On the web:

• Attack of the New Bank Fees - WSJ.com
• Rare Legal Fight Takes On PCI Security Standards and Fines - Wired.com
• La Caixa, Visa Europe to Blanket Barcelona with Contactless Payments - American Banker
• Swedish Carriers Pick Mobile Wallet Suppliers - NFC World
• Verizon Versus Google Wallet - IEEE Spectrum

On the wires:

• MaxMind and TeleSign Partner to Provide Best-in-Class Multilayer Fraud Prevention
• Moneris Launches PAYD, a New Mobile Payment Processing Service

Visa Inc and Visa Europe have jointly announced that NFC-enabled smartphones from Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Research In Motion (RIM) have been certified for use with Visa’s mobile application for payments at the point-of-sale, Visa payWave.

“This is an important step for Visa, its financial institution partners and the mobile industry,” said Bill Gajda, Global Head of Mobile Product, Visa Inc. “In addition to issuing plastic magnetic stripe or chip-enabled payment cards, financial institutions can now consider offering their accountholders a way to transform their smartphones into fully functional mobile payment devices.”

On the web:

• Credit Cards In Numbers (InfoGraphic) - PayLane Across the Board Blog
• PayPal Holding Your Funds? State Regulators Want to Know - AuctionBytes

On the wires:

• Fiserv to Offer Sageworks’ Products via its Account Processing Platforms
• InspirePay Consolidates Online Transactions With First Universal Payments Hub
• Bon-Ton Stores Announces New Private Label Credit Card Agreement with Alliance Data
• Brighton Collectibles Engages Shoppers in the Aisle with VeriFone’s GlobalBay Mobile POS on iPod Touch
• RushCard Continues On Its Mission to Serve Those Left Behind by Big Banks
• Seamless and SBAB Bank in Mobile Payment Pilots in Sweden
• Visa Europe Launches Exclusive UK Offers Portal

Visa Europe announced that it has taken a minority stake in Beyond Analysis. "The investment will strengthen Visa Europe’s data analytics capabilities and forms part of its strategy to deliver increased value for consumers, retailers and banks through electronic payments."

On the web:

• Visa Europe Takes 8.8% Stake In Monitise - WSJ.com
• Cash, Check, or Charge: Paying for Illegal Activities - Portals and Rails
• Kenya's mobile money service M-Pesa now processes more transactions that Western Union all around the world - IntoMobile

On the wires:

• Fifth Third Bank Selects FIS for Online Bill Payment
• First Data Selects VeriFone for Caribbean POS Product Offering
• Western Union Business Solutions to Introduce Electronic Wallet for Small Businesses; Bringing Simplicity to Global B2B Payments
• Leading Payday Lender QC Holdings, Inc. Makes the Switch to MoneyGram

On the web:

• A NACHA Proposal Calls for Networkwide Same-Day ACH - Digital Transactions
• China's e-Payment Booms, Foreigners Get the Boot - Reuters

On the wires:

• Visa Europe Launches Mobile Person-to-Person Payments and Alerts
• Survey Finds 85% of Retailers Concerned About Lack of Personalization of Gift Cards

On the web:

• Google Wallet Hands On Review - Katherine Boehret - AllThingsD
• No Cards, No Cash. Just a Phone - David Pogue Reviews the Google Wallet - NYTimes.com
• In MasterCard's Future, You Can Buy Things by Waving at Your TV - Mashable
• Here's a Facebook App That's Basically a Bank - AllThingsD
• A First Look at the BankSimple UI - BankSimple Blog

On the wires:

• Visa Europe extends CodeSure family with Matrix Display card
• CreditKarma.com Releases Data on 5 Million Credit Cards
• Commerce Bank Adds First Data TransArmor Solution to Merchant Product Suite
• NexTech Partners with Chase Paymentech to Streamline Payment Processing

Visa Inc., Visa Europe and Google have announced that Google has received a worldwide license to Visa payWave, Visa's NFC-based payment technology.

