On the web:

• How many payments professionals does it take to hire a bike? Three! (A story of Chip & PIN) - Payments Views - Glenbrook's Erin McCune tries to rent a bicycle in London - without a chip card...
• Mobile money in the UK - Tomorrow's Transactions - "There are significant populations in developed markets that closely match the characteristics of mobile money customers in the emerging markets, and there is a clear opportunity for the right mobile money propositions."
• Beyond Bitcoin: Your Guide to Digital Currencies - Mashable - "Think of digital currency as an Esperanto that people are actually beginning to speak."

On the wires:

• First Data Leverages Bank Relationships with Latest Mobile Payment Solution for Merchants - "Pogo> works by allowing a merchant to combine a web-enabled smartphone or tablet with a mobile application and secure mobile card reader to create a point-of-sale (POS) device that leverages First Data’s proven technology…"
• SecureKey Brings Hardware-Based Security to MasterPass Digital Commerce Platform - "MasterPass is a perfect example of how Intel IPT working with briidge.net DNA can provide a hardware root of trust that can be utilized by multi-factor authentication solutions for identity protection and transaction verification."

Upcoming from Glenbrook:

• Summer Camp! - A special summer session of our popular Payments Boot Camp - in Half Moon Bay on August 6th and 7th... Also, an optional half day course on Data In Payments - August 8th, also in Half Moon Bay. Join Carol, Scott and Russ for lively, interactive sessions - register now!
• Follow Glenbrook Partners on LinkedIn! -

On the web:

• The Future of Money and Bitcoin by Chris Larsen, CEO of OpenCoin - CitizenTekk - "Who will be the Google, Facebook, or Alibaba of the math-based money era? We don't know yet, but we know they're coming. And when they get here, they won't be using ACH."
• iWallet: What Apple left out of its WWDC presentation - Fortune - "Of course, just because Apple patents a technology doesn't mean it will develop it. But at this point the company has amassed quite an arsenal of patents covering mobile payments."
• So, what happens to Passbook in iOS 7? - GigaOm - "If Apple is cooking up such a service, it’s possible there will be a hardware element involved in it."
• Apple Granted Patent for iWallet Parental/Employee Controls - Patently Apple - "The technology which uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and likely a little Apple magic, negates the need for NFC which Phil Schiller had stated last September."
• Weve to launch NFC payments in the UK in 2014 - NFC World - "We want to be mass market straight away — which means at least 50 per cent of consumers by the end of next year."
• Regulators Turn Up Heat Over Bank Fees - Wall St. Journal - "The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in a report set for release Tuesday, plans to criticize the U.S. banking industry for practices that it says range from confusing rules on overdraft fees..."
• Banks Seen as Aid in Fraud Against Older Consumers - New York Times - "Indeed, banks across the country, from some of the largest to smaller regional players, help facilitate billions of dollars of fraud each year…"
• Mobile Wallets: What’s The Value Proposition? - Snarketing 2.0 - "The value proposition of the so-called mobile wallet – whatever that means, considering there’s no consensus on its definition — isn’t clear just yet."
• Google Wallet’s Osama Bedier Confirms That Google Lost Money With Every Transaction. (Good News: It Didn’t Get Many.) - Storefront Backtalk - "…what got short-shrift was finding a way to get shoppers to use its app."
• The continuing battle over interchange fees - Financial Services Club Blog - "In fact, ... Poland has some of the highest interchange fees of any European country…"
• Social Commerce Startup Chirpify to Power In-Stream Credit Card Purchases - AllThingsD - "Previously, the only payment method was PayPal."
• 46 Bitcoin APIs: Bitstamp, Bitcoin Charts Markets and 50BTC - ProgrammableWeb - "Our API directory now includes 46 bitcoin APIs."
• Freicoin’s attempt to free the economy - CoinDesk - "What I realized is that Bitcoin is the most revolutionary technology, I would say ever."
• QR code-enabled virtual stores support merchants’ mobile shopping strategies - Mobile Commerce Daily - "Walmart is one of the retailers that has been a big proponent of leveraging QR codes for virtual shopping."

