On the web:

• Pygg Launches Twitter-based, Social Media Payments App in Australia - StartUpSmart
• Swiff Hopes to Become the 'Square" of Singapore and Malaysia - SGEntrepreneurs
• Square to Distribute Payment Swipe Device Through Wal-Mart - Businessweek
• Real World Feedback: How to Spend $100 With Google Wallet - Advertising Age
• In China, App Enables Discounted Mobile Payments at Vending Machines - Springwise
• Keeping Pace as Money Transmitters Proliferate - Portals and Rails
• New Zealand Carriers Create Cooperative Direct Carrier Billing Framework - MobilePaymentsToday.com

On the wires:

• Bank of America, Intuit to Offer Full Service Payroll to Small Businesses
• TSYS Purchases Portfolio from Vanguard Payment Systems

Intuit has announced signing a definitive agreement to purchase PayCycle Inc., one of the nation’s fastest-growing online payroll services, serving more than 85,000 small businesses. According to Intuit, "the cash transaction is valued at approximately $170 million, subject to adjustment. Privately held PayCycle, based in Palo Alto, Calif., is a leader in online payroll for small businesses, accountants and financial institutions." READ MORE »

Western Growers has announced they are partnering with Bank of America and Visa to offer a payroll solution that will help member companies reduce expenses and provide more convenience and flexibility to their employees by offering the CashPay Visa payroll card to their employees. CashPay Visa allows employees to avoid the fees associated with check-cashing services.

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ADP and First Data Corp. have announced a multi-year marketing agreement that enables First Data to market ADP Small Business Services' EasyPay payroll solution to companies with less than 50 employees.

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Bank of America has announced the Business 24/7 portfolio of products for small business owners including Easy Online Payroll which will be free for small businesses that pay all of their employees by direct deposit to Bank of America accounts.

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Ecount has announced survey results concluding that payroll debit cards are as popular with banked employees as unbanked employees, establishing that payroll cards are a desired benefit for employees within all demographics.

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The Gannett News Service reports on the increasing use of payroll cards.

By 2006, the number of payroll cards in use by U.S. households without bank accounts will double to 3.8 million, said Ariana-Michele Moore, a senior analyst at Boston-based Celent LLC, a financial services research firm.

Digital Insight has announced that it is partnering with PayCycle to offer PayCycle's web-based small business self-service payroll to its financial institution customers.

"Digital Insight's partnership with PayCycle is entirely consistent with our strategy of providing best-of-breed solutions to our regional and community clients so they can compete on a level playing field with anyone, including the largest and most sophisticated financial institutions," said Jeff Stiefler, chairman, president and CEO for Digital Insight.