Lightspeed Research has announced the results of its latest Lightspeed Research Card Terms Tracking Study finding that US credit card issuers "continued to increase APRs and fees on credit cards through mid-February and are pulling back on rewards programs." This monthly report provides insights into the changes in terms notifications mailed by the top 10 U.S. credit card issuers in the past month. READ MORE

Walmart has announced that it is "stepping up efforts to provide affordable access to essential money services for the growing number of underserved Americans, including the millions who are not using traditional checking accounts to manage their finances. Dubbed "Operation Main Street: Money Management," the program includes a $3 Rollback price on the Walmart MoneyCard and a focus on financial literacy." READ MORE

A group of credit card issuers and payments networks (Bank of America, Capital One, Citi and Discover Card along with MasterCard and Visa) have introduced Help With My Credit, a resource to assist and educate consumers struggling to make their credit card payments.

According to a press release issued late Tuesday, "Help With My Credit invites consumers to call a toll-free telephone number (1-866-941-1030) where operators will provide them with information about speaking with customer service representatives within participating credit card issuers or to accredited credit counseling agencies, depending on the individual’s situation and needs."

Consumers can also visit a new Web site, http://www.HelpWithMyCredit.org, which provides consumers information on how to manage credit cards and better communicate with their credit card companies, and how to identify and speak with an accredited credit counselor. READ MORE

Telstra, National Australia Bank and Visa have reported on initial results from a three-month trial of mobile contactless payments at Melbourne’s Docklands. In the trial, consumers downloaded the NAB Visa credit card software application to their Telstra SIM remotely, and then used their mobile phone to purchase goods and services by waving their phone over a participating merchant’s Visa payWave enabled reader.

According to the companies, "the trial exceeded expectations, with a clear consumer demand emerging for contactless mobile payments and services during the trial, leading the three organisations to continue to explore opportunities in this area in the next few years." READ MORE

Visa Europe and Visa Inc. have announced plans to work with the GSMA to advance the delivery of mobile financial services around the world. As part of the continuing collaboration between the two organizations, the GSMA has selected Visa as a provider for mobile money transfer solutions globally, and is working to execute an agreement to formalize participation terms. Visa is already a leading provider of money transfer solutions with active programs in 14 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. READ MORE

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