Chase Card Services has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Unicorn Financial Services and is launching an expanded set of patient financing products as ChaseHealthAdvance financing options.

Jessica Twentyman writes for the UK edition of the Financial Times about the growth in NFC-based payments, writing that "the technology that will enable such transactions has fast been gaining ground, albeit in smartcards rather than phones."

Donald L. Kohn, Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve, testified at a hearing of the Senate Banking Committee today about the condition of the US banking system. With respect to credit cards, Kohn commented: "the bankruptcy rate rose modestly over the first nine months of 2007 and could be a harbinger of increasing delinquency rates on other consumer loans. In view of this risk, Federal Reserve supervisors are monitoring these consumer loan segments for signs of spillover from residential mortgage problems, particularly in regions showing homeowner distress, and are paying particular attention to the securitization market for credit card loans."

Heartland Payment Systems has announced it has acquired a majority interest in Collective Point of Sale Solutions Ltd, a growing Canadian provider of payment processing services and secure point-of-sale solutions. Under the agreement, Heartland will maintain the CollectivePOS brand in Canada. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Airtel has announced the launch of range of Mobile Commerce solutions including Mobile Money Transfer (MMT), Postpaid Bill Payment and Prepaid Recharge on the mobile phone. Airtel is partnering with ICICI bank, HDFC bank, SBI, Corporation bank and VISA to enable these payments using a solution that has been developed by mChek.

The Merchant Risk Council (MRC) has announced the results of its annual merchant fraud survey. "The survey was sponsored by CyberSource Corporation as part of its broader annual survey of online fraud benchmarks. The combined results show MRC Platinum Merchants are consistently outperforming other online merchants in controlling fraud and protecting valid customer orders."

JPMorgan has announced a new Corporate Platinum and Gold Card offering - calling them "the world’s most widely accepted travel and entertainment cards designed to enable business executives to maximize their productivity when traveling. Among the premium benefits and services available through the card programs are superior VIP airport lounge access, VIP Luggage Delivery, concierge services, travel accident and lost luggage insurance coverage, and emergency medical and dental coverage."

PayPal has announced results from a new JupiterResearch and PayPal study concluding that "consumers value payment security and payment choice more than rewards when making purchases online."

TSYS Healthcare has announced "the successful market launch of the industry’s most advanced benefits payments system. Fringe Benefits Management Company (FBMC), the first third-party administrator to use this innovative solution, offers its subscribers the ability to pay from multiple healthcare tax-advantaged accounts, credit accounts and cash accounts through a single card."

• Sage Payment Solutions Announces Ability to Provide Credit Card Processing Directly to Sage MAS 500 Customers
• Barclays India launches mobile banking operations
• Inovium Launches On-Demand Purchase Order Payment System Starting at $99
• Givex Gift Card and Loyalty Programs are Certified for VeriFone's Vx Solutions
• Aliaswire’s PayVox™ Chosen by FSV Payment Systems to Bring Phone and Web-Based Bill Payment to Prepaid Cardholders
• Bankruptcy makes gift cards worthless
• American Express Incentive Services and eCommLink Enter Licensing Agreement
• MasterCard Worldwide Named Best Corporate Card and Expense Services Provider by Global Finance Magazine

We have received news of the following recent management changes:

• Tom Karinshak has been named Managing Director, Customer Care and Bank Operations, for Barclarycard US. Previously, Karinshak was Senior Vice President of Customer Management at AOL TIme Warner.
• Murad Velani has been named to the board of directors of Springbok Services. Velani currently serves as chief executive officer of Minneapolis-based Longitude Partners, LLC.