ACI Worldwide

+44 (0) 1923 812741

Catherine.Eyres@aciworldwide.com

About ACI Worldwide, Inc.

ACI Worldwide is a leading provider of software and services solutions to initiate, manage, secure and operate electronic payments for major banks, retailers and processors around the world. The company enables payment processing, online banking, fraud prevention and detection, and back-office services. ACI solutions provide agility, reliability, manageability and scale, to approximately 750 customers in 90 countries. Visit ACI Worldwide at www.aciworldwide.com.

About Bell ID

Bell ID is the worldwide technology leader in smart card management. Bell ID’s software platform, ANDiS Management Systems, is used for more than 125 million smart cards worldwide to request, issue and manage EMV/banking, government and enterprise identity cards. The company’s solutions now also support the managing of applications on mobile (NFC) phones. For more information, please visit www.bellid.com.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Analysts: Processors Must Seek Growth in Non-Credit Card Markets

Digital Transactions News: With credit card growth sputtering, an expanding debit card market will help lift transaction processors’ volumes for the foreseeable future, according to new research from Goldman Sachs & Co. The investment bank also predicts processors will find robust growth markets in nascent channels like mobile payments and established debit-related markets like prepaid cards.

Debit is seen as a growth engine, offsetting in part the slump in credit. U.S. debit volume will hit $1.187 trillion this year and will exceed credit card volume in 2010, at $1.284 trillion, according to Goldman’s research. Those figures, which include signature and PIN debit traffic at Visa and MasterCard, represent growth rates of 5.4% and 8.2%, respectively, leading the Goldman analysts to nominate the debit market as the “undisputed leader” as a processor growth market.

Read the Article in Full at DTN

Bill Lifting US Online Gambling Ban Seen Raising $42B In Revenue

By Corey Boles * OCTOBER 28, 2009, 5:33 P.M. ET

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--A measure decriminalizing many forms of Internet gambling would raise nearly $42 billion for the U.S. Treasury over the next decade, according to an analysis conducted by a non-partisan congressional scorekeeper. The Joint Committee on Taxation said that after reviewing legislation that would lift an online gambling ban, it concluded the move would generate $41.8 billion over 10 years. The legislation would allow Internet poker, but continue a ...

Quote of the Day: Inside the Browser is Perfect Place for Criminals to Be...

Quote of the Day

“The browser is where the sensitive information is when users are shopping and banking online,” says Mickey Boodai (left), CEO of Trusteer, a vendor of software to protect against financial malware attacks. “Inside the browser is the perfect place for criminals to be.”

Editor's Note: Our PCI Certified PIN Entry Device NEVER allows financial data (card numbers/online banking authentication) to EVER enter the browser. The data is Triple DES DUKPT Encrypted INSIDE our device and the encrypted packet is sent via a conduit (Internet, not browser) to it's destination where it is unencrypted. In the unlikely event the packet is intercepted, the encrypted information is useless gobblygook. They would need the key to unlock the encryption and each transaction has a Derived Unique Key Per Transaction. (DUKPT)

1.2 Billion Reasons Banks Should Choose HomeATM

Innovation in alternative payment products has been primarily outside the banking world. Which is exactly why banks should look to HomeATM's secure technology for online banking log-in, real-time money transfers and credit, debit and PIN debit transactions. Otherwise...

Research consulting firm Celent estimates that by 2012, banks will see a decline of $1.2 billion in interchange revenue due to increasing acceptance of online alternative payments."

Banking institutions should be adopting payment options of their own – for their customers as well as merchants. HomeATM provides that capability with our PCI 2.x Certified PIN Entry Device. It would help banks to retain customers and expand their merchant offerings.

The truth is, HomeATM is NOT an alternative payment at all. Our transactions are as mainstream, thus conventional as a brick and mortar transaction. Banks should be embracing what we do because we provide the safety net against the $1.2 Billion interchange revenue falling to alternative payment mechanisms.

The bank issues the card, the bank issues the PIN. All that is left to finish the equation is for the bank to issue the Card and PIN Reader, and there is only ONE PCI Certified Device in the world to choose from.

Once equipped with our device, consumers are enabled to use mainstream...i.e., "conventional" (card present) approach to eCommerce transacting, thus eliminating the leading cause of fraud...which, happen to be "Card Not Present" transactions. How do we eliminate CNP fraud?

