First Data Corporation has announced that its STAR Network has signed a multi-year agreement with SunTrust Banks Inc. to provide PIN-secured debit point-of-sale (POS) and ATM access to its cardholders. SunTrust is one of the top 10 debit card issuers in the US.

“This is a huge win for us,” said Kevin Barry, general manager for the STAR Network. “Our new relationship with SunTrust is a validation of our commitment to lead the industry with superior customer service and the most innovative products. SunTrust’s progressive view of payments will be a great match for STAR and our members.” READ MORE »

Earlier today, MasterCard announced that it had won the debit card business away from Visa at SunTrust. In an article titled "MasterCard’s SunTrust Coup Includes Credit As Well As Debit Cards", Digital Transactions reports that SunTrust's "agreement with MasterCard also will bring MasterCard-branded cards to SunTrust’s 1-million-card credit portfolio that currently is 100% Visa."

As a practical matter, we're not surprised. These kinds of portfolio negotiations tend to swing everything of significance to an issuing bank over to the winning card network - in exchange for a financially attractive arrangement for the issuer.

The last time this happened was five years ago this month when MasterCard and Washington Mutual announced WaMu's conversion of debit cards to MasterCard. Subsequently, of course, WaMu was acquired by JPMorganChase when the FDIC took it over - and we're still waiting to hear how Chase plans to deal with WaMu's debit card relationships.

We look forward to the upcoming Visa (Feb 3) and MasterCard (Feb 4) investor calls when this subject will certainly be probed more deeply.

SunTrust and MasterCard have announced that SunTrust will convert the company's debit card programs to MasterCard. "After the conversion to MasterCard-branded debit cards, which is expected to begin late this year, SunTrust will issue approximately five million MasterCard® debit cards that can be used everywhere MasterCard debit cards are accepted, including ATMs. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed." READ MORE »

SunTrust Banks and Moneta Corporation have announced that "SunTrust has selected Moneta’s online payment service to offer clients an additional payment option when they shop with select online retailers. The service is currently being provided free to select SunTrust clients as an initial pilot program." READ MORE »

SunTrust and Delta Air Lines have announced that consumers and businesses will soon be able to earn Delta miles on all signature-based purchases made with a new SunTrust SkyMiles Check Card, launching June 22. According to the two companies, "this will be the first time Delta has offered mileage-earning opportunities through a check card, and is the first co-branded check card relationship for SunTrust." The card will have a minimum annual fee of $20. READ MORE »

Fiserv and SunTrust have announced 'they will donate one tree for every SunTrust customer who signs up for electronic bill (e-bill) activation or pays at least three bills online or via a mobile phone between April 14 and June 30, 2008. With assistance from the Arbor Day Foundation, Fiserv and SunTrust have set a goal of planting more than 10,000 trees as part of the campaign.' READ MORE »

Barlow Research has announced that Bank of America, SunTrust and Wells Fargo are winners of Barlow's Monarch Innovation Awards for their innovative products, features and service enhancements. Bank of America won the Overall Most Innovative award for its Easy Online Payroll and the Most Innovative Customer Service Enhancement award for its Online Text Chat Service. SunTrust won the Innovative Feature Award for its Fraud Inspector solution. Wells Fargo won the Most Innovative Product award for its Wells Fargo Merchant Checking account.

A new SunTrust Bank and CheckFree study "reveals a clear link between electronic billing and payment habits and higher account balances, customer loyalty and profitability."

SunTrust Banks has announced the re-branding of its treasury management division to SunTrust Treasury & Payment Solutions. According to the bank, the new name is "in line with a shift in the marketplace, where corporate treasury departments are expanding in scope and often contributing significantly to corporate strategy and decision-making."

CheckFree and SunTrust have announced a multi- year contract extension where SunTrust will continue
to offer CheckFree Web and will add CheckFree's FraudNet fraud engine to its online banking service.

SunTrust Banks has signed an agreement with Atlanta-based InfiCorp Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of First National of Nebraska, for issuing consumer credit cards - replacing a previous agreement with MBNA.

Viewpointe has announced that its image exchange connection with the Federal Reserve Banks is in production. The connection provides Viewpointe customers with the ability to send and receive check images with all financial institutions in the U.S. SunTrust is the first Viewpointe customer to take advantage of the expanded reach offered with the Federal Reserve Banks connection.

SunTrust Bank has announced a free identity theft protection and credit-monitoring program from Equifax, "becoming the first major bank in the nation to provide Equifax Credit Watch Silver protection for free to select personal checking clients."

Peppercoin has announced an agreement with SunTrust Merchant Services to offer Peppercoin's small paymnet processing system to its merchants.

SunTrust has announced the Skylight Debit Card Account that it claims offers distinct advantages over other stored value payroll card programs. READ MORE »