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APACS has published its latest quarterly Statistical Release 
covering the first quarter of 2008. "In the first quarter of 2008 there were 1.8 billion plastic card purchases made in the UK totalling £91.1 billion. The number of purchases was 8.9% higher than in the first quarter of 2007, and spending was 8.9% higher. Debit cards accounted for 72.8% of all plastic card purchases compared with 71.1% in the first quarter of 2007."
Although taken private by KKR last fall, First Data Corp. continues to announce its financial results - and today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2008. Consolidated revenues were up 16% to $2.1 billion while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were up 8% to $586 million. FDC also commented on Chase Paymentech, its largest merchant alliance, noting that it "expects the alliance to end prior to its existing expiration date in 2010." The company is holding a conference call tomorrow morning to review its results. READ MORE »
PayPal has announced that its credit offering - PayPal Pay Later - is now available for payments on eBay.com . "Starting today, eBay buyers in the United States can take advantage of Pay Later’s financing offer of no payments for 90 days for qualifying purchases between $50 and $199." READ MORE »
The testimony of several of the witnesses at today's heading on interchange fees by the US House Judiciary Committee is now available online in PDF format. Included is testimony from: Thomas L. Robinson (Vice President of Regulations, National Association of Convenience Stores), Joshua R. Floum (General Counsel and Corporate Sec., Visa Inc.), Steve Cannon (Chairman, Constantine Cannon, LLP), Joshua Peirez (Chief Payment System Integrity Officer, MasterCard Worldwide), John Blum (Vice President of Operations, Chartway FCU), and Edward Mierzwinski (Consumer Program Director U.S. PIRG).
In a press release, the Electronic Payments Coalition commented on today's hearing before the House Judiciary Committee Antitrust Task Force on H.R. 5546: "The Electronic Payments Coalition is pleased that the House Judiciary Committee Antitrust Task Force is holding a hearing today to take a closer look at H.R. 5546, the "Credit Card Fair Fee Act." Members of the Task Force will be given an opportunity to learn quite explicitly that this ill-conceived legislation is nothing short of price controls -- action that would result in less competition, fewer consumer choices, and reduced access to affordable credit and debit options." READ MORE »
In a press release, MasterCard Worldwide said that "it is pleased that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report examining interchange fees recognized the benefits the federal government receives from both payment card usage and acceptance. MasterCard urges Members of Congress to review the report before taking action to regulate interchange fees, which would have a negative impact on consumers, small financial institutions, and ultimately merchants." READ MORE »
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a new report today titled "Credit and Debit Cards: Federal Entities Are Taking Actions to Limit Their Interchange Fees, but Additional Revenue Collection Cost Savings May Exist" .
READ MORE »
The National Retail Federation in a press release urged the House Judiciary Committee to support antitrust legislation that would require Visa and MasterCard to negotiate with merchants over credit card processing fees. The NRF said "a hidden fee charged by the two card giants is projected to cost the average U.S. family more than $400 this year." READ MORE »
Wells Fargo and Bank of America have announced the formation of a joint venture to operate a single, combined automated clearinghouse (ACH) platform for both companies and their clients. The new entity, called Pariter Solutions LLC, will be the country's largest processor of ACH payments. READ MORE »
In a press release, MasterCard commented that "merchants do not need price control legislation or an antitrust exemption to lower costs for payment card acceptance, as they already have real opportunities to negotiate fees." Joshua Peirez, Chief Payment System Integrity Officer at MasterCard Worldwide, gave his testimony at the hearing. READ MORE »
The National Association of Convenience Stores has issued a press release on today's House Judiciary Committee hearing on interchange fees. Tom Robinson, president of San Jose, California-based Robinson Oil Corporation testified today at the hearing. READ MORE »
In a press release, the Merchants Payments Coalition says that "merchants welcome encouragement from Democrats and Republicans alike in support of HR 5546, the Credit Card Fair Fee Act, bi-partisan legislation that would end credit card industry price fixing, which is the subject of a hearing today by the House Judiciary Committee Antitrust Task Force." READ MORE »
In an article titled 'Credit Cards Cost, No Matter What', the Washington Posts's personal finance columnist Michele Singletary writes that, even if you're paying off your credit card charges each month, you spend more when you use credit cards that if you just paid by cash. She suggests trying an experiment: "If you don't believe the research, try this experiment: For one month, don't use a credit card. Make all your purchases with cash."
Visa Inc. has announced the Visa Meetings card, the newest member in its suite of commercial payment solutions to help businesses more strategically manage this expense category. READ MORE »
As announced last week, today Visa Inc. has made available its various regional Operating Regulations on its corporate web site - except for Visa Europe which remains and separate entity.
Note: Throughout the day, as Payments News happens, this post is updated. For job opportunities available for payments professionals, visit PaymentsJobs.com. Employers looking to hire payments professionals can post their job openings there as well.
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