Visa International has published the first quarter 2006 edition of The Visa Quarterly (PDF version). Features include an interview with Tom Shepard, Visa's executive vice president of Global Sponsorship and Partnerships, a look at how electronic payments help drive growth in tourism, and an inside look at Visa's sporting sponsorships.

Sanjeev Devasia reports for MidDay from India about using mobile phone SMS messages to buy a ticket for a local train.

EmigrantDirect has officially announced its add-on cash back credit card intended for customers of its American Dream high yield savings account.

India's Business Standard reports on the rapid growth now underway in the number of point of sale terminals in India.

MasterCard and Citi have announced that they will be working with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and MTA New York City Transit to conduct a trial of contactless payments in select New York City subway stations with pre-selected Citi customers.

HAC Inc., operator of 67 supermarkets in Oklahoma and Kansas including 49 Homeland Stores, has announced it is launching its own branded debit card, the One Card Plus, on the Debitman network at five pilot locations. Binghamton Giant Markets in Binghamton, NY has also announced its own Giant EXTRA Plus debit card program running on the Debitman network.

Unisys has announced their view of the top trends affecting the banking industry in 2006.

Christopher Conkey reports for the Wall St. Journal on new research by Javelin Strategy & Research and the Better Business Bureau to be released tomorrow that concludes that about 8.9 million people in the US had their personal data stolen last year as compared to 9.3 million people in 2004.

Gift cards dominated the 2005 holiday season as the gift of choice for consumers, who redeemed them quickly on goods that were worth more than the value of the cards, according to the results of a recent Accenture survey of more than 500 U.S. consumers.

Stephen Bartholomeusz writes for the Sydney Morning Herald about the launch of HBOS-owned BankWest's new low rate credit card along with similar offerings from non-banks Virgin Money, GE Money's Wizard and John Symond's Aussie Home Loans.

Metavante has announced its MBI Benefits, Inc. affiliate will provide the national debit card for CIGNA HealthCare's popular flexible spending accounts (FSA).

Note: Throughout the day, as Payments News happens, this post is updated.

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