On the wires:

• Visa and Ethoca Collaborate to Help eCommerce Merchants Reduce Fraud - "Using near real-time information from Visa on confirmed fraud transactions, Ethoca is able to send secure alerts to the affected merchants in the critical 24-72 hour window between when eCommerce orders are placed and when they are fulfilled or shipped…"
• UK Payments Council announces customer guarantee for new current account switch service - "The new service aims to increase competition in banking by making it simpler and hassle-free for customers to switch their current account."
• First Data Releases May 2013 SpendTrend® Analysis - "Dollar volume growth increased 6.0% in May compared to April’s 5.1% growth."
• Text2Pay Now Accepting Bitcoins – The New Social Currency - "Bitcoins are the equivalent of Internet cash. Users can send Bitcoins over the Internet to anyone worldwide with no middle-man or institution to take fees."

Upcoming from Glenbrook:

• Summer Camp! - A special summer session of our popular Payments Boot Camp - in Half Moon Bay on August 6th and 7th... Also, an optional half day course on Data In Payments - August 8th, also in Half Moon Bay. Join Carol, Scott and Russ for lively, interactive sessions - register now!
• Follow Glenbrook Partners on LinkedIn! -

On the web:

• The Impact of Mobile Point of Sale on EMV Adoption - ROAM Data Blog - "In essence, EMV reduces the chance of your business accepting bogus cards and incurring unwanted liability."
• Retailers Ready for Showdown Over Credit-Card Fee Deal - Bloomberg - "Major retailers and trade associations contend that the deal isn’t nearly big enough and unfairly binds all merchants nationwide against suing over the fees in the future."
• First Data Could Scuttle Interchange Settlement - StorefrontBacktalk - "Technically, First Data isn’t opting out of the settlement as a card processor—it’s opting out as a merchant…"
• Swipe-Fee Settlement Opt-Out Deadline Today, May 28 - CSPnet.com - "Today, Tuesday, May 28, is the deadline for retailers to object to or opt out of the $7.25 billion settlement over interchange or "swipe" fees…"
• Coinbase Leads Charge In Bitcoin’s Consumerization - TechCrunch - "As a Bitcoin wallet, an exchange and a merchant payment-processing system, Coinbase is one of the most, if not the most, “legit,” user-friendly Bitcoin startups out there..."
• Regulating Bank Governance: Mandating CEO-Chairman Division at Too-Big-to-Fail Banks - Adam Levitin (CreditSlips.org) - "The Dodd-Frank Act reforms impose various financial regulations on banks. But we could also impose governance regulations on them."
• Square is the shape of things to come, says Twitter founder Jack Dorsey - Telegraph - "We’ve driven a lot of growth in the United States, but we’re really excited to get outside the US. You’ll see some announcements very soon."
• Sifting the facts from the fiction about contactless cards - Guardian - "If you weren't arrested for waving your phone around people's arses on the tube, it's pointless anyway, because you can't use the data to do anything."
• Learn About Mining Bitcoin From a Redditor
• Intel-Backed IP Commerce Shuts Payment Tool Used by Groupon - Bloomberg - "IP Commerce plans to now focus on software for retailers, software developers and sales teams…"
• Liberty Reserve digital money service forced offline - BBC - "Liberty Reserve - a Costa Rican-based digital currency service - has been shut down after the reported arrest of its founder."

