NEWS

Electronic payments Web site debuts

The Electronic Payments Network and NACHA - The Electronic Payments Association have launched a Web site to educate consumers about the benefits of using electronic payments. The site, www.electronicpayments.org, contains information on direct deposit and direct payment. It also defines check conversion and discusses how it differs from other types of electronic payments. The site has dedicated sections for consumers, businesses and financial institutions.

Card processing industry profile released

Market research company Research and Markets has released "Credit Card Processing - Industry Profile." Key topics of the report include business challenges, trends and opportunities, and media links. Companies mentioned include First Data Corp., Total Systems, Global Payments Inc., and Bank of America Corp. For more information, visit www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c35150

ECHO, First Data and NOVA settle with LML

TeleCheck Services Inc., TeleCheck International Inc. and First Data Corp.; Electronic Clearing House Inc. (ECHO) and its subsidiary XPressChex Inc.; and NOVA Information Systems Inc. all settled litigation filed by LML Patent Corp. alleging that they violated LML's patents.

One agreement provides ECHO with a license to LML's patents for electronic check conversion in the direct consumer field. Another agreement provides NOVA with a license to LML's patents for electronic check conversion. Additionally, LML and First Data entered into a cross-patent license agreement.

The agreement provides First Data with a license to LML's patents for electronic check conversion and provides LML with a cross-license to First Data's U.S. patents for "methods and systems for interactive check authorization" and "a transaction system with on/offline risk assessment." Terms of all agreements are confidential.

United Bank Card CEO featured on ABC News

A recent broadcast of ABC News' Money Matters featured Jared Isaacman, Chief Executive Officer of United Bank Card Inc. (UBC). The interview covered topics such as what credit card processing involves, what UBC's role in a credit card transaction is and how Isaacman's age has affected his success. View the video at http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=1772503

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AmbironTrustWave renews QDSC status

AmbironTrustWave renewed its status as a Qualified Data Security Company (QDSC) providing Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard-related on-site assessment and remediation services to all businesses that process and/or transmit credit card data. In addition, the card Associations have qualified AmbironTrustWave to provide vulnerability scanning and incident response services to businesses in the payment card industry.

COCARD writes over 1,000 merchants monthly

COCARD, the largest independently owned acquirer/ISO, surpassed 1,000 new merchants per month for which it supplies credit card services. COCARD's 56 offices are independently operated, and each office owns a portion of COCARD.

Discover recognized for online customer security

"The Credit Card Monitor Report" published by market research firm Corporate Insight, named Discover Financial Services LLC Best in Class for its fraud information and protection services. The report evaluated the online fraud protection programs of all major credit card companies and issuers for capabilities that included visibility, ease of use and quality of resources. The report also commended Discover for offering the lowest-cost "lost wallet" credit monitoring service for customers.

GETI receives certifications

Global Electronic Technology Inc. (GETI) was awarded Visa's Payment Application Best Practices certification for its SafeGuard application. GETI also passed Visa's Cardholder Information Security Program for the third consecutive year.

PayPass to be deployed at baseball stadiums

In time for the start of the 2006 Major League Baseball season, MasterCard International announced that nine Major League Baseball teams will accept MasterCard PayPass contactless payment options at in-stadium concession stands.

PARTNERSHIPS

ABN AMRO and First Data team

ABN AMRO and First Data signed a five-year merchant acquiring and processing agreement. First Data will deliver global payment processing services to worldwide merchants, and ABN AMRO will provide merchants access to card and payment systems and banking services throughout Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Covelight partners with Actimize

Actimize Inc. signed an agreement to become a reseller of Covelight Systems FraudProbe. FraudProbe is a network-based appliance that passively monitors online transaction activity to and from Web applications. Actimize will leverage FraudProbe to provide data for its Online Fraud Prevention authentication risk-scoring algorithm.

First American Payment Systems selects AdvanceMe

First American Payment Systems has become a preferred partner of AdvanceMe Inc. This partnership will enable First American to provide funding to its merchants and ISOs.

FastLane signs $2 million ad deal

Charter Funding signed a $2 million contract as the first advertiser linked to FastLane's advertising at the POS product. Charter will generate $4 of revenue for each lead the mortgage company receives. FastLane will split revenues so the participating merchant will receive $2 for every advertising lead generated.

Georgia bankers endorse TransFirst

The Community Bankers Association (CBA) of Georgia has endorsed TransFirst. Through this relationship, CBA of Georgia's more than 300 community bank members can take advantage of TransFirst's suite of merchant processing services and fee-income generating products.

CO-OP Network renews agreements

United Heritage Credit Union has added CO-OP Network's processing services, including ATM and PIN POS, ATM driving and card management, as well as shared branching. The credit union previously only participated in the ATM network. CO-OP Network also renewed its ATM branding partnership with TRM Corp. The new accord results in TRM's Access Cash ATM portfolio of nearly 5,500 machines continuing to carry the CO-OP Network logo.

Eleven Wireless and Shift4 form partnership

Eleven Wireless and Shift4 have integrated their software systems to better serve the hospitality industry. The ElevenOS on-demand guest broadband software solution and Shift4's $$$ ON THE NET electronic payment gateway are now both integrated to allow hotel properties using ElevenOS to accept credit cards through Shift4's payment gateway.

United Bank Card affiliates with First National Bank of Omaha

United Bank Card (UBC) recently affiliated with First National Merchant Solutions. Through the agreement, UBC will offer debit and credit card processing that uses First National's processing platform. Additionally, UBC will offer a variety of new services, including petroleum, car rental and hotel/lodging programs.

Fleet One extends agreement with POSDATA

POSDATA and Fleet One LLC have extended their support agreement. The new extension will run through mid 2009. POSDATA will provide new payment terminals, deployment, repair and overnight replacement services to all Fleet One merchants who use Fleet One's standalone card processing. POSDATA has provided support services to Fleet One since 2002.

Harris Teeter offers Pay By Touch

Grocer Harris Teeter is now offering Pay By Touch. The technology is free to shoppers and allows them to pay for groceries, receive weekly discounts and raise money for local schools with a fingerprint scan.

TNS forms two partnerships, renews third

Transaction