Tags » Gift Cards, Prepaid Cards and Stored Value Cards
The Network Branded Prepaid Card Association has announced the results of a recent survey that concludes "one in five consumers plans to purchase branded gift cards (a gift card with an American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa brand logo) this holiday season." The poll, conducted by BK Research, found that branded gift cards were chosen more often as an item on a consumer’s shopping list than a branded toy (18%), an iPod or mp3 player (14%), a computer or laptop (12%) and a game console (7%).
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Tags » Commercial Cards, First Annapolis, Merchant Acquirers
The October 2006 edition of the First Annapolis Navigator is now available. This month's issue features article on Gas Price Volatility Ripples Through Payments Markets, Debit Centricity in Western European Acquiring, Discount Rate Structures in the Small Merchant Market, Variation in Acquirer Deployment of Web Based Services and The March of Progress for Commercial Cards in the U.K.
Tags » American Express, Card Reward Programs
American Express has announced the opening of a "Members Lounge" at The Mall at Short Hills in Short Hills, New Jersey. According to Amex, its "Members Lounge is the ultimate destination, designed to reinvigorate Cardmembers as they shop during the busy holiday season. The Mall at Short Hills is one of the country's preeminent luxury shopping destinations, making it a prime partner to house the Members Lounge for American Express(R) Cardmembers. This is the first time American Express has hosted a Members Lounge at a retail shopping location."
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Tags » Card Reward Programs, ECommerce Payments, Internet Retail, PayPal
In its first serious foray into consumer incentive programs, PayPal this morning announced new promotional incentive programs "valued at up to $100 million just in time for the busy holiday shopping season. As part of these incentives, millions of PayPal customers will be eligible to receive cash rebate offers up to $20 when paying with PayPal on qualifying merchant Web sites in North America, including eBay.com. Additionally, consumers will find free shipping from some of the Web's most popular brand names when they pay with PayPal this holiday season."
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Tags » Card Reward Programs, Visa
Visa USA has announced “$100K Holiday from Visa,” an "integrated national promotion that gives 10 lucky consumers the chance to get what they really want over the holidays. When Visa cardholders use their card from November 1 to December 31, they will be automatically entered for a chance to win $100,000 to spend however they choose."
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Tags » Credit Card Marketing, Credit Cards
Austin Ventures has announced the recapitalization of CreditCards.com, an online destination for consumers to search, compare, and apply for credit cards. Additionally, Elisabeth DeMarse, former CEO of Bankrate, the Internet's leading aggregator of financial rate information, was named CEO of the company.
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Tags » Card Payments, Credit Cards, Japan
Yuka Hayashi reports for the Wall St. Journal on the shift that's taking place as Japanese consumers begin to move away from paying with cash to increasingly pay using credit cards. Among other factors, the popularity of shopping online is behind the behavioral shift - as cash payments aren't possible online. On the other hand, the use of revolving credit - the mainstay of US credit card issuer economics - is a second behavioral shift that's still on the horizon.
Tags » Commercial Payments, Purchasing Cards
Karen Kroll writes for Business Finance Magazine about some new uses of corporate purchasing cards - including for capital expenditures and travel and entertainment expenses.
Tags » American Express, Contactless Payments, Discover, MasterCard, Point of Sale (POS), Quick Service Restaurant Payments, Visa
Jack in the Box has announced the installation of new contactless payment card readers at all company restaurants will be completed by Dec. 31 - to "offer guests an easier, quicker way to pay. Guests will be able to pay simply by holding their cards in front of a reader at the front counter or drive-thru window. No swipe required." Jack in the Box partnered with American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa for the rollout.
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Tags » Bill Payment, Debit Cards, Metavante, Online Banking, Prepaid Cards and Stored Value Cards
Metavante has announced the availability of Metavante Prepaid Bill Payment, a new service that "makes bank-sponsored Internet bill pay available to consumers who use prepaid debit cards as an alternative to traditional checking accounts and banking relationships."
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Tags » Card Issuers, Visa
The Financial Times reports this morning that Morgan Stanley and Visa Europe have agreed to settle a dispute involving Visa denying membership to Morgan Stanley in 2000. That action led to an investigation by the European Union that led to formal charges against Visa being brought in 2004. As a result of Visa Europe permitting Morgan Stanley to join, Morgan Stanley has dropped its original complaint to the EU.