By changing the web environment from CNP to Card Present. That would do it, would it?

In addition, based on the fact that all transactions are done outside the browser space, (our device instantaneously Tripe DES and DUKPT encrypts both the Track 2 data and the PIN inside the device so that the data is NEVER in the clear) banks would provide their customers with a secure environment (separate machine) with which to conduct e-Commerce and online banking.

Security Creates Trust, Trust Creates Peace of Mind,

Peace of Mind Creates Loyalty, Loyalty Provides Security

That trusted environment would equate to peace of mind...and that peace of mind would equate to loyalty...and that loyalty would equate to securing their customer base, thus reducing the significant threat posed by attrition. (49% of online banking customer would switch banks if they or someone they knew was a victim of card fraud - ACI Worldwide/September 2009)

Additionally, a secure environment would attract those fearful about the lack of security, vastly improving the customer acquisition model and thus value proposition of our technology.

"Conventional" wisdom dictates that banks would not only retain a larger share of the $1.2 Billion they are projected to lose in interchange revenue, but they would increase the number of transactions, thus revenue from said transactions, by injecting a badly needed mainstream approach to online banking, by replicating ATM authentication, and eCommerce, by replicating brick and mortar...credit, debit and PIN debit transactions.)

Oh, did I happen to mention that Celent also estimated that by 2013, online payments will climb to $268 billion and 30% of those payments will come from alternative payment sources. (that projects to over $75 BILLION in LOST revenue to banks)

This increased market acceptance will certainly move alternative payments into the mainstream, and we can provide banks with the means to help them prevent that from happening.

Instead of consumers helping to move alternative payments to the mainstream,
HomeATM can help banks move mainstream to the consumers!

Fiserv Enriches the Online Bill Payment Experience with CheckFree RXP Enhancements

Fiserv, Inc. announced this morning that CheckFree RXP, the industry's leading online bill payment services platform, is being updated with features designed to increase consumer usage of online billing and payment. The new features, which include a bill pay widget, a tool for managing fee-based payments, and enhanced electronic bill activation and storage are being deployed via "Feature Packs." Feature Pack updates are deployed centrally and enable the seamless implementation of new functions ensuring that the Fiserv network of financial institutions, billers and their customers have access to the most up-to-date online bill payment capabilities.

Fiserv Enriches the Online Bill Payment Experience with CheckFree RXP Enhancements

New features facilitate usage of online payments and electronic bills while providing consumers access to faster fee-based payment options

Brookfield, Wis., October 28, 2009 - PIN Payments News Blog - Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), the leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, today announced that CheckFree RXP, the industry's leading online bill payment services platform, is being updated with features designed to increase consumer usage of online billing and payment. The new features, which include a bill pay widget, a tool for managing fee-based payments, and enhanced electronic bill activation and storage are being deployed via "Feature Packs." Feature Pack updates are deployed centrally and enable the seamless implementation of new functions ensuring that the Fiserv network of financial institutions, billers and their customers have access to the most up-to-date online bill payment capabilities.

Bill Pay Widget

The bill pay widget makes it easy for consumers to schedule bill payments from the bank or credit union's online banking home page. The widget is a condensed display of key criteria, including the biller to be paid, the pay date and the amount, which allows a user to make a payment quickly to any biller they have previously paid. The widget can be integrated into any page within the online banking service, enabling consumers to schedule a payment through the widget directly rather than visiting a dedicated bill payment page. This prominent placement keeps bill payment "top of mind" for current users and exposes the service to potential new users.

"Fiserv primary research and our experience with some of the most innovative financial institutions in the industry indicate that one of the best ways to encourage consumers to change their behavior and try a new online service is to make it readily available and highly visible," said Erich Litch, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Services, Fiserv. "The average online banking user logs into their service 15 times per month. Integrating bill pay more seamlessly into the online banking home page makes it more easily accessible during these frequent visits, which can lead to increases in adoption, usage and on-time payments."

Clients of CheckFree RXP from Fiserv will be able to launch the bill pay widget in February 2010.

Overnight Check Payments and Fee-Based Service Management

Javelin Strategy & Research forecasts that 43 million households will make an expedited payment in 2010, and 25 percent of these payments will be made through a financial institution.