On the wires:

• New Online Banking Report Published: Crowdfunding Small Businesses - "We believe crowdfunding has the potential to materially impact banking market share in the next 20 years."
• IPSO and its member banks enhance payments Risk Assessment Methodology - "The Irish Payment Services Organisation Ltd. (IPSO) conducted an external review of the methodology employed for conducting Risk Assessments in the Irish Retail Electronic Payments Clearing Company Ltd. (IRECC) and the Irish Paper Clearing Company Ltd. (IPCC), arising out of a request from the Central Bank of Ireland."
• Moneris Solutions Partners With SecureBuy, Leading Provider of Innovative E-commerce Anti-Fraud Solutions - "Moneris has integrated its proprietary eSELECTplus payments gateway into SecureBuy's popular Community and Enterprise anti-fraud solutions, adding full payment processing functionality to both."
• Seamless new distributor of prepaid cards and Electronic Top-Up in Sweden - "Seamless, which has operations in 28 countries, is one of the world’s leading suppliers of systems for topping up prepaid cards."
• Edgar, Dunn & Company Opens New Office in Mexico City, Mexico - "Jan Smith, a Director at EDC and a payments expert with twenty years of consulting experience within Latin America, will head the new office."
• Digital River Opens Office in Moscow, Russia - "With an on-shore presence and local client support in Moscow, Digital River is in a position to address some of the biggest challenges multi-national companies face when selling online in Russia, including managing the risks associated with legal compliance."

On the web:

• California Sues JPMorgan Chase Over Credit Card Cases - NY Times - "JPMorgan Chase … deluged the courts with dubious lawsuits to collect soured credit-card debt."
• How hackers allegedly stole “unlimited” amounts of cash from banks in just hours - ArsTechnica - "Prosecutors didn't identify the payment processors except to say one was in India and the other in the United States."
• PayPal exec aims to “obliterate passwords from the face of the planet” - ArsTechnica - "Our intention is to really obliterate, within a certain number of years, both passwords and PINs..."
• One good reason to accept Bitcoins: It screws credit card companies - Pando Daily - "Merchants should enjoy it while it lasts."
• Mobile Gift Card App Gyft Partners With BitPay To Start Accepting Bitcoin Payments In Its Android App - TechCrunch - "Bitcoin is hard to use today, and that’s a good thing. There are still bugs and it is too risky for the average consumer."
• WePay Debuts Veda, An Intelligent Risk Engine That Leverages Social Media Data To Prevent Merchant Fraud - TechCrunch - "A traditional credit score only shows a sliver of who you are, but an online profile allows us to assign our users a more accurate ‘WePay credit score’ based on their personal history of verified, social data."
• No big bang for mobile payments - Business Spectator - "Key to this is understanding that mobile payments are not a vertical market. Players must understand how the different participants in a payment system – the merchant, issuer, and consumer – can all benefit through mobile."
• Adam Smith, Paul Krugman and Bitcoin - Tomorrow's Transactions Blog - "There won't be a single world currency (whether the Dollar or the Remibi) and there won't be a single virtual currency (whether Bitcoin or MintChip). There will be lots of currencies and we will all be better off because of it."
• Free banking at risk as EU wants us to bank anywhere in Europe - Telegraph - "European proposals that would allow Britons to switch to a bank account in another country could hasten the demise of free banking, experts have warned."
• Mobile Payments Service Wins Bill and Melinda Gates Innovator Award - eCommerce Bytes - "Boleto is a unique barcode payment ticket that contains the customer's unique purchase data and Trak's bank information."

On the wires:

• Eight Members Of New York Cell Of Cybercrime Organization Indicted In $45 Million Cybercrime Campaign - "A four-count federal indictment was unsealed in Brooklyn charging eight defendants with participating in two worldwide cyberattacks that inflicted $45 million in losses on the global financial system in a matter of hours."
• Value-Based Payment Models Expected to Reach Tipping Point by 2018 - "Transitioning to payment models that base compensation on outcomes requires physicians and health plans to exchange new kinds of information – different than what is required under today’s predominant fee-for-service arrangements."
• Retailers, Listen Up: High Rates of Mobile Shopping Cart Abandonment Tied to Poor User Experience - "While the majority of smartphone and tablet owners (68%) have attempted to make a purchase on their device, two-thirds (66%) failed to complete a transaction due to obstacles encountered during checkout."
• First Data Releases April 2013 SpendTrend® Analysis - "Year-over-year dollar volume growth increased 5.1% in April, a slowdown from March’s 6.0% growth."

