For Glenbrook and Payments News, it's been one of those weeks - one of those very good weeks. We always love to hear feedback on how Payments News is helping payments professionals (our "target audience"!) - and we've heard a bunch of great stories this week. If you've got one to share with us, please let us know! Or, if we're not quite cutting it, we need to know that too! Add your comments on the end of this post - or drop us a note. Hope you have a great weekend!

After that brief moment of silence for Bitpass, let's move on to Web4 - so artfully portrayed by Seth Godin. "I'm about to buy something from a vendor (in a store with a smart card or online). At the last minute, Web4 jumps in and asks if I want it cheaper, or if I want it from a vendor with a better reputation. Not based on some gamed system, but based on what a small trusted circle believes."

Bitpass has begun notifying its merchant and consumer customers via email that "due to circumstances beyond our control, we are discontinuing our operations. We have partnered with Digital River to provide operational support during the period prior to shut down. As of today, January 19, 2007, all Bitpass Buyers with US dollar denominated accounts are being notified that they will have seven (7) days to spend any amounts that currently exist in their Bitpass Account." Alas, Clay Shirky was right. Bitpass, RIP.

Valleywag has posted an "alternate history of PayPal" written by X.com founder and former PayPal CEO Elon Musk. Readers might also enjoy today's post from Robert X. Cringely - it's mostly about Google although he uses an opening reference to PayPal's early history to lay part of the foundation for his story.   » Continue Reading

The Massachusetts Bankers Association (MBA) said in a press release late yesterday that in addition to VISA USA, now MasterCard is contacting Massachusetts banks to report that some of their customers’ personal banking information may have been compromised due to the data breach reported by TJX Companies. The association said that "Bay State banks are acting quickly to protect customers who have been red-flagged by the two card associations after doing business with TJX stores including TJMaxx, Marshalls, Winners, HomeGoods, TKMaxx, AJWright, and HomeSense." The MBA also said it is "questioning the TJX’s self-characterization as being “victimized” by the intrusion in a news release issued yesterday by the retailer." Daniel J. Forte, CEO and president of the MBA said, “We think it’s a little odd that they would characterize themselves as victims when it appears that they may have been capturing data that is unnecessary.”   » Continue Reading

TSYS Acquiring Solutions has announced it signed an earlier agreement to provide transaction processing services for National Processing Company (NPC), formerly Iron Triangle Payment Systems. The multi-year agreement was effective in the third quarter of 2006. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.   » Continue Reading

Robin Sidel reports for the Wall St. Journal that the merchant acquirer responsible for handling card payments for TJX is Fifth Third Bank - although the bank won't confirm that fact. Sidel points out that the card associations look to the merchant acquirer for any liability associated with the actions of an acquirer's merchants. Separately, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank posted a statement on the committee's web site saying "those institutions where breaches have occurred must be identified and they must bear responsibility. Specifically, this means retailers or wholesalers must take responsibility, contrary to what common practice is today."

James Van Dyke of Javelin Strategy and Research blogs about how it's feeling like we're back in 2000 again - what with the seeming renewed interest in mobile banking and mobile payments. Back then, he says "the technology didn’t match the way that people managed their finances" - and the banks eventually shut down their mobile-specific offerings. Here are two bookends on Wells Fargo's experience - a February 7, 2001 press release announcing Wells Fargo as the "first major bank to launch nationwide wireless banking" with the launch of Wells Wireless - and a CNET News.com story from August 2002 (only 18 months later) announcing the shutdown of the Wells Fargo wireless banking service after only 2,500 customers actually used it. Obviously, the big question is what's different today? You can stay tuned to the news about mobile banking and mobile commerce in the category archives for those topics here on Payments News.

Gary McWilliams reports in this morning's Wall St. Journal about growing opposition in several states to Wal-Mart obtaining a bank license, even though the retailer has repeatedly said it has no interest in operating a consumer bank. The FDIC is meeting on January 31st to consider Wal-Mart's application - along with nine other ILC applications. Last year, the FDIC imposed a six-month moratorium on ILC application approvals and that period is now coming to an end later this month.

• InfoWorld: Google Checkout rated low in customer satisfaction