TSYS announced that both its front-end authorization and capture as well as back-end clearing and settlement platforms are now enabled to process American Express OnePoint transactions.

“This is a mutually beneficial agreement for both TSYS and our clients to expand our processing and merchant portfolios respectively,” said Eric Barth, senior director, product management, TSYS. “For the first time, TSYS will be able to offer our clients complete processing services for all card brands with the convenience of a single deposit and one billing statement to merchants.”

On the web:

• Taxicab Drivers Riled Up Over 5% Credit-Card Fee - WSJ.com
• Card.io Reaches Out to Devs, Offers Up Credit Card Payment Accounts to Joe Normal - Engadget
• CHARGE Anywhere Releases Audio Jack Card Reader for BlackBerry smartphones - intomobile
• MasterCard Seeks Partnership with Swedish m-payments JV - Totaltele
• PayPal Will Be Expanding Mobile Payments Test To 51 Bay Area Home Depot Stores - TechCrunch

On the wires:

• TSYS Signs Long-Term Processing Agreement with BancorpSouth
• Cash and Prepaid Converge as TxVia Partners With Allpoint Network
• PayPro Global Extends Its Payment Portfolio With the Implementation of Worldwide SMS Micropayments

On the web:

• Hefty Profit Seen for Card Issuers - WSJ.com
• Kount Offers Free Device Fingerprinting to New Customers - Internet Retailer
• PayPal Partners With POS Software Company AJB To Scale In-Store Payments Option To Big Box Retailers - TechCrunch
• Intel at CES 2012: Future Ultrabooks to Sport NFC - Digital Trends

On the wires:

• TSYS Signs Payment Services Agreement with Pivotal Payments
• Tabbedout Launches Beta Offers Feature for Austin Consumers
• BluePay, a Provider of Merchant Processing Services, Offers New Plugin for QuickBooks Point of Sale

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

On the web:

• Citi Debuts Browser-based Mobile Payments App - FierceMobileContent
• Square Readies for Battle with PayPal - GigaOM

On the wires:

• Fiserv Sees Surge in Credit Union Sales for Check Imaging
• Heartland Payment Systems Releases Latest Durbin Impact Statistics
• TSYS Signs Payments Agreement With Imperial Bank
• Digital River Drives Revenue for Game Developers and Publishers Through Expanded Digital Monetization Strategies
• Walmart Becomes Authorized Payment Location for Leading California Utilities Through CheckFreePay

On the web:

• Mobile payments for Dummies (infographic) - VentureBeat
• FNB Debuts New 'Pay2Cell" Mobile Payments Service in South Africa - TechCentral

On the wires:

• IronKey Dramatically Reduces Online Banking Risk With Next Generation Multi-Layer Fraud Prevention
• PriceTravel Selects Accertify to Protect Its Online Travel Platform Against Fraud
• TSYS Extends Processing Services Agreement with Clearent
• New Mercator Report on Mobile Wallet Wars

U.S. Bank and TSYS have announced an agreement for TSYS to provide core processing services to Elavon, a subsidiary of U.S. Bank.

“TSYS is one of the leading processors of commercial payments in Europe, now processing in 17 countries across the continent,” said Bob Evans, managing director of Europe, TSYS International. “U.S. Bank’s decision to work with TSYS in Europe is a testament to the strong relationship that exists in the U.S. and the experience TSYS has gained through our expansion in Europe.”

U.S. Bank will begin issuing corporate cards in Europe this summer.

TSYS has announced availability of the first phase of results from a nationwide primary research effort focusing on consumers’ use of debit cards.

“There are significant changes occurring within the payments industry, particularly regarding debit,” said Sarah Hartman, senior director, TSYS. “TSYS determined that one of the ways we can help financial institutions better understand these changes and the many decisions facing issuers is to provide actionable information regarding current and potential future consumer payment behavior.”

A copy of the full report can be requested at www.tsys.com/debit.

