Green Dot has announced that "its application to acquire Bonneville Bancorp ("Bonneville") and thereby become a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 has been approved by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Today the Utah Department of Financial Institutions also approved Green Dot's acquisition of Bonneville."

PayPal has announced that eBay's Red Laser Mobile App now includes support for PayPal and Milo.

The new Red Laser app has integrated Milo for local inventory and PayPal’s Mobile Express checkout for payment. One of the first merchants to integrate this truly multi-channel experience is Toys R Us.

The focus on multi-channel retailing is a key part of PayPal's "Future of Shopping" vision.

American Express has announced The Gift Chain, "an innovative new program that presents a surprise gift to cardmembers each time they shop at participating online retailers and spend $25 or more (up to 10 gifts, while supplies last). The Gift Chain consists of hundreds of thousands of gifts, ranging from $500 American Express Gift Cards to one-year ShopRunner memberships to $5 statement credits, and more. Plus, some gifts are shareable with three Facebook friends."

On the web:

• French Bank and Carrier Team Up to Bring Mobile Payments to Market - NFC World
• Telefonica Digital and RIM Announce NFC payments Market Trial in Spain - FierceMobileContent
• 3G Direct Pay Ltd (Kenya) to Integrate M-Pesa and Airtel Money - businessdailyafrica.com
• Starbucks Launches Mobile Payments App in UK and Ireland - Marketing Magazine
• Google Engineer Shares 2012 Plans for Google Wallet - American Banker
• Orange expands Money services in Africa - Rethink Wireless
• Visa and Retailers Discuss Chip Migration - NACS Online
• Australian Taxis Now Take China UnionPay - People's Daily Online
• EU Weighs Need For Mobile Payment Rules To Attract Industry Investment - Bloomberg

On the wires:

• Top Card Issuer Takes Online Resources’ Collections Global
• Ink from Chase Enhances Rewards Program for Small Business Cardholders
• Facebook Adds SafetyPay as New Global Payment Option for Facebook Credits
• Skrill (formerly Moneybookers) Offers Skrill World Post