Visa announced that more than 50 additional financial institution partners will be distributing V.me, Visa’s new digital wallet service.

“Whether you’re shopping for holiday gifts or shopping for yourself, V.me is now available to anyone in the U.S. looking for a more simple, secure, and personal online shopping experience,” said Jennifer Schulz, global head of eCommerce, Visa. “V.me is built around a single concept, to help people shop online simply and securely. We understand that need and believe our long-standing relationships with financial institutions, merchants and acquirers put Visa in a strong position to deliver the very best digital wallet experience.”

These relationships bring the addressable base of cardholders to as many as 55 million, allowing account holders to easily enroll Visa and other U.S.-issued payment cards through V.me and begin shopping online from a PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Cit has announced a new price protection program called Citi Price Rewind. Here's how it works. After a Citi cardmember purchases and registers an eligible item, Price Rewind will search hundreds of retailers’ sites for 30 days after the purchase to find a lower price. If a price is at least $25 less than what the cardmember paid, Citi will refund the difference in price – up to $250 per item.

“During the holiday season when the clock is ticking on getting popular gifts and toys, our customers can make their purchases today with more confidence that we will help get them a lower price,” said Ralph Andretta, Head of Co-Brands and Loyalty at Citi Cards. “Citi Price Rewind is another way that we’re delivering value to our cardmembers by using unique technology, and we’ve found a lower price for one-out-of-four registered purchases over $100.”

For more information on Citi Price Rewind, including a full description of coverage, eligible categories and Citi credit cards, visit http://www.citi.com/pricerewind.

American Express has announced that Cardmembers can now use Membership Rewards points for smartphone-enabled gift cards and use them instantly to pay with their smartphones.

“We know our Cardmembers want the flexibility to use the points they’ve earned for rewards they want, when and how they want them,” said Christopher Besendorfer, Vice President Loyalty and Membership Benefits, American Express. “As the worlds of online and offline converge, we're finding new ways for Cardmembers to use points, whether at home, on the run, and now instantly in-store with a Mobile Gift Card.”

Mobile Gift Cards are currently available for eight different retailers including: Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, PBteen, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma.

Bank of America Merchant Services has announced the December 3, 2012 release of 'Mobile Pay on Demand', a new solution that turns a client’s smartphone or iPad into a mobile point-of-sale terminal.

“In today’s economic environment, small businesses are looking for secure, easy and portable ways to confidently accept payments beyond cash, and promote their business to a broader customer base,” said Tom Bell, chief executive officer, Bank of America Merchant Services. “With Mobile Pay on Demand, we are making it even easier for small business owners to accept secure payments anywhere. The product is fully integrated with existing Bank of America accounts and services, allowing deposits made into a Bank of America small business checking account to be processed as soon as the next business day.”

BofA customers can find more information about the product and sign up at http://www.bankofamerica.com/mobilepay.

On the web:

• Commentary on Interchange Preliminary Settlement - Credit Slips
• Visa, Startup iZettle Settle Mobile Payments Issue - ITworld
• Supreme Court Deals A Blow To Credit Card Privacy - chicagotribune.com
• The Rule of 3, or Desperately Seeking Payment Products - Portals and Rails
• The Plot Thickens in the Bizarre Bitcoin Blackmail Caper - American Banker

On the wires:

• Tabbedout Announces Customer Relationship Management Solution
• New Glyph Mobile App Helps Consumers Triple or Quadruple Credit Card Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Rewards Members Can Now Shop With Points at Amazon.com
• Virtual Piggy Adds Barnes & Noble and Sephora to Merchant Roster
• Austria’s PayLife Selects VeriFone to Modernize Payment System Estate
• nFinanSe Agrees to Acquisition By AccountNow, Inc.
• Karma Koin Coming to Mexico