Reminder: Glenbrook's Allen Weinberg will be conducting an afternoon workshop on May 15 titled "Point Of Sale Impact: Preparing for the Merchant and Online Payments Revolution" at the CardTech/SecureTech conference next week in San Francisco. More details here.

Federal Reserve Governor Randall S. Kroszner spoke today at the 2007 Payments Conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. In his talk, titled "The Future of Payments: Challenges and Opportunities", he commented on the future of electronic check clearing: "Perhaps the greatest current opportunity in the retail payments system is for the banking industry to move rapidly to the electronic clearing of checks. As envisioned by Congress, Check 21 has created a strategic vision for moving the U.S. check clearing system into the new century. The historic infrastructure for paper check clearing is consolidating rapidly. Banks are changing their internal systems so they can accept deposits and collect checks electronically and are increasingly accepting their check presentments electronically."

Mercator Advisory Group has announced its latest report, Solving the Micropayment Problem, Online and at the Point of Sale, that reviews "both the history and challenges of electronic micropayments and examines how the existing rails have evolved to address under $5 electronic payments at both the point of sale and for online transactions."

The Arriva Card, the first credit card designed specifically for use in casinos, has initiated a “Bounty Program” that rewards casinos for each approved Arriva application that results directly from casino activity. Launched less than a year ago, Arriva has already extended over $40 million of credit to responsible gaming patrons. Arriva Cardholders use the card to get better terms for in-casino cash advances – and to receive points for cash back and other valuable rewards.

Péralte C. Paul writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about whether banks should give depositors access to their own money faster. "The money strides out of your bank account, but it strolls in," said Jean Ann Fox, director of consumer protection at the Consumer Federation of America, a Washington-based advocacy group.

Alyson Ward writes for the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram about Secure Give, a company that provides card accepting kiosks for churches.

The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), an independent industry standards body providing management of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (DSS) on a global basis, has announced that it has implemented formal channels for stakeholders to contribute to the organization and development of data security standards.

PayPal has announced that customers in 87 new markets can send money online with PayPal. In addition, customers using PayPal.com will now be able to view the site in Spanish, French and simplified Chinese.

• Billtrust Upgrades Its Online Bill Presentment and Payment Capabilities
• First Data Enters into Strategic Alliance with T-Base Communications

We have received news of the following recent management changes:

• Dan Tierney has been named senior vice president, sales, at Chockstone.