The agreement sets the stage for Visa-issuing banks worldwide to enable Visa account holders to add their credit, debit and prepaid accounts to Google Wallet -- a mobile application that turns a smart phone into a digital wallet. This is the latest effort by Visa and Google to simplify the consumer shopping experience by enabling them to make mobile payments using their mobile phones.

On the web:

• The Ritz London Installs China UnionPay Terminals - AsiaTravelTips
• UK Mobile Payments JV Hits Rocks Before It’s Started: Three Appeals To EU - mocoNews

On the wires:

• Visa Europe France Announces Strasbourg’s Contactless Payments Pilot
• Facebook Commerce Evolves with New Version of Payvment
• US Airways Adopts NCR Mobile Boarding Pass Solution
• Western Union Expands Network: Money Transfer Services now also available at over 30,000 ATMs in Europe and Asia
• Skrill (ne Moneybookers) Announces Acquisition of Payolution

On the wires:

• American Express Takes Aim at Identity Thieves with ID Protect Premium
• Hypercom Brings EMV Card Payment to Dubai’s Metro
• Visa Europe’s €100m Investment in Convergence

On the web:

• MSNBC: Study: Banks Hiding Fee Info, Skirting Law
• Digital Transactions: Secure Vault Payments Will Go Mobile Later This Year with Bar Codes
• Business Standard: IndusInd to Buy Deutsche Bank's Credit Card Biz in India
• BayPay Event: Mobile Payment Beyond NFC

On the wires:

• FreedomPay Opens World’s Most Flexible Payment Gateway to Independent Developers
• 10 Million UK Consumers Using Mobile Commerce but 83% Have Experienced Problems
• New Aite Group Report on Network Branded Prepaid Cards
• SIMalliance Open Mobile API boosts Smartphone Application Security
• MasterCard SpendingPulse March 2011 Retail Report
• Visa Europe: Q1 UK Expenditure Index

On the web:

• BBC: NFC Trials for Payment in UK Shops
• Slate: Paying With Your Phone Is Awesome, Because... Because.

Recent white papers:

• Bell ID: Six Myths Preventing EMV Migration in the United States
• First Data: The Marketing Side of Tokenization (PDF)
• SJB Research: NFC Business Models (registration required)
• Ensenta: Agile Risk Management for Remote Deposit Capture

On the wires:

• ThreatMetrix Partners With ActivIdentity on Device Identification Capabilities
• VeriFone Integrates Card Payment & Media for UK Taxis
• Visa Europe and Foregenix join forces to deliver PCI cardholder data discovery education programme

On the web:

• Washington Post: Credit Card Companies Figure Out How To Spin Straw Into Gold
• Ars Technica: Near Field Communications: a Technology Primer

On the wires:

• Visa Europe and Monitise Sign Partnership Agreement to Develop Mobile Payments
• MoneyGram International and Movistar Sign Strategic Agreement
• INSIDE Secure Brings Biometric On-Card Matching Security to SecuRead NFC Solution
• MoneyGram and Visa Extend Remittance Service to World's Largest Remittances Corridor
• INETCO “Ready to Rocket” with INETCO Insight Business Transaction Management Solution
• ProPay Debuts 'Zumogo' Mobile Payment Application for Smartphones
• BillFloat Gives NewWave Communications Customers More Time to Pay Bills
• The Clearing House Announces New Board Leadership (PDF)
• TomorrowVentures & CompuCredit Holdings Corporation Invest in Social Payments Leader Twitpay

On the web:

• Rethink Wireless: Ericsson Unveils its Mobile Money Framework
• American Banker: Mobile Banking Pioneer Firethorn Shifts Gears
• Springwise: More donations to charity via rounded-up credit card purchases
• U.S. News: 8 Things You Can’t Do With Cash

Visa Europe and Wireless Dynamics have announced that they have developed a mobile contactless payment solution that will bring Visa contactless payments to iPhone users across Europe.

iPhone users simply attach the Wireless Dynamics iCarte accessory, available through their bank or mobile operator, to their iPhone and download the companion Visa Mobile application for iCarte App from the App Store.