The CheckFree RXP overnight check payment option meets a need for fast payment delivery to billers with which Fiserv does not have a direct electronic payment connection, such as a local insurance company or other small business. Consumers can select the overnight check option to quickly pay these billers, thereby avoiding late fees or interruption of service. Upon delivery of the payment a tracking number is sent to the consumer via email for his or her records.

Overnight check payments will incur a fee, which can be set by the financial institution. This fee may be significantly less expensive than a late fee and less damaging than the impact the consumer could incur if the payment did not arrive overnight.

In order to facilitate the management of various fee-based payments, such as overnight checks, a fee manager feature is being added to CheckFree RXP. Fee Manager allows a financial institution's customer base to be segmented into tiers, each of which can be assigned service pricing at a level appropriate to their relationship with the bank. For example, users may be charged a lower fee for an expedited payment if they maintain a premium account. This tier structure can simplify the use of variable fees for online payment services and will allow institutions to differentiate among account types.

E-Bill Activation and Extended Payment History

According to the Consumer Billing and Payment Trends survey conducted by Fiserv each year, consumers who receive electronic bills (e-bills) at their financial institution website are more loyal to the institution and the biller from which they receive the bill, use more financial institution products and services and are more satisfied overall. In order to encourage the use of e-bills, CheckFree RXP from Fiserv now prompts consumers to sign up to receive an e-bill whenever they add a new biller.

"Experience has shown that e-bill usage is heavily influenced by the promotion of e-bills directly within the online bill payment service," said Litch. "When Fiserv promoted e-bill activation through the addition of a thumbnail image of bills in a previous Feature Pack, activations rose 30 percent. Enabling consumers to easily sign up for e-bills within the process of adding a new biller can remove some of the confusion and barriers to adoption and streamline the activations of e-bills."

In order to make the use of online billing and payment more convenient, users are also able to access 18 months of their payment history online beginning in October 2009.

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. Ranked No. 1 on the FinTech 100 survey of top technology partners to the financial services industry, Fiserv celebrates its 25th year in 2009. For more information, visit www.fiserv.com.

# # #

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Voltage Security Opens End-to-End Encryption to POS Vendors with Zero-cost License

Goal is to Drive Payments Industry Toward

Better Security for Consumers

October 27 -- Palo Alto, CA -PIN Payments News Blog- Voltage Security, Inc. (www.voltage.com), the global leader in end-to-end data protection, today announced an industry-first, global zero-cost licensing program for integration of its end-to-end encryption solution, Voltage SecureData™ with point-of-sale (POS) devices. The Voltage SecureData Open License Program™ dramatically lowers the barriers to enable the easy integration of encryption with any POS device, electronic cash register (ECR), mobile device or eCommerce Payments platform, protecting credit card data from the point of entry into the payment flow.

Global POS solution provider, Hypercom (NYSE: HYC) also announced today its charter participation in the new open license program. (Please see related press release: Hypercom and Voltage Security Team to Defend Payment Card Data and Merchant Brand Reputation with End-to-End Security.)

“Our goal with this program is to provide the most rapid integration solution across the widest range of POS, ECR and mobile devices as well as eCommerce payment platforms, to support the widest range of merchants at zero-cost to developers,” said Sathvik Krishnamurthy, president and CEO of Voltage Security “By lowering the barrier to implementing Voltage end-to-end encryption, the entire industry will benefit from higher security standards.”

“By joining with Voltage in this new program, Hypercom strengthens its leadership role in providing the highest level of security in the payments industry. Our new solution based on Voltage technology, also announced today, can be quickly and easily implemented to sharply reduce data breaches and compliance costs," said TK Cheung, vice president, global quality and security, Hypercom Corporation.

“Using end-to-end encryption at point-of-sale ensures that cardholder data is fully-protected from the moment it enters the payment stream. As the recent PricewaterhouseCoopers survey on PCI DSS illustrated, the end-to-end encryption approach has the greatest potential to reduce audit scope for merchants,” said Scott Loftesness, founding partner at Glenbrook Partners, former Group Executive at Visa and First Data Corporation, “By licensing end-to-end encryption technology to POS and ECR manufacturers and eCommerce Payment platform providers, Voltage will ensure that the widest range of merchants will benefit directly with higher security and lower PCI audit costs,” continued Loftesness.

Program Features No Royalties, Support for Online Credit Cards and Mobile Devices

Benefits of the global Voltage SecureData Open License Program include the following:

The industry’s most open licensing model: zero-cost licensing model for POS device manufacturers to distribute Voltage SecureData-enabled payment devices. No royalties will be levied for implementation or distribution through POS devices.

