Freelancer Linda Stern writes for Reuters suggesting "here's something that might get all those puzzled people on the hit TV dramas "Lost" and "24" really scratching their heads: Make them decipher the mail that credit card companies send out." She also reminds us about comments made by then-comptroller of the currency John Hawke, Jr. two years ago warning banks about potential supervisory action if they engaged in deceptive practices- she reports that no actions have been taken.

Jenny Holland reports for BrandWeek about a public-private partnership with Florida announced by MasterCard on Friday that will allow the "storm-tossed state to use MasterCard’s signature tagline as part of a print campaign that encourages Floridians to be prepared for hurricanes."   » Continue Reading

Kristin Davis writes for Kiplinger Magazine about the "dual personality" of debit cards - how they can be used either as signature-based or PIN-based. "Signature-based purchases are far more profitable for banks, which get a slice of the 1.5%-to-1.9% interchange fee that merchants pay to process transactions over the Visa and MasterCard networks."

• WSJ: MasterCard IPO Looks Like a Bargain
• BBC: Pre-pay card to help 'unbanked' (about PrePay Technologies Splash Plastic Maestro pre-paid card)
• Sunday Mail (Australia): Mobile credit on the cards
• Los Angeles Times: Frequent-Flier Programs Undergoing Some Changes
• Vancouver Sun: Online banking tempting for laundering dirty money