Do you have questions, observations, or thoughts about payments? Give me (Scott Loftesness) a call this Wednesday.

I'll be holding office hours again this Wednesday, December 23, from 10:30 AM Pacific through the end of the day. You can reach me at +1.650.469.3421. I look forward to talking to you!

By the way, I'm currently doing research into payment methods for online and mobile games - if you're working in that area, I'd love to hear from you!

If I'm unable to take your call, I'll try to return your call - subject to my availability. If you'd rather email (preferred outside of office hours), you can always reach me at: scott@glenbrook.com.

Do you have Glenbrook on your side?

Just in time for the holidays, Blackhawk Network, the largest provider of third-party gift cards in the United States and Canada, has launched a new virtual gift card program, E-Gift Cards - now available on its redesigned online store, GiftCardMall.com. Consumers can now benefit from being able to purchase gift cards online anywhere, anytime and having them delivered via email. Recipients can redeem their gifts online directly at the retailer’s web site or by printing them out for in-store redemption. READ MORE »

American Express OPEN has announced the launch of AcceptPay - calling it "an online invoicing and payment solution that can help business owners improve cash flow at a time when customers are taking a longer time to pay." In a press release, Amex said it partnered with PaySimple to design AcceptPay, working with business owners to create product features and integrated feedback from product test groups. READ MORE »

In an article titled "Prepaid vs. Checking: Fairer Fight?", Maria Aspan writes for the American Banker about the state of the prepaid card business in the US - and how the upcoming checking account overdraft fee reforms could affect the prepaid card industry.

The second webinar in Track 2 - Essentials of eCommerce Payments Management - of our Payments Essentials Webinar Series will be held on January 14th, 10:30-11:30 PST on the topic: Mobile Commerce for eCommerce Merchants.

Mobile Commerce is big today and expected to grow dramatically in 2010. eBay claims the value of goods sold this year through the eBay iPhone app alone could exceed $400 million. What does this mean for the traditional eCommerce merchant? How significant are the opportunities - and how should these be realized? Join Glenbrook as we explore mobile retailing, mobile checkout, and mobile payments.

This webinar will be presented by Glenbrook's Russ Jones and Jay DeWitt. Registration for this webinar is now open ($249 fee).

Registration is now open for Glenbrook Payments Boot Camps being held in the first quarter of 2010:

• January 20th & 21st – Santa Clara, California
• February 10th & 11th – New York City
• March 10th & 11th – Santa Clara, California

The 2010 edition of the Glenbrook Payments Boot Camp has an expanded and updated focus on emerging payments – including mobile payments, online payment for digital content, and ACH-based payments across online and physical domains. Questions? Email us at: bootcamp@glenbrook.com.

BNY Mellon Treasury Services and MasterCard have announced that BNY Mellon will be integrating the MasterCard Payment Gateway into its suite of payment solutions for corporate clients. According to BNY Mellon, "complementing the ACH, wire transfer and check payment services already available from BNY Mellon, the MasterCard Payment Gateway will allow BNY Mellon clients to take advantage of the speed, cost efficiency, security and disbursements management benefits of electronic B-to-B card payments as part of a comprehensive array of payment alternatives." READ MORE »

• GetDebit.com: The Top 5 Developments in Prepaid Debit Cards in 2009
• Now You Can Conduct Your Own Background Check with Acxiom's New I-Check
• Cardtronics Names Payments Industry Executive Steven A. Rathgaber as CEO
• Leading Website on Microfinance Performance Partners with The MasterCard Foundation for Re-Launch
• NYTimes.com: Your Money - Americans Are Finally Saving. How Did That Happen?
• WSJ.com: Fast-Growing Plastic: The Rise Of Prepaid Cards
• Merchant Risk Council Hires New Program And Education Managers
• New Aite Group Report: Online Banking: Product Development Roadmap 2010
• MasterCard Survey: Two in Three Consumers in Asia/Pacific Feeling Charitable this Holiday Season
• Heartland Payment Systems Agrees to Settle Cardholder Class Actions
• TSYS and Marfin Laiki Bank Launch Credit Card Exclusively for Women (Cyprus)
• Vesta Corporation Powers Online Reloads for NetSpend Prepaid Debit Cards
• LA Times Editorial: The gift card Grinch