Bank of America, First Data Form Merchant Acquiring Alliance JV

Thomas Bell, chief strategy officer and president of First Data's financial services business, was named chief executive officer of Banc of America Merchant Services.

"The combination of First Data's world-class technology and industry experience with the power of Bank of America's brand and branch referral channel will enhance Banc of America Merchant Services' position as an efficient and innovative player in the payments market," Bell said.

Merchant clients also will benefit from new service offerings including loyalty and prepaid programs, along with mobile commerce and check solutions that will drive return traffic to their stores and provide their consumers with the security, convenience and rewards they have come to expect. "For our clients, the most important transaction they have occurs the moment their customer pays them for what they do. This alliance provides stronger payments acceptance capabilities as well as enhanced business-reporting tools and a better experience for their customers," said Catherine P. Bessant, President of Bank of America's Global Product Solutions group. "The formation of this new company underscores our full commitment to the merchant services business."

For merchants seeking to expand their offerings in the fast-growing virtual marketplace, Banc of America Merchant Services will offer the scalability, integrated capabilities and deep understanding of the transactional process to deliver industry leading eCommerce solutions. "The First Data, Bank of America alliance will create a payments company with more than 70 years of combined merchant experience," said Michael Capellas, chairman and CEO of First Data. "Together, we will help clients keep pace with the dynamic virtual marketplace by delivering secure, scalable and reliable payment processing and the broadest set of innovative payments solutions at highly competitive prices."

Bank of America will contribute approximately 240,000 merchant relationships and First Data will contribute approximately 140,000 merchant relationships to the new company. Following a transition period, First Data will provide the merchant processing and related services. The combined entity will process over one billion transactions per month.

Banc of America Merchant Services will be approximately 46.5 percent owned by Bank of America and 48.5 percent by First Data, with the remaining stake held by Rockmount Investments, LLC, an investment vehicle controlled by a third party investor.