In an article titled 'Immigrants Wary of Banks Put Faith in New Card", Steven Greenhouse writes for the New York Times about SiGo, a prepaid MasterCard debit card issued by MetaBank and distributed by IDT Stored Value Systems. Greenhouse reports that cards are an "ideal tool for 30 million workers, both foreign-born and native, who lack bank accounts and often face high check-cashing fees and frustrating obstacles in paying bills."

Yesterday, MasterCard filed with the SEC an 8-K report disclosing that "on December 27, 2006, MasterCard International Incorporated (“MasterCard”), the principal operating subsidiary of MasterCard Incorporated (the “Company”), amended its agreement (the “Agreement”) with HSBC Bank USA, National Association and HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A., as successor to Household Bank (SB), N.A., (collectively, the “HSBC Banks”), effective as of July 1, 2003, relating to certain pricing arrangements for the HSBC Banks’ use of the Company’s core authorization, clearing and settlement services in the United States. This amendment, among other things, restructures certain pricing, incentives and card issuance terms of the Agreement. The HSBC Banks, together with their affiliates, have approximately 5.55% of the total voting power of the Company’s Class M common stock."

Aleksandra Todorova writes for the Wall St. Journal about what credit card issuers have in store for their cardholders in 2007 - "from jacked-up fees to new technologies that encourage spending." She lists five industry trends - including new, higher fees on balance transfers, reduced or disappearing rewards, contactless card technology to encourage more card spending, prepaid cards (and fees) for teens, and other creative ways issuers are increasing fees - including tiered late fees.