The broadest applicability: The Voltage SecureData Payments POS SDK is device-agnostic and easily portable to any hardware or software platform, including PIN pads, integrated POS systems, electronic cash registers, mobile devices and “card-not-present” eCommerce environments. Additionally, the Payments POS SDK takes advantage of TRSMs when available.

Easiest system to implement: The Voltage SecureData Payments POS SDK has proven ports available to the largest number of platforms, features a small footprint suitable for constrained devices including hand-held and mobile, and has a supported hosted service for device testing.

Easiest system to manage: The Voltage SecureData Payments POS SDK seamlessly integrates with Voltage’s simplified, stateless, key management architecture. No key injection is required eliminating labor-intensive processes for key rotation.

State-of-the-art key management: Voltage’s Identity-Based Key Encapsulation and Encryption Protocol (IBKEEP) simplifies the transmission of payment card data from POS devices to the merchant or payment processor.

Joining the Voltage SecureData Open License Program

Qualified participants are invited to join the Voltage SecureData Open License Program and receive the Voltage SecureData Payments POS SDK to begin the technology integration process. Additional licensing information is available at www.voltage.com/developers.

Voltage Joins Secure POS Vendor Alliance (SPVA)

Voltage also announced its membership in the non-profit industry organization, SPVA, Secure POS Vendor Alliance. The SPVA is working with the members of the payments industry to develop an end-to-end security framework and to enhance security elements of payment solutions which protect cardholder information and defend merchants and acquirers against security breaches, while reducing fraud and lowering risk for all electronic payment stakeholders. The initial charter of the SPVA focuses on standardized implementation of existing security standards, security of the payment device lifecycle and security threat analysis and intelligence.

About Voltage Security

Voltage Security, Inc., an enterprise security company, is an encryption innovator and global leader in end-to-end data protection. Voltage solutions, based on next generation cryptography, provide end-to-end encryption, tokenization, masking and stateless key management for protecting valuable, regulated and sensitive information based on policy. Voltage products enable reduction in audit scope with rapid implementation and the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry through the use of award-winning cryptographic solutions, including Voltage Identity-Based Encryption™ (IBE) and a new breakthrough innovation: Format-Preserving Encryption™ (FPE). Offerings include Voltage SecureMail™, Voltage SecureData™, Voltage SecureFile™ and the Voltage Security Network™ (VSN), a SaaS service for the extended business network.

As a service to the industry and general public, the company maintains the Voltage Data Breach Index and Map which is continuously updated with global data breach information: www.voltage.com/data-breach. The Company is active in the standards community and is a PCI Security Standards Council Participating Organization and is a member of the Secure POS Vendor Alliance (SPVA). Voltage has also has been issued several patents based upon breakthrough research in mathematics and cryptographic systems. Customers include Global 1000 companies in banking, retail, insurance, energy, healthcare and government. To learn more about Voltage customers and sign up for the customer news letter please visit www.voltage.com/customers.

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Visa Posts Q4 2009 Results and Authorizes $1B Share Repurchase Plan

Visa posts Q4, 2009 earnings results, authorizes $1B share repurchase plan

San Francisco, Oct. 27, 2009 -- Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) today announced financial results for the Company's fiscal fourth quarter and full-year 2009. For the fourth quarter ending September 30, 2009, on an adjusted basis (reflective of restructuring and purchase amortization), net income for the quarter was $552 million, or $0.74 per diluted class A common share. The weighted average number of diluted class A common shares was 747 million. The Company's adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per class A common share are non-GAAP financial measures that are reconciled to their most directly comparable GAAP measures in the accompanying financial tables.

GAAP net income for the quarter was $514 million, or $0.69 per diluted class A common share.

Net operating revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009 was $1.9 billion, an increase of 10% over the prior year's net operating revenue of $1.7 billion and driven primarily by strong contributions from data processing revenues as processed transactions grew 9%. Though slightly negative in the U.S. and Canada, payments volume continued to grow on a constant dollar basis in all other regions globally.

"Visa delivered another quarter and year of solid financial results during this challenging economic environment," said Joseph W. Saunders, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our strong returns are a reflection of consumers' continuing shift to electronic payments, the success of efficiency initiatives and importantly, continued support from our financial institution partners."

