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

AccountNow, the reloadable prepaid provider, has announced it is merging with Ready Financial Group. The combined company will continue to operate using both brand names. Jim Jones, AccountNow CEO, will be the CEO of the combined company to be known as AccountNow. Will Tumulty, Ready CEO, will become Chief Marketing Officer of the combined firm.

AccountNow has introduced a new gold card product with features and services usually found only through traditional banking relationships. The AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card lets cardholders borrow money and build credit history. In addition, AccountNow Gold cardholders who enroll in Direct Deposit receive higher limits on all deposits and withdrawals. "Gold Card customers also receive VIP customer service, free online bill pay, and the power, prestige and convenience that come with carrying a Gold Visa Prepaid Card. And, there's no monthly fee when $3,000 or more in deposits is placed on a card during a month." READ MORE »

MoneyGram International and AccountNow have announced an agreement to launch a new Visa-branded prepaid card available at select MoneyGram agent locations starting in June 2009. According to the two companies, "the agreement builds on an existing relationship wherein MoneyGram is providing consumers with the convenience of adding funds to their AccountNow reloadable prepaid cards at any of its 40,000 MoneyGram ExpressPayment® locations across the United States." READ MORE »

The Center for Financial Services Innovation has released a new report titled "A Tool for Getting By or Getting Ahead? - Consumers' Views on Prepaid Cards (PDF of the full report)." The authors studied both AccountNow and NetSpend and said: "Prepaid cards are a helpful financial tool, and users appreciate their features. Prepaid cards may also help consumers achieve short-term financial goals, such as paying off debt and accumulating emergency savings. However, achieving longer-term financial goals will likely require more intensive and comprehensive services and products that extend beyond what prepaid cards currently offers."

AccountNow has announced several new services: the addition of the iAdvance Line of Credit from MetaBank, the elimination of upfront fees for new accounts with direct deposit, and the debut of Money 411, an online financial resource center. READ MORE »

Meta Payments Systems has announced "the iAdvance Line of Credit for the millions of Americans who are unable to access affordable, small dollar credit."

AccountNow, a marketer of network branded prepaid cards for the estimated 40 million underbanked consumers in the US market, has announced that the Center for Financial Services Innovation’s new Catalyst Fund is the final investor in the companies third round of venture funding announced in June.

AccountNow, a marketer of MasterCard and Visa branded prepaid cards, has announced the closing of $12.75 million in a third round of venture funding led by Trident Capital.

San Ramon, CA-based AccountNow has announced the closing of $12 million in their second round venture financing. The company is a marketer of MasterCard-branded and FDIC-insured stored value cards for the estimated 40 million strong underbanked consumer market.