comScore has released the results of its annual online banking study - finding that "the U.S. online banking population grew 9.5 percent in 2006 versus the previous year, compared to double-digit increases in 2005 (27 percent) and 2004 (47 percent). While aggregate growth has dropped into the single-digits, several individual banks experienced substantial gains in 2006, with both Citibank and Washington Mutual increasing their number of online banking customers by more than 20 percent" - due in part to Citibank's aggressive 'e-savings' campaign and Washington Mutual's continued free checking and 5-percent statement savings accounts.

Mark Jewell, Business Writer for AP, looks at the same store sales figures reported by data breach victim TJX Companies that "reported sales at stores open at least a year rose 6 percent in March." Jewell reported that "customers leaving a T.J. Maxx store Thursday in Boston's Downtown Crossing shopping hub said the retailer's cut-rate prices on clothing and home goods are a big enough draw to offset any worries about lax data security. They said they didn't see TJX as any more susceptible to such theft than any other retailer." One recent consumer survey concluded that data breaches would matter to consumers and affect their decisions as to where they shop.

First Data Corp. has announced plans to acquire FundsXpress, a provider of online banking and bill payment services for consumers and small businesses. According to First Data, "FundsXpress has more than 500 financial institution customers, consisting primarily of community financial institutions, and First Data currently serves thousands of similar institutions coast-to-coast. The complementary capabilities of First Data and FundsXpress will result in a broad and robust suite of products for secure electronic commerce and Internet Banking transactions."

As part of its earnings release (PDF) this morning, Citigroup reported a $161 million pre-tax gain on the sale of MasterCard stock as part of its quarterly US Card business unit results. Overall, Citi's US Card business reported revenues increasing 2% year-over-year with a 1% growth reported in average managed loans.

The Smart Card Alliance will be holding a webinar titled "Contactless Payments: Issuers Meet Demand for Speed and Convenience," May 3rd at 12:00pm Eastern Time, to "discuss why contactless payments are so popular and how card issuers can take advantage of the benefits of the technology. Presenters will include Deborah Baxley, partner and leader of the strategy and change consulting practice for financial services, IBM Canada; Peter Ho, vice president, product development, Wells Fargo; Carl Stauffeneger, senior vice president, consumer product management, KeyBank; and Jeff Tansill, senior vice president, BB&T."

TowerGroup has published new research concluding that "financial institutions offering wholesale banking as a line of business to corporations currently face unrelenting pressure from clients to improve their integration technology services."

TowerGroup has issued a research note titled "Micropayments: Turning Nickels and Dimes into Profits" that "illustrates how card use for micropayments reinforces and can deepen issuers' relationships with their customers, thereby indirectly enhancing profitability. Customer retention is directly linked to product usage. Ideally, frequent use of cards for small everyday transactions will lead consumers to use the cards for larger and more profitable transactions."

Chase Card Services has announced a card deal with Wakefern Food Corporation, operator of ShopRite and PriceRite stores, to launch of the new ShopRite Rite-Rewards MasterCard, ShopRite Private Label Credit Card and PriceRite Private Label Credit Card.

Louise Story reports for the New York Times about ShopText, a New York-based startup company that enables mobile phone users to buy products instantly using text messages.

Bank of America and China Construction Bank have announced signing a memorandum of understanding to jointly enter into a new credit card collaboration aimed at providing innovative card products for the Chinese market.

The Mobey Forum, a bank-led industry consortium promoting mobile financial services, has announced that South Korean mobile operator SK Telecom and Nordic telecoms pioneers Telenor and TeliaSonera have joined Mobey Forum along with new major bank members - ING Bank and Rabobank. Mobey Forum has also restructured and appointed a new Chairman, Ron van Wezel.

The Merchants Payments Coalition has issued a press release stating that "nine states have introduced a total of 15 bills concerning the hidden credit card interchange fees that cost U.S. consumers $36 billion last year, according to a survey of state legislative activity released today by the Merchants Payments Coalition. Pending state legislation ranges from proposals that would prohibit card-issuing banks from charging interchange fees on the sales tax portion of a retail transaction to requirements that credit card companies fully disclose their rules and policies to merchants and consumers."

NACHA has released the NACHA Top 50 lists of the largest originating and receiving financial institutions of automated clearing house (ACH) payments for 2006. The Top 5 originating institutions accounted for 59.1 percent of all ACH origination activity while the top 5 receiving institutions accounted for Top 5 institutions accounted for 28.5 percent of all ACH received activity.