First Data Corporation has announced that EVP Ed Labry has been named by the board as the company’s Vice Chairman.

“Ed Labry has done more to help build First Data than any other person I know,” said Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano. “It gives us great pleasure to name Ed to this new role, where he will continue to engage with our strategic customers and with our topmost prospects to help us drive new sources of top-line revenue.”

In a Sunday afternoon press release, First Data Corp. announced that Frank Bisignano has been named chief executive officer effective Monday, April 29, 2013. Bisginano joined FDC from JP Morgan Chase where he has been Co-Chief Operating Officer. Earlier he was chief executive officer for Citigroup's Global Transactions Services business.

[Editor's note: See also coverage in the New York Times and Wall St. Journal.]

On the web:

• Fed Survey Shows Growth in Mobile Banking, Payments - "Americans are increasingly using their mobile phones to access bank accounts, credit cards, and other financial accounts…"
• Bitcoin Investors Hang On for the Ride - WSJ
• Why Libertarians and gold hoarders love Bitcoins - PandoDaily - "What kind of people use Bitcoins, the digital currency designed by cryptographers to be untraceable?"
• Microsoft Account Gets More Secure - The Official Microsoft Blog - "This release enables optional two-step verification for your entire Microsoft account."
• Amazon Patent Describes A Mobile Payment System That Keeps Transactions Anonymous - TechCrunch - "The patent describes a way to sub in unique identifiers for information like name and email address…"
• Zuora: Faster Time to Commerce? Check Out Our New REST APIs - "Zuora has introduced 22 new REST API calls focused on enabling website commerce integrations."
• Authentication a barrier to online commerce for most people - Computing.co.uk - "Inadequate authentication and the plethora of user names and passwords people need to remember is a rising barrier to online commerce"

On the wires:

• NACHA’s Council for Electronic Billing and Payment to Launch Industry Evaluation of the QR Encoding for Consumer Bill Pay Guidelines - "Industry input is vital as we work to establish a single QR code specification so consumers can easily view and pay bills from a mobile device…"
• First Data Enhances its Vision Payment Solution’s Global Capabilities with VisionPLUS® Flex - "In a single platform, the VisionPLUS Flex solution supports issuing and acquiring of credit, debit, prepaid, consumer and commercial cards for private label, American Express®, JCB, MasterCard® and Visa® global brands, as well as consumer loans."
• American Express Reports First Quarter EPS of $1.15, up 7% From A Year Ago; Revenues and Cardmember Spending Rise, Credit Quality Remains Excellent - "We are off to a strong start in 2013, thanks to our ability to grow revenue in a slow growth economy, control expenses and maintain a strong balance sheet…"
• New Sign-up Process - payleven Opens Doors to Private Individuals in UK - "Today marks a major milestone for payleven on that journey as we have solved two long-standing problems faced by the payments industry- designing a simple, instant signup process and empowering individuals as merchants."
• Toshiba Integrates Isis SmartTap™ into ACE Point-of-Sale - "Integration of Isis SmartTap with the ACE POS platform can fundamentally transform the way consumers and retailers interact at the POS."
• MCX Selects Gemalto for Mobile Commerce Platform - "The initial MCX wallet, which will be primarily barcode and cloud-based, will run on Gemalto’s Allynis Mobile Payment platform."
• Fiserv Makes Real Time Person-to-Person Payments a Reality with Popmoney Instant Payments - "We believe real-time payments are increasingly important to consumers in many day-to-day situations, and that includes sending money to people they know or owe."
• ACI Worldwide Empowers Financial Institutions to Increase Efficiency of Card Issuing and Account Management - "ACI Issuer is designed to help financial institutions lower operating costs with expected reductions in new product development, long-term maintenance and infrastructure costs."
• Western Union Continues to Expand in Mexico - "We see a great opportunity to expand in Mexico through existing and new Agent relationships such as Bancoppel…"

First Data has released its First Data SpendTrend analysis for the full month of March 2013 compared to March 2012.