"Spend on Visa cards in Europe grew by over 16% in 2010 to total over €1 trillion", according to results released by Visa Europe. "This growth now means that €1 in every €8 of consumer spend in Europe is spent on a Visa card, up from €1 in €9 in 2009." The Visa Europe Annual Report 2010 was also released.

Headline News is compiled by Glenbrook Partners:

• First Data Announces Big Brand Additions to its eGift Social Marketplace
• American Express to Eliminate Foreign Currency Transaction Fees on U.S. Platinum and Centurion Cards
• WesPay and Northwest Clearing House Association announce intention to merge operations
• Visa Europe launches new contactless payment solution for London’s black cabs

• New York Times: Fed Proposes Rules to Cut Debit Card Fees
• BusinessWeek: Ingenico Gets EU1.44 Billion Offer From Undisclosed Buyer
• globeandmail.com: Rising Credit Card Fees Raise Merchants' Ire In Canada
• Bloomberg: American Express to Buy Munich-based Loyalty Partner

Headline News is compiled by Glenbrook Partners:

• Visa Europe Settlement on Debit Interchange Fees
• FIS Announces Innovative Mobile Financial Services iPhone App
• BankServ Announces BlackBerry Support for Mobile Check Capture App
• Coinstar Money Transfer Signs with Land Bank to Develop the Remittance Business from Italy

• MIT Technology Review: Smart Phones Help Fight Bank Fraud
• New York Times: Apple Ban on iPhone Donation Apps Anger Nonprofits

Headline News is compiled by Glenbrook Partners:

• Blackhawk Network Expands Digital Content Category Internationally
• CardinalCommerce and IP Commerce Announce Partnership

• MIT Technology Review: Your Next Wallet Is Calling
• The Accounts Payable Channel: EFT: Definitions and Comparative Costs
• Fast Company: Visa to Use Your Phone's Location to Prevent Credit Card Fraud
• Wall Street Journal: Race Is On to 'Fingerprint' Phones and PCs
• TechCrunch: Electronic Billing And Payment Solutions Provider Transactis Lands $7 Million
• mocoNews: Boku Inks Deals With Carriers In France, Korea For Mobile Payments
• The Tennessean: Salvation Army Kettles Now Take Plastic

Headline News is compiled by Glenbrook Partners:

• Discover Begins Rollout of Contactless Devices to Consumers
• Commidea Leads Contactless Transactions Adoption in UK
• INSIDE Contactless Launches SecuRead System-in-Package for NFC Mobile Devices
• iPayDNA and Payment Network AG (aka sofortüberweisung.de) Establish Business Partnership
• GlobalCollect Obtains License Pursuant To European Payment Service Directive

• Wall Street Journal: Card Issuers Reward Purchases
• MIT Technology Review: Shopping via Text Message
• MediaNama: Seven Indian Banks Launch P2P Interbank Mobile Payments; How It Works
• New York Times: For PayPal, the Future is Mobile
• ArcticStartup: Fortumo Expands To Thailand
• China Business News: China UnionPay Expands Services in Switzerland
• Reuters: EU Set to Accept Visa Europe Antitrust Offer
• Digital Transactions: Retailers See Gift Cards Boom As They Stress Reloadability
• GlobalTimes: Alipay Tops 500 Million Users
• Portals and Rails: Prepaid in the Mobile Channel - Balancing Financial Inclusion and Risk Management

Visa Europe and Cornèr Bank in Switzerland have announced the commercial launch of Visa CodeSure. CodeSure-enhanced cards feature "an embedded PIN pad which allows consumers to generate a passcode by simply typing their PIN number into the card enabling security and convenience in the same device. The card makes Verified by Visa online transactions easier and more secure and can also be used in an ATM or point-of-sale device as usual."

Visa Europe recently announced that it is launching Europe’s first microSD-based mobile payment systems in Turkey with its technology partner, DeviceFidelity, and Akbank, one of Turkey’s leading retail banks.

Mary Carol Harris, Head of Mobile, Visa Europe said: "One of the key challenges to the success of mobile payments is the supply and availability of NFC handsets. Until a majority of mobile handsets offered in the market are supplied with integrated NFC, Visa is proactively working with innovators like DeviceFidelity and pioneers such as Akbank to harness the potential of new technologies. These solutions make the future of payment real today and are key to accelerating mobile payments in Turkey and across Europe."