NOVA Information Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, has announced that American Airlines has "entered into a multi-year credit card processing services agreement for its domestic bankcard business. In addition to performing all clearing and settlement functions, NOVA will provide a full range of services, including customer support and chargeback processing."

Verid has announced that CashEdge will integrate Verid's Knowledge Based Authentication (KBA) technology into CashEdge's online account opening and funding solutions to enhance the depth and quality of its risk management capabilities using Verid's industry-leading KBA process, already in use at eight of the top ten financial institutions.

APACS, the UK payments association, has launched "a new advice guide to help consumers better understand their credit card statements. The “Understanding your credit card statement” (PDF) guide explains everything consumers need to know about the common features and terms used and offers advice on what to look out for when they are checking their statements."

JPMorgan Chase has announced it has been ranked as the number-one financial institution in total automated clearing house (ACH) network transactions originated for 2006 by NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association. The Bank has ranked first in ACH originations for a record 32 years in a row, since the inception of the network. JPMorgan Chase saw its ACH transactions grow to nearly 3.6 billion in 2006, an increase of 16 percent over the previous year.

Tash Shifrin reports for Computerworld UK that PayPoint is launching a "mobile-phone based loyalty scheme, allowing retailers to scrap paper discount coupons." The scheme, called "Shop Scan Save", involves shoppers presenting a unique bar code sent to their mobile phones following consumer registration.

The Clearing House Payments Company has announced that "UPIC payments soared in 2006, as a record number of companies, government agencies and universities began receiving secure electronic payments via the unique bank account identifier."

NACHA reported today that nearly 16 billion automated clearing house (ACH) payments were made in 2006, a 14.5 percent increase over 2005. NACHA reported that Internet-initiated ACH payments (WEB) grew by an estimated 35 percent to 1.8 billion.

The April 2007 version of Visa USA's Interchange Reimbursement Fee schedule is now available online. A quick look indicates that the difference between the 2006 version and this new version is on page 4 - where commercial card interchange rates are now differentiated by platform (Purchasing, Business, Corporate T&E.).

RSA has released findings from a survey "polling North American businesses impacted by the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS), a framework of best practice requirements for all organizations that collect, process or store credit card account and transaction information."

Dave Birch blogs about the evolution from credit to debit and forecasts a shift from debit to open loop prepaid card usage in the future. He points out that, for open loop prepaid to take off, they simply have to work better. Birch says "putting prepaid cards products, in particular, on top of existing credit card infrastructure can lead result in situations that actively drive customers away."

Steve Higgins, Business Editor for the New Haven Register, looks at debit cards, reward programs and Citizens Bank debit card rewards program - where consumers earn points for signature-based debit card purchases.

Chockstone has announced that it has acquired Peppercoin, a provider of card-based merchant loyalty programs and related consulting and analytical services. Peppercoin’s PCI-compliant services are used by leading restaurant brands to tie customer loyalty programs to credit and debit cards at the point of sale. Both companies are privately held, and financial terms of the Peppercoin transaction were not disclosed.

• Fundtech’s CASHplus Momentum Continues with the Addition of Eight New Banks
• Sports Fans to Catch More Action when Making Purchases with MasterCard(R) PayPass(TM)
• Smart Card Alliance Cites Contactless Payments Council's First-Year Outreach and Education Achievements
• TransUnion Partners With Austin Logistics to Create TransUnion Strategy Builder(SM)
• RDM and Epson America introduce CaptureOne(TM) - the newest innovation in check imaging technology
• ACI Worldwide Leverages New Trade Finance and Cash Management Solutions
• ACI Announces New Customers, Upgrades and Contract Extensions in Wholesale Banking
• Whitney National Bank Selects CheckFree's PEP+ Platinum Suite to Increase ACH Functionality
• Commerce Bank Selects CheckFree's ARP/SMS to Enhance Account Reconciliation and Positive Pay Services
• S1 Enterprise Unveils New ACH Module
• Regulus to Sponsor Opening Ceremonies at NACHA Payments 2007; President and COO Kathy Hamburger to Open Annual Industry Gathering
• Digital Check Announces Digital on Demand Services at NACHA Payments Conference
• Unisys Announces High Performance Open Payments Platform to Help Banks Deliver Efficient Revenue-Generating Products
• LendingTools.com Announces New ACH Risk Management Product
• TrustedID Integrates Cyveillance Identity Theft Service into StolenID Search(TM) Engine
• Provident Bank Signs Multi-Year Deal for Online Check Image Masking Solution From The 41st Parameter
• Affinion Group Acquires CardCops