Mercator Advisory Group has published a new report on the plans for the Canadian payment card market to migrate to EMV chip cards over the next few years.

EDS Fellow Randy Mears explores the use of voice biometrics for payment authentication - and VoicePay in particular. He notes the tradeoff between benefit to merchants vs. inconvenience to the buyer saying that "consumer is expected to do all the work but appears to receive little in return."

MODASolutions has announced the results of a new consumer eCommerce survey examining the relationship between online bill payers and online shoppers. J.C. Williams Group, a global retail consulting firm, was commissioned by MODASolutions to conduct the survey and analyze the implications for the industry.

QSecure, a Los Altos, CA-based startup, has announced new technology that it says "will help the financial services industry reduce fraud resulting from stolen card data. The company’s patented SmartStripe technology protects against counterfeit fraud without requiring changes in retail systems or card holder behavior."

Wells Fargo has announced Wells Fargo Merchant Checking - an account for small business that combines "the convenience of a full-service business checking account with fast and secure credit and debit card processing at a flat, low discount rate. Merchant Checking allows small business owners to begin accepting credit and debit card payments and have access to funds as soon as the next business day in the associated business checking account - simultaneously meeting two core business needs."

The new issue of the FDIC Quarterly is now available - including statistics on US bank and savings institution profitability for the first quarter 2007 and an article about "Individual Development Accounts and Banks" (PDF). "Individual development accounts are matched savings accounts that enable low-income families to save money for a particular financial goal, such as buying a home, paying for post-secondary education, or starting or expanding a small business."

Today, the US House Committee on Financial Services is holding a hearing titled "Credit Reports: Consumers’ Ability to Dispute and Change Inaccurate Information" to "examine factors that continue to contribute to inaccurate consumer credit reports and evaluate the adequacy of the consumer dispute process under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). In addition, the Committee will hear recommendations for improving the process and efforts that furnishers, credit bureaus and the regulators are taking to improve the accuracy of credit report information and will review the status of key rule makings and studies mandated by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) related to the accuracy of information furnished to consumer reporting agencies and the adequacy of the dispute resolution process."

• Pipeline Data Renews Agreement with First Data
• American Blinds, Wallpaper & More Unveils Bill Me Later Payment Option
• Grad Gold - New Program Helps Students and Graduates Pay Off Loans Just by Shopping Online
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: ATMs evolve into 'bank in a box'
• Wilmington News-Journal: Chase credit card chief retiring - Longtime AmEx veteran tapped to lead Wilmington-based unit
• Norwich Bulletin: Use of debit cards is on the rise, especially among women

We have received news of the following recent management changes:

• Eric Dunn has joined the board of directors of PaySimple. Dunn is a partner with Menlo Park, CA-based Cardinal Venture Capital.