WildCard Systems and US Bank have announced they are working together to introduce a new Visa Debit gift card to be sold in Macerich-owned shopping malls. READ MORE »

APACS has announced that it expects in the UK that the payment volume of card payments will for the first time exceed that of cash payments for 2004 (PDF). READ MORE »

Chuck Williams reports in the Columbus (GA) Ledger-Enquirer (TSYS' home town) on the TSYS win of all of JP Morgan Chase's credit card processing business announced last night.

The deal strikes a blow at First Data Resources, a Nebraska-based processor that is in direct competition with TSYS. First Data had been processing the 87 million cards that will now fall into TSYS computers. First Data is the nation's largest electronic payment processor, while TSYS is second. This deal could flip-flop the two, putting TSYS at the top.

Separately, First Data Corp. this morning issued a press release confirming last night's Chase/TSYS announcement.

First Data Corp., a global leader in electronic commerce and payment services, today confirmed that it has been notified by JPMorgan Chase of its intention to move its card processing business from the First Data system.

"First Data will continue to work with JPMorgan Chase to ensure a smooth transition," said Charlie Fote, chairman and chief executive officer, First Data. "First Data expects this to occur within the next 18 months."

The Taipei Times reports on Visa International's launch with several member banks of smart card-based debit cards in Taiwan.