According to Visa Europe news release, the number of Visa contactless cards issued in the UK currently stands at 8 million and is expected to reach 12 million by end of 2010. Visa Europe notes that, "This landmark follows the rise in the contactless transaction limit from £10 to £15 earlier in the year." READ MORE »

Visa Europe has announced that will cap its weighted average intra-regional MIF for immediate debit transactions at 20 basis points (0.2%) for four years. The same cap will apply to domestic immediate debit rates that defaulted to the intra-regional MIF rate before 10 March 2009 and continue to do so, and to domestic immediate debit rates set directly by Visa Europe. Visa Europe noted that "many of these countries have their own arrangements for setting domestic interchange or have few immediate debit card transactions, therefore the overall impact is limited." READ MORE »

Visa Europe and SAS Carte Bleue have announced the completion of the merger of their operations in France and the creation of Visa France. According to the press release, "the new organisation extends Visa Europe’s association model by establishing more direct relationships with French banks in order to meet their needs more closely. This deal represents a significant investment in France by Visa Europe, with a dedicated workforce that will work with Visa Europe's members in France to develop and deliver innovative, value creating solutions to meet their customers’ needs." READ MORE »

Visa Europe has published a new white paper titled "The Future of Everyday Payments in Europe - Who Cares?".

From the introduction: "Our overriding contention is that, to enable and accelerate further development everyday payments, more innovation will be essential. But we use the term “innovation” in its broadest sense. In some instances a big, sweeping change may be necessary. More often, a small tweak or a minor calibration can pay huge dividends."

An updated version of "Inside Fraud" published by Payments, Cards and Mobile and sponsored by Visa Europe is now available online.

The report finds significant variations in losses between France, Netherlands, Spain and UK with losses much higher on internet and international transactions. The report suggests there is an "urgent need to complete roll-out of EMV and continue implementation of online security measures."

Taking Visa Europe’s figures as a barometer for the region as a whole, card fraud losses fell from 0.07% (7 basis points) of card turnover in 2007 to 0.06% in 2008. But comparing national figures for France, Spain, Netherlands and the UK, losses ranged from fewer than 3 basis points of card turnover in Spain to 10 basis points in the UK.

Further, the picture is not static. In Holland, which historically had one of the lowest levels of card fraud in Europe, the loss rate has risen almost threefold during the last four years. With Dutch debit card transactions still 100% based on magnetic-stripe cards, losses continue to rise due to skimming. In contrast, UK figures for first half of 2009 show total card fraud losses down 23% to £232.8 million.

You can download the full report here.

In a press release today, the European Commission said it "can confirm that it has sent a Statement of Objections (SO) to Visa on 3rd April 2009. The Commission's preliminary view is that the multilateral interchange fees (MIFs) set directly by Visa restrict competition between banks for accepting consumer payment cards without benefiting consumers by contributing to technical and economic progress."

Visa Europe and Visa Inc. have announced plans to work with the GSMA to advance the delivery of mobile financial services around the world. As part of the continuing collaboration between the two organizations, the GSMA has selected Visa as a provider for mobile money transfer solutions globally, and is working to execute an agreement to formalize participation terms. Visa is already a leading provider of money transfer solutions with active programs in 14 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. READ MORE »

Visa Europe has announced signing a five year managed services contract with BT to migrate its transaction network onto BT’s 21CN Global network. According to Visa Europe, "the agreement will move Visa Europe onto an efficient Internet Protocol (IP) based network, promising its 4,600 member banks in 36 countries a superior level of service through increased support, improved business continuity and enhanced network security." READ MORE »

Metavante Technologies Ltd. has announced that it has been granted Payment Application Best Practice (PABP) certification from Visa Europe for both card issuing and transaction acquiring. Metavante Technologies Ltd., a provider of prepaid and debit card processing and licensed software in Europe, is part of Metavante, a U.S.-based provider of banking and payments technology. READ MORE »