"As we enter our new fiscal year, we are beginning to see some very early signs of stabilization in our business," continued Saunders. "And, while we cannot predict the ultimate speed or size of any economic recovery, we are confident that Visa is well positioned for future growth based on the investments we continue to make in our processing infrastructure, products and brand."

Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2009 Financial Highlights:

Visa Inc.'s operational performance highlights for the fiscal fourth quarter, as measured by business activity through June 30, 2009, include:

Payments volume growth, on a nominal basis, was a negative 2% over the

prior year at $687 billion;

Total volume, on a nominal basis and inclusive of cash volume, was

$1.1 trillion, a 3% decline over the prior year; and

Total cards carrying the Visa brands rose 5% worldwide over the prior

year to over 1.7 billion.

Total processed transactions, which represent transactions processed by VisaNet for the three months ending September 30, 2009, totaled 10.5 billion, a 9% increase over the prior year.

For the fiscal fourth quarter 2009, service revenues were $808 million, an increase of 3% versus the prior year, and are recognized based on payments volume in the prior quarter. All other revenue categories are recognized based on current quarter activity. Data processing revenues rose 33% over the prior year to $727 million. International transaction revenues, which are driven by cross-border payments volume, declined 1% over the prior year to $507 million. Other revenues, which include the Visa Europe licensing fee, were $163 million, up 2% over the prior year. Volume and support incentives, which are a contra revenue item, were $326 million, an increase of 9% over the prior year.

Adjusted total operating expenses were $960 million for the fourth quarter, a 2% increase from the prior year's adjusted total operating expenses of $943 million. On a GAAP basis, total operating expenses were $1.0 billion for the quarter.

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investment securities were $6.6 billion at September 30, 2009.

Fiscal Full-Year 2009 Financial Highlights:

On an adjusted basis (reflective of restructuring and purchase amortization), net income for the full-year ended September 30, 2009, was $2.4 billion, or $3.23 per diluted class A common share inclusive of the impact from the VisaNet do Brasil sale. Excluding the sale, net income for the full-year was $2.2 billion, or $2.92 per diluted class A common share. The weighted average number of diluted class A common shares outstanding was 758 million.

GAAP net income for the full-year was $2.4 billion, or $3.10 per diluted class A common share.

Net operating revenue for the full year was $6.9 billion, an increase of 10% over the prior year's operating revenue of $6.3 billion. Currency fluctuations contributed negatively 3% towards full-year net operating revenues.

For the fiscal full-year, service revenues were $3.2 billion, an increase of 4% versus the prior year. Data processing revenues rose 17% over the prior year to $2.4 billion. International transaction revenues, which are driven by cross-border payments volume, grew 11% over the prior year to $1.9 billion. Other revenues, which include the Visa Europe licensing fee, were $625 million, up 10% over the prior year. Volume and support incentives, which are a contra revenue item, were $1.2 billion, an increase of 6% over the prior year.

Total processed transactions, which represent transactions processed by VisaNet for the 12 months ended September 30, 2009, totaled 39.9 billion, an 8% increase over the prior year.

Adjusted operating expenses were $3.2 billion for the full-year, a 4% decrease from the prior year's adjusted total operating expenses of $3.4 billion. Operating expenses on a GAAP basis were $3.4 billion for the full year.

Visa's GAAP effective tax rate was 41% for the twelve months ended September 30, 2009.

Notable Events:

As previously announced, Visa initiated a program to allow its class C stockholders to apply (prior to September 30, 2009) for an early termination of the transfer restrictions applicable to class C shares, for up to 30% of the class C shares held by each such stockholder as of July 1, 2009, subject to certain terms and conditions. As of September 30, 2009, 89% of the potentially available shares requested were unlocked. The remaining class C shares continue to be subject to the general transfer restrictions that expire on March 25, 2011 under Visa's Certificate of Incorporation.

As previously disclosed, Visa U.S.A. Inc. entered into an agreement to modify its payment obligations under a settlement agreement, dated as of June 4, 2003, with plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit challenging certain aspects of the payment card industry under U.S. federal antitrust law. On October 2, 2009, the court in the class action lawsuit entered a final order approving the agreement, subject to a 30 day appeals period. The Company made a prepayment of its remaining $800 million in payment obligations at a discounted amount of $682 million on October 5, 2009.

