The Network Branded Prepaid Card Association (NBPCA) has announced that "a recent survey of 8,234 consumers uncovered high levels of enjoyment and personal connection to the branded gift cards experience." READ MORE »

CyberSource has published a new "Insider's Guide to ePayment Management" that "details 30 ePayment management tactics leading online merchants are using to improve business results." READ MORE »

In a report published today by the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS) of the Bank for International Settlements, "central bankers recommend a number of actions to address the risk-transmission channels brought by system interdependencies. The report, "The interdependencies of payment and settlement systems" , raises concern that the speed and multiplicity of potential disruption channels across the global payment system are not adequately reflected in stress-tests, risk controls, contingency funding plans, and crisis management procedures." READ MORE »

Santa Clara, California-based Accertify, a provider of fraud prevention solutions to online retailers, has announced that it has received funding from Intel Capital, Intel's global investment organization. READ MORE »

Earlier today, American Express Chairman and Chief Executive Ken Chenault presented at the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods 2008 Diversified Financials Conference. A webcast, presentation slides, and talking points are available online.

The Identity Theft Resource Center has today released its 5th Annual Identity Theft Aftermath Study discussing the impact of identity theft on victims. According to the center, the Aftermath is the only study of its kind. It reflects only the experiences of confirmed identity theft victims who have worked with the ITRC, and is not a census or general population-based study. The questions asked ranged from the emotional impact this crime has had on their lives all the way through to their ability to recover their good name. It includes the financial loss to the business community in goods and services. READ MORE »

Bill Me Later has announced that Borders has added its alternative payment functionality to its newly launched e-commerce site at Borders.com. "With Bill Me Later, Borders shoppers will be able to add to their book, movie and music collections online and via phone without sharing their credit card information." Borders.com is also offering customers no payments for 90 days on purchases of $99 or more with Bill Me Later. READ MORE »

Discover has announced that its "Discover U.S. Spending Monitor rose 1.4 points in May to 86.8 as consumers braced for higher spending in the wake of record gas and food prices. The Monitor posted record high percentages of consumers who said they spent more in May than April (56 percent) and who expect to spend more next month (46 percent), both up by six points respectively. The upturns reflect a nation of consumers who are seeing spending for necessities grow and budgets for discretionary spending shrink." READ MORE »

Yodlee has announced that Bank of America is the lead investor in Yodlee’s recent $35 million financing. Existing Yodlee investors, including Warburg Pincus, Accel Partners and Institutional Venture Partners also participated in the financing. READ MORE »

Chockstone has announced the availability of the Chockstone Meet & Greet loyalty application - calling it "a unique offering that allows restaurant operators to personalize the customer experience from the moment a patron walks in the door. With one swipe of a customer's card, the Meet & Greet functionality provides restaurant managers, hosts and wait-staff with a full customer profile, immediately enabling a more personal experience within participating restaurants." READ MORE »

• American Express Company at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods 2008 Diversified Financials Conference
• National Processing Company Class A Certifies Hypercom Optimum T4210, T4220 and PV1310
• Debt Settlement USA Launches Consumer Debt Index; Signals Protracted Debt Crisis for American Consumers, Despite Decreasing Intensity of Delinquency Rates
• MasterCard Technology Leader George Spies Receives InfoWorld's CTO 25 Award
• NFIB and Visa Inc. Announce 2008 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year' Winner
• GreenNote Launches Social Network-Based Student Loan Program
• Customers less satisfied with banks
• Ohio treasurer encourages reform on credit card practices
• No stock split is planned at MasterCard

We have received news of the following recent management changes:

• Daniel Lane has been named chief technology officer at Merchant Link.