On the wires:

• Survey: Card Fraud Experts Warn Against Looming Mobile Payment Fraud Risk
• SecurityMetrics Introduces Network Threat Sensor to Simplify PCI-DSS Compliance
• TSYS Signs Merchant Services Agreement With Caledon Card Services
• NXGEN International Partners with Elavon to Expand European Footprint
• PayCommerce Offers Cloud-Based SMB Payment Suite Reseller Subscription Plan
• Elastic Path Launches Ecommerce on the Google Cloud
• Carta Worldwide Integrates MasterCard Mobile Over-the-Air Provisioning Service (MOTAPS)
• OpenCuro To Demonstrate New Online Payment System at FinovateSpring 2011

On the web:

• NPR: Banks, Retailers In Lobbying Race Over Debit Fees
• TechCrunch: Sequent Software Raises Funding, Aims To Simplify NFC Mobile Payments
• American Banker: ProPay s Zumogo Mobile Payment App Gets Social
• FierceFinance: Bank of America Ponders New Ways to Charge Overdraft Fees (via SMS Opt-In)
• CNET: Intuit Eyes NFC for Mobile Payment System
• GoMo News: India's Interbank Mobile Payment Service Finally Includes Merchants

On the wires:

• TSYS Expands Merchant Acquiring Presence With Acquisition of TermNet
• FIS Begins Processing New ELO Cards in Brazil
• Bill.com Rolls Out Official Integration with Sage Peachtree Software

On the web:

• FierceMobileContent: PayPal expects to process $2 billion in mobile payments in 2011
• TechCrunch: Jack Dorsey Shares Some Square Numbers
• Mashable: ING Direct Customers Can Now Pay Friends By Bumping Smartphones
• Wall Street Journal (SmartMoney):New Rules of the Credit Card Game
• Collections & Credit Risk: Discover To Pay Cardholders Referral Fee In Social-Media Push
• CRIENGLISH.com: Australian Payment Processor Will Start Accepting Unionpay Cards
• Times of India: Mobile payment system to gain steam in coming months
• Mobile Way to Pay: Will Retailers Use Tender Steering To Take Control Of Interchange?
• Portals and Rails: The Check's in the Mail, but it might be Fraudulent
• TechCrunch: Online Point Of Sale (POS) Systems Are The New Vogue

TSYS has announced it has collaborated with Pitney Bowes to introduce the TSYS Whitespace Manager, a partner-managed TransPromo solution.

TransPromo is a targeted marketing tool that allows highly relevant promotional content to be embedded within transactional customer communications, such as monthly card statements. TSYS Whitespace Manager, the new partner-managed approach to TransPromo, will allow issuers to take advantage of new revenue streams, cost reductions and minimized complexity.

TSYS announced that it has entered into a partnership with CASSIS International.

“Consumers will soon be using their phones as their wallets, so delivering secure mobile payments, loyalty, rewards and coupons will be a ‘must have’ for our bank and merchant customers,” said Troy Woods, president and chief operating officer, TSYS. “TSYS is committed to offering a full range of mobile solutions that meets our customers’ needs both today and tomorrow, and we are excited to partner with CASSIS, a global leader in technology and trusted service management for mobile NFC.”

TSYS has announced that it has acquired the remaining 49% interest in First National Merchant Solution (FNMS) from First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO). The company will be rebranded as TSYS Merchant Solutions. TSYS formed a joint venture with FNBO in April 2010, when it acquired a 51% controlling interest in the direct merchant acquirer and transaction processor. FNMS is ranked as the 10th-largest merchant acquirer in the U.S. by dollar volume in 2009.

TSYS has published a new white paper titled "Risky Business: Best Practices for Managing Cardholder Dispute and Chargeback Processes in Challenging Times" by Robert Hadden. The paper discusses how card issuers can better use chargeback and dispute processes to have a "significant positive impact on customer relations."

TSYS has announced that Mark D. Pyke has been named president of TSYS Acquiring Solutions. Prior to joining TSYS Acquiring Solutions, Pyke served as president of Bank of America Merchant Services in Louisville, KY.

TSYS has announced a joint venture agreement with First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) to form a new company, First National Merchant Solutions, LLC (FNMS). The new alliance gives TSYS a top-10 presence in the merchant acquiring market in the United States. TSYS will acquire 51 percent ownership of FNMS for approximately $150.5 million, while FNBO will control the remaining 49 percent. FNMS had net revenue of $93 million in 2009. The transaction is expected to close April 1, 2010. A presentation on the new joint venture is available. READ MORE »

In an article titled "Re-coupled Debit? The TSYS Hybrid Card" over on PaymentsViews.com, Glenbrook's Bryan Derman takes a look at the recently announced TSYS Hybrid card.

Bryan writes: "TSYS’s product could provide a compelling version of a promising concept that has largely been a disappointment in the marketplace."

TSYS has announced payment card, TSYS Hybrid, that allows consumers to choose how they want to pay - combining credit and checking payment functionality on a single card, providing a payment solution that gives consumers greater financial control. TSYS says it is "first to bring to market a solution that is well suited for the current economic environment." READ MORE »

TSYS has announced formation of a new division, TSYS Program Solutions, that will provide turnkey credit card programs for regional and community financial institutions — both banks and credit unions — in the United States.