On October 21, 2009, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had declared a quarterly dividend in the aggregate amount of $0.125 per share of class A common stock (determined in the case of class B and class C common stock on an as-converted basis) payable on December 1, 2009 to all holders of record of Visa's class A, class B and class C common stock as of November 16, 2009.

Today, the Company announces that its Board of Directors has authorized a $1 billion share repurchase plan. The authorization will be in place through September 30, 2010, and is subject to extension or expansion at the determination of Visa's Board of Directors.

Financial Outlook:

Visa Inc. affirms its financial outlook for the following metrics for 2010:

Annual net revenue growth at the lower end of the 11% to 15% range,

given certain economic recovery assumptions; and

Annual diluted class A common stock earnings per share growth of

greater than 20%.

Visa Inc. updates its financial outlook for the following metrics for 2010:

Volume and support incentives in the range of 16-17% of gross revenue;

Advertising, marketing and promotion expenses less than $1 billion;

Annual operating margin in the mid 50% range;

GAAP tax rate in the range of 38 to 39%;

Capital expenditures in the $200-250 million range; and

Annual free cash flow in excess of $2 billion.

Visa Inc. provides its financial outlook for the following metric for 2011:

Annual diluted class A common stock earnings per share growth of

greater than 20%.

Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2009 Earnings Results Conference Call Details:

Visa's executive management team will host a live audio webcast beginning at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET) today to discuss the financial results and business highlights.

All interested parties are invited to listen to the live webcast at http://investor.visa.com/. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Visa Investor Relations website for 30 days.

Investor information, including supplemental financial information, is available on Visa Inc.'s Investor Relations website at http://investor.visa.com/.

About Visa Inc.

Visa Inc. operates the world's largest retail electronic payments network providing processing services and payment product platforms. This includes consumer credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payments, which are offered under the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and PLUS brands. Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the world, and Visa/PLUS is one of the world's largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com .

Fiserv Reports Third Quarter 2009 Results

For Immediate Release

Adjusted earnings increase 14 percent to $0.92 per share and 2009 guidance affirmed;

Adjusted operating margin increases 110 basis points in the quarter;

Free cash flow grows 9 percent year-to-date to $506 million

Brookfield, Wis., October 27, 2009 -PIN Payments News Blog- Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), the leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2009. The company announced the sale of its Loan Fulfillment Solutions business (“Fiserv LFS”) in the quarter. Accordingly, the financial results of Fiserv LFS are reported as discontinued operations for the third quarter of 2009 and for all periods presented. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2009 subject to customary closing conditions.

Total GAAP revenue in the third quarter was $992 million compared with $1.04 billion in 2008. Total adjusted revenue decreased 1 percent to $945 million in the quarter compared with $958 million in 2008. Total GAAP revenue for the first nine months of 2009 was $3.02 billion compared with $3.55 billion in 2008. Total adjusted revenue for the year decreased 2 percent to $2.86 billion compared with $2.91 billion in 2008.

GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations for the third quarter were $0.79 compared with $0.46 in 2008. Total GAAP earnings per share, including discontinued operations, were $0.74 for the third quarter compared with $0.48 in 2008. GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations were $2.21 for the first nine months of 2009 compared with $1.69 in 2008. Total

GAAP earnings per share, including discontinued operations, were $2.30 for the first nine months of 2009 compared with $3.08 in 2008.

Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations in the third quarter increased 14 percent to $0.92 compared with $0.81 in 2008. For the first nine months of 2009 adjusted earnings per share increased 11 percent to $2.72 compared with $2.45 in 2008. Adjusted internal revenue declined 2 percent in the third quarter and the year to date. On a constant currency basis, adjusted internal revenue declined 1 percent in both the quarter and the first nine months of 2009 compared with 2008.

Click here to read the Full Press Release

Survey: Many Unaware of Gift Card Fees

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)-- Most U.S. consumers are unaware that some general-purpose gift cards are subject to monthly fees and can expire, a Consumer Federation of America survey released Monday found.

Does that mean that GiftCards.com jumped the gun with their announcement (see previous post) introducing their No Fee Gift Card?...On the heels of this report from the Wall Street Journal, it certainly won't backfire on them.

General purpose gift cards, most of which are issued by Visa Inc. (V), MasterCard Inc. (MA) or American Express Co. (AXP), can be used to make purchases at various retailers. Some of these cards, about $4 billion worth and growing--can cost $4 to $7. The gift cards could also have monthly fees as high as $4.95 that are assessed six to 12 months after the card is purchased.

