APACS has announced it expects holiday shoppers to spend over £5 billion online this December - with next Monday, December 3, expected to be the busiest online shopping day. APACS estimates that total spending on cards, cash and cheques will reach £53.0 billion in December. APACS figures show that the number of adults shopping online has more than doubled in the last five years to almost 30 million. "To help online shoppers stay free from fraud this Christmas, APACS has also launched http://www.shopsafeonline.org.uk, which contains details about Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode – systems that make online shopping payments more secure for both consumers and online retailers."

As part of its2007–08 review of the reforms to Australia's payments system, the Reserve Bank of Australia co-hosted a Payments Systems Review Conference (several papers available for download) today in conjunction with the Centre for Business and Public Policy at the Melbourne Business School.   » Continue Reading

Bank of America has announced that it has teamed with the organization Brighter Planet to "offer a credit card that helps customers reduce their contribution to climate change and invest in the development of clean, renewable energy projects."   » Continue Reading

Alliance Data Systems has announced signing "a multi-year agreement with 7-Eleven, Inc. to provide payment processing services to more than 5,500 7-Eleven-branded convenience stores nationwide. Headquartered in Dallas, 7-Eleven is the largest chain of retail convenience stores, operating, franchising or licensing more than 33,200 stores in 17 countries and one U.S. territory, with worldwide sales in 2006 exceeding $44 billion."   » Continue Reading

The Reserve Bank of India has released its first Report on Oversight of Payment Systems in India . "Though Visa and MasterCard are not under the regulatory purview of the Bank, the Reserve Bank as the regulator and supervisor for banks has published guidelines for the issuance of cards by the card issuing banks. The compliance with the Guidelines is assessed during the inspection of these card issuing banks by the RBI. Also, RBI is in regular dialogue with the Visa and MasterCard affiliates in India."   » Continue Reading

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