Year-over-year dollar volume growth increased 6.0% in March, up from February’s 4.6% growth, as the earlier Easter holiday and lower gas prices provided an extra boost to spending during the month. In addition, tax refunds that were delayed earlier in the year have caught up and may have spurred consumer spending in March. March 2013 performance is particularly robust given a tough comparable to March 2012, when dollar volume growth rose 8.7% due to abnormally mild weather last year.

SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

First Data has released its First Data SpendTrend analysis for the full month of February 2013 compared to February 2012.

Dollar volume growth slowed to 4.6% year-over-year compared to January’s growth of 6.2%. A combination of factors such as higher payroll taxes, a delay in federal tax refunds and high gasoline prices restrained spending and forced shoppers to reassess their spending budgets. Major winter storms across much of the country and the unseasonably cold weather throughout the South also weighed on shopper foot traffic. Transaction growth slipped to 3.5% in February compared to 5.3% last month.

SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

First Data announced they are working with Foursquare to extend their Foursquare Specials for Credit Cards program to now accept Visa and MasterCard, and most debit cards through First Data OfferWise.

To redeem the Foursquare Specials, consumers simply connect their card of choice, check-in at participating First Data merchants, and pay for their purchase with their connected card. The discount is automatically sent back to their credit card or bank account and they'll be notified by Foursquare of the money they saved.

First Data has released its First Data SpendTrend analysis for the full month of January 2013 compared to January 2012.

Dollar volume growth improved to 6.2% versus 4.0% in December as consumer spending bounced back despite the payroll tax increase. Improved retail spending was a large contributor to this growth. Retailers experienced a healthy rebound in spending as consumers increased discretionary spending during the start of the year. Retail dollar volume growth was the highest growth seen since August 2012.

SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

First Data has reported its financial results for 4Q2012 and Full Year 2012:

Consolidated revenue for the fourth quarter was $2.8 billion, up $69 million, or 3%, compared to a year ago, primarily driven by a $55 million increase in debit network fees. Adjusted revenue, which excludes certain items including debit network fees, increased $18 million, or 1%, year-over-year to $1.8 billion.

Consolidated revenue for the full year 2012 was $10.7 billion, flat year-over-year due to revenue growth in the global merchant acquiring business offset by lower debit network fees. Full-year adjusted revenue increased 3% to $6.76 billion.

First Data has released its First Data SpendTrend analysis for the full month of December 2012 compared to December 2011.

Consumers stepped back from spending in December as the fiscal cliff debate continued, lingering effects of Superstorm Sandy persisted, and the initially less aggressive retail discounting environment for most of the month dampened shopping. Dollar volume growth was 4%, the lowest monthly growth in three years and a steep slowdown from the typical range between 6% and 10%.

SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

First Data has released its First Data SpendTrend analysis for the full month of November 2012 compared to November 2011.

Dollar volume growth remained solid at 5.8% in November, down from 6.7% in October. The growth was considered healthy as November 2011 was a strong month with dollar volume growth of 7.3%. The growth significantly weighted to spending at retailers during the latter half of the month. Although Black Friday retail spending was weaker this year with growth at 8.3% compared to 9.7% last year, overall November dollar volume growth still performed well.

SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

First Data has released its First Data SpendTrend analysis for the full month of October 2012 compared to October 2011.

Dollar volume growth of 6.7% in October was healthy as shoppers became less pessimistic about the economy. Improved consumer sentiment and a pullback in savings continued to support spend. Meanwhile, transaction growth slipped to 5.9% in October compared to 6.3% in September. Average ticket growth was 0.8% in October, a reversal from September’s -0.5% growth. Several retail categories experienced improved average tickets from September due to a slight rise in prices. However, a sharp increase in average ticket growth at retailers indicates that consumers have also shown an increased tendency to spend more.

SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

First Data has reported its financial results for 3Q2012.

Consolidated revenue for the third quarter was $2.7 billion, down $58 million, or 2%, compared to a year ago on a $73 million decline in debit network fees partially offset by an increase in merchant acquiring revenue. Debit network fees are passed directly to customers and therefore did not impact operating income. Adjusted revenue, which excludes certain items including debit network fees, increased $34 million, or 2%, year-over-year to $1.7 billion.

First Data has launched First Data Rapid Connect, a new technology layer that enables simplified integration to First Data.

“With Rapid Connect, it is easier than ever before for developers to partner with First Data by integrating multiple payment applications through a single interface,” said Mark Herrington, First Data executive vice president of Global Product Management and Innovation. “The solution’s powerful yet simple interface is designed to expedite development to complement First Data’s global payment reach and emerging technologies to create a truly Universal Commerce experience.”

The Rapid Connect technology layer is the single point of integration to all First Data payment types, industries and platforms. For more information, visit www.firstdata.com/rapidconnect.

First Data has released its First Data SpendTrend analysis for the full month of September 2012 compared to September 2011.

Overall dollar volume growth was 5.8%, down from August’s 7.2% growth. The moderation of growth can be attributed to tough comparables as September 2011 was a strong month with dollar volume growth of 9.5%. Transaction growth dipped slightly to 6.3% from 6.5% last month. Average ticket growth was -0.5%, down from August’s 0.6% growth. Although consumers have shown a willingness to spend, they continue to be price-conscious and look for bargains.

SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

First Data has announced the signing of an exclusive teaming agreement with Accenture and VocaLink to introduce a technical solution for Immediate Payments in Australia. Immediate Payments would enable Australian consumers and businesses to transfer funds between bank accounts in real or near real-time, instead of waiting between one-to-three days.

“We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Accenture and VocaLink and look forward to engaging with the industry on potential governance models for our proposed technical solution,” said John Tait, managing director of First Data in Australia and New Zealand. “Our ultimate goal is to provide innovation to Australian consumers, and we recognise that this can only be achieved through a cooperative approach and defined by a broad group of stakeholders, driven at the industry level.”

First Data announced that Bank of America Merchant Services will offer the First Data OfferWise solution to all eligible merchants’ 650,000 U.S. locations through 2Go Media’s iDeals Marketing Platform.

“First Data continues to bring innovations to the marketplace that enable our industry partners to create a universal commerce experience for their customers,” said Dom Morea, SVP and division manager, Advanced Solutions and Innovation at First Data. “The OfferWise solution will allow Bank of America Merchant Services clients to leverage the most advanced card-linked redemption technology available today through the convenience of 2Go Media’s marketing platform and generate incentive programs tailored specifically for their business.”

On the web:

• Mobile Payment Company LevelUP Raises Another $9 Million - BostInno
• CardSpring Gains Investors, First Data Partnership, As App Platform Nears Launch - TechCrunch
• 1.6% Of Facebook Users Spent Over $1 Billion On Virtual Goods - Forbes
• PayPal Antifraud Measures Are Extreme, Some Users Say - NYTimes.com
• Parking Payment Startup QuickPay Raises $3.5M - TechCrunch

On the wires:

• Millennials Payment Solution Available on Popular Ecommerce Platform

First Data has reported its financial results for 2Q2012.

Consolidated revenue for the second quarter was $2.7 billion, down $64 million, or 2%, compared to a year ago on a $92 million decline in debit network fees partially offset by an increase in merchant acquiring revenue. Debit network fees are passed directly to customers and therefore did not impact operating income. Adjusted revenue, which excludes certain items including debit network fees, increased $43 million, or 3% year-over-year to $1.7 billion.