According to CFA's survey, only 33%, or one-third, of 1004 adults surveyed between Oct. 16-19 knew how much the cards cost. Fifty-four percent were aware of the potential monthly fees.

In recent years, fees on gift cards have become a thorny issue for consumers who inadvertently discovered that the value of their gifts had diminished over time because of monthly maintenance or inactivity fees or short expiration periods.

To combat this, CFA and the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators are launching consumer educational brochures that contain recommendations for gift card purchasers and recipients.

Continue Reading at WSJ

GiftCards.com Introduces No Fee Cards

Pittsburgh, Oct. 27, 2009 -- GiftCards.com, the leading internet site for Secure Prepaid Visa gift cards, announced the launch of their new No Fee Cards.

These new cards have no monthly maintenance fees, no transaction fees, no card replacement fees and no expiration fees. "We are excited about our new cards," stated Jason Wolfe, CEO of GiftCards.com. "The timing is perfect for the holiday season. Now more than ever shoppers are looking for value. The No Fee Cards offer our customers peace of mind," stated Wolfe.

Visa gift cards are accepted wherever Visa is accepted. The gift cards can be purchased on-line at GiftCards.com in denominations ranging from $20.00 to $500.00. There are hundreds of designs to choose from and each of the cards comes with the option to include a high quality, personalized greeting card. Customers can choose their design, write a personalized message, and send it directly to the recipient.

About GiftCards.com, LLC

GiftCards.com is a leading provider of gift cards to consumers and corporations to expend as gifts, rewards, or incentives. GiftCards.com currently services thousands of corporations for their gift card needs including 25% of the Fortune 1,000. GiftCards.com was founded in 1999. For more information visit: www.GiftCards.com

Source: Company press release.

Chase Paymentech, VeriFone and Semtek Join Forces to Offer End-to-End Encryption Solution

Dallas, Oct. 27, 2009 -- Chase Paymentech, a leading merchant acquirer and payment processor, announces a joint initiative with VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PAY), and Semtek Corporation to provide end-to-end encryption technologies for merchants to combat threats to security.

The companies will work together to market and distribute VeriFone’s VeriShield Protect solution to the Chase Paymentech base of retail merchants. The end-to-end encryption solution is designed to help merchants reduce the costs to comply with Payment Card Industry (PCI) requirements and associated security risk by protecting card information from the point of swipe to the Chase Paymentech authorization host.

VeriShield Protect, which is compliant with Visa’s best practices for data field encryption, also known as end-to-end encryption, is based on the AES encryption standard.

VeriFone Hidden Encryption, or VHE, based on Semtek’s proprietary encryption technology, preserves the format of the card data, ensuring that the encrypted card data can be used by typical point-of-sale software systems with minimal modifications or disruption to the merchant. The solution eliminates the need for a merchant to process, transmit or store card data in the “clear.”

“Protecting cardholder data and providing secure transaction processing for our merchants is paramount to the success of our business. As an industry leader it is our responsibility to provide proven, tested security solutions such as VeriFone’s VeriShield Protect. As the newest component of our overall security suite of products, we’re excited to be offering it to our retail customers,” said Chase Paymentech president Mike Duffy.

“Chase Paymentech’s leadership will make it easier for merchants to employ end-to-end encryption,” said VeriFone CEO Douglas G. Bergeron. “The industry is rapidly coalescing around this solution as the best means to protect cardholder data in the retail environment.”

Semtek CEO Patrick Hazel added, “Joining forces with Chase Paymentech will ensure that a significant merchant population will have full access to the best proven security solution available today. This is very good news for retailers and for consumers.”

About Chase Paymentech

Paymentech, LLC (“Chase Paymentech”), a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), is a global leader in payment processing and merchant acquiring, capable of authorizing transactions in more than 130 currencies. The company's proprietary platforms provide access to a wide variety of payment methods, such as credit cards, debit cards, prepaid stored value cards and electronic check processing. In 2008, Chase Paymentech processed more than 21.4 billion transactions with a value exceeding $713.9 billion, including an estimated half of global Internet transactions. The company also provides a full set of solutions aimed at accelerating cash flow and managing transaction data. On the Internet or at the point of sale, Chase Paymentech's unique combination of outstanding service, innovative solutions and financial strength offers solid benefits to companies both large and small. More information can be found at www.chasepaymentech.com .

About VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (www.verifone.com )

VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (“VeriFone”) (NYSE:PAY) is the global leader in secure electronic payment solutions. VeriFone provides expertise, solutions and services that add value to the point of sale with merchant-operated, consumer-facing and self-service payment systems for the financial, retail, hospitality, petroleum, government and healthcare vertical markets. VeriFone solutions are designed to meet the needs of merchants, processors and acquirers in developed and emerging economies worldwide.

About Semtek

Semtek Corporation has been a leader in magnetics technology since 1999, serving large public and private sector clients who require secure data capture components for their fixed-base and wireless devices. Since 2004, Semtek has been focused on resolving the security deficiencies of magnetic stripe based payment systems and is playing an increasingly central role in the development of end to end security architectures for merchants and payment processors. For more information, please visit Semtek’s website at www.semtek.com .

Source: Company press release.

Moscow, Oct. 27, 2009 -- Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), a proud and long-standing worldwide sponsor of the Olympic Games, today announced that it will extend its Olympic Games sponsorship for a period of eight years.

In renewing its sponsorship, Visa will retain the rights it has enjoyed since 1986 and remain the exclusive payment services sponsor and the only card accepted at the four Olympic Games that follow London 2012 Olympic Games, including the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and the 2020 Olympic Summer Games.

The renewal announcement was made during a formal contract signing ceremony by Visa Inc. Group President, Rupert Keeley, and International Olympic Committee President, Jacques Rogge, in Moscow, Russia.

Over the past twelve Olympic Games, Visa has utilized its sponsorship to increase its global brand leadership, grow Visa transaction volume, expand acceptance in new and emerging markets and enhance preference for its products and services.

The new contract will enable Visa to deliver additional benefits to clients and their cardholders with expanded point-of-sale presence, exclusive acceptance programs for Olympic-related transactions and increased access to unique experiences for Visa clients to offer to their customers through Visa marketing programs.

“The Olympic Games deliver tremendous global exposure and access to virtually every demographic group,” said Antonio Lucio, Chief Marketing Officer of Visa Inc. “The Olympic Games also deliver tangible and proven business building benefits to Visa, its clients and partners. Client activation around the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, which involved more than 573 clients in 41 countries, illustrates the universal appeal of this marquee property.”

IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “Our partnership with Visa demonstrates a shared commitment – to the future of youth and sport, to the future of the Olympic Games and to the strengthening of the Olympic ideals and values we respect. On behalf of the IOC, the 205 National Olympic Committees around the world, and the athletes themselves, I would like to thank Visa, its clients and partners for their commitment through to the 2020 Olympic Games.”

The unwavering and growing appeal of the Olympic Games has provided Visa with a flexible platform on which to build integrated marketing campaigns. Over the years, Visa’s use of the Olympic sponsorship to support its business has evolved with its business strategy.

“During the early days of our Olympic sponsorship, we focused on promoting our exclusive acceptance at the Games. Today, we utilize the sponsorship platform to promote the advantages of using Visa instead of cash and check and to facilitate the development and advancement of the payment infrastructure in Olympic host countries.

“With efforts in support of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games already underway, and London 2012 well into our planning stages, we are particularly excited about the opportunities that the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will provide. We look forward to working with partners in Russia, the Sochi Organizing Committee and the IOC to further build on our Olympic legacy and make the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games a global success,” Lucio said.

Visa’s commitment to the Olympic Movement, National Olympic Committees, national teams and individual athletes has been an important factor in ensuring the continuance and success of the Olympic Games. Visa has created a number of programs around the world to help sustain Olympic teams and athletes as they embark on their journey to the Games. Visa was also the first worldwide Olympic partner to mount marketing destination programs linked to the cities hosting the Olympic Games.

Visa also retains exclusive category rights to all 205 National Olympic Committees and their Olympic teams around the world. These rights include advertising and promotional use of Olympic marks and imagery from the Olympic Games as well as marks from the National and International Olympic Committees.

Editors Note

To view and download Visa Olympic images, video and assets, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visa .

About Visa Inc.

Visa Inc. operates the world's largest retail electronic payments network providing processing services and payment product platforms. This includes consumer credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payments, which are offered under the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and PLUS brands. Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the world, and Visa/PLUS is one of the world's largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com

Source: Company press release.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

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