According to TSYS, the new division "will provide the program development, implementation and ongoing delivery to make it easy for smaller banks to enter or re-enter the credit card market. Key to the offer is the strategic consulting services that TSYS will provide from newly-recruited card industry executives with years of experience in running profitable card programs." READ MORE »

TSYS Acquiring Solutions has announced the introduction of MobilePASS - a payment application that gives merchants the ability to accept and process card payments any time, anywhere.

According to TSYS, "MobilePASS enables merchants to accept and process card payments while on-the-go. A convenient alternative to traditional and expensive payment applications such as wireless terminals, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems and old- fashioned knuckle busters, MobilePASS is designed for the 21st century merchant." READ MORE »

TSYS has announced that China UnionPay Data Services Co., Ltd. (CUP Data), TSYS’ joint venture with China UnionPay (CUP), has signed five new long-term bankcard processing agreements, and won several major domestic and international awards during the last six months.

"The new agreements include credit card processing contracts with Yaodu Credit Cooperative; Shandong Provincial City Commercial Banks Alliance, an alliance of 14 city commercial banks; Yunan Rural Credit Union and Guangxi Beibu Gulf Bank. The new agreements also include a prepaid processing contract with KargoCard, a Malaysia-based retail marketing company that will be introducing innovative stored-value and reloadable gift card programs to retail brands and merchants in Asia." READ MORE »

Consumer Health Technologies and TSYS Healthcare have announced an agreement that "extends streamlined payment solutions to consumers, enabling easier, more convenient and cost effective healthcare purchases. TSYS Healthcare’s payment card solution offers end-to-end functionality with greater automation, refined reporting and smoother reconciliation capabilities, resulting in minimal error rates. The TSYS Healthcare system will be integrated into BenefitSpan™, CHT’s award-winning total benefit administration platform for managing HRA, FSA and HSA accounts." READ MORE »

TSYS has announced that it has signed an agreement with TransCash Corporation to launch a prepaid money transfer card. The prepaid card will initially be launched in France during Q3 2009 and will be sold by Midi France Telecom. To coincide with the agreement, TSYS has opened a new office in Paris to support the company’s expansion into France. READ MORE »

TSYS announced today that it would begin processing Visa-branded prepaid cards for the Japanese market in July 2009. The prepaid cards will be issued by Travel Bank Inc., a financial services company that is part of the JTB Group. Consumers can use the cards to make payments at Visa merchants when traveling overseas or to withdraw cash from Visa ATMs. READ MORE »

PayPal and The Royal Bank of Scotland have won the ‘Best New Prepaid Card Product of the Year’ at Card Awards 2009 for their PayPal Top Up product, which is processed by global payments services provider, TSYS. READ MORE »

TSYS Acquiring Solutions has announced partnership agreements with mPay Gateway and Nova Libra to provide point-of-sale payment solutions that meet the needs of healthcare providers and their patients, as well as pharmacies and drug stores. READ MORE »

TSYS Acquiring Solutions has announced the availability of two new all-in-one point-of-sale (POS) solutions to help small- and mid-sized retailers integrate store operations with the point of purchase. Offered as a complete business-in-a-box, each solution includes hardware components and Microsoft software to help retailers manage every aspect of their business. READ MORE »

TSYS has announced that it has appointed Amit Sethi, a veteran of the global payments industry, as Managing Director of TSYS India and South Asia. He will be based in New Delhi and will be responsible for all business development and outsourcing activities in the region. India is the second fastest growing market for financial cards in the Asia-Pacific region. The country’s credit card base, pegged at 27 million in 2007, is growing at an annual rate of 30 to 35 percent, according to Euromonitor. READ MORE »

TSYS has announced that an agreement with JPMorgan Chase with respect to the discontinuation of the servicing of Washington Mutual Bank's (WaMu's) consumer card portfolio by TSYS. Chase will pay TSYS fees for deconversion and termination which both parties have agreed not to disclose. The deconversion is expected to take place in March 2009 after which Chase will process the WaMu portfolio in house on the technology platform it licenses from TSYS. READ MORE »

TSYS has announced that China UnionPay Data Services Co., Ltd. (“CUP Data”), TSYS’ joint venture with China UnionPay, has signed a debit card processing agreement with Citibank (China) Co., Ltd. (“Citi China”). READ MORE »