First Data announced the extension of the First Data OfferWise solution to all offer publishers and the first 500,000 of more than four million U.S. merchant locations.

“OfferWise is a technology infrastructure solution that is setting the redemption standard in the industry and one of the unique ways that First Data continues to innovate and deliver a truly universal commerce experience,” said Mark Herrington, executive vice president of Global Product Management and Innovation, First Data. “We’re gaining great momentum with OfferWise as publishers and merchants continue to realize how the platform not only eases offer redemption at the POS, but helps build loyal and profitable customer relationships through insightful data analytics built into the solution.”

Participating publishers and developers include Boutiika, Cardify, Choicepass, FanPlayr, Giftly, ifeelgoods, Key Ring, Local Bonus, Mirth, ParkMe, Place Points, Roximity, Savored, Scout Mob, Tello and Toodalu.

First Data has released its First Data SpendTrend analysis for the full month of May 2012 compared to May 2011.

May's same-store dollar volume growth increased 7.0% year-over-year, up from April’s growth of 5.7%. Although consumers continued to spend at a healthy clip early in the month, activity did slow as the month progressed. Transaction growth in May held fairly steady at 5.9%.

SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

On the web:

• Remittances: Over The Sea And Far Away - The Economist
• Meet Google's New NFC Payment Card, Beba - The Next Web

On the wires:

• NYSE Euronext To Acquire Corpedia Corporation
• U.S. Bank Releases a Cobranded Credit Card App for Android
• GoPayment Uses Geolocation to Help Small Businesses Determine Local Sales Tax
• SelectCore to Offer Third-Party Gift Cards Through Retail Network
• Scoutmob Lands $3.25 million in Financing and First Data 'OfferWise' Integration

First Data has released its First Data SpendTrend analysis for the full month of April 2012 compared to April 2011.

Overall year-over-year dollar volume growth was 5.7% in April, down from March’s 8.7% growth. Transaction growth slowed to 5.8% in April, down from 9.3% in March. Despite the slowdown in overall year-over-year dollar volume and transaction growth, discretionary spending was healthy in April.

SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

Affinity Solutions has unveiled Coupon-on-a-Card, which utilizes real-time offer redemption technology provided by First Data Corporation.

“The launch of our patent-pending Coupon-on-a-Card is a tipping point in merchant offer delivery for card issuers,” commented Jonathan Silver, president and CEO of Affinity Solutions. “Creating new capabilities and effectiveness for the merchant, and a far superior consumer experience, is a significant addition to our industry-leading transaction-based marketing product set. It’s also another step in the rollout of our vision for the highly-integrated marketing platform of the future. Rich, cross-industry collaboration, such as our integration with First Data’s innovative offer redemption technology, is a key to that vision.”

On the web:

• The Post-Cash, Post-Credit-Card Economy - NYTimes.com
• TGI Friday’s Embraces Mobile Payments (via Tabbedout) - SlashGear
• Why Are My Credit and Debit Cards Still Embossed? - Portals and Rails

On the wires:

• First Data Acquires Remaining Equity Stake in OmniPay from FEXCO

First Data has released its First Data SpendTrend analysis for the full month of February 2012 compared to February 2011.

February’s overall year-over-year dollar volume growth was 8.9%, a healthy increase from January’s growth of 7.0%. Overall dollar volume growth continued its positive upward trend in February. Improving economic conditions provided consumers with more confidence and income to spend.

SpendTrend tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

First Data has announced the availability of First Data OfferWise, a new open platform that dramatically simplifies the offer redemption process at the POS for consumers and merchants.

The First Data OfferWise solution allows offer publishers to electronically attach offers such as deals, eCoupons and loyalty programs to one or more of a consumer’s payment cards or mobile wallet to enable streamlined and automatic redemption of the offer at the point of sale (POS). First Data is currently piloting its OfferWise solution with dozens of merchants and it will be made available to its more than four million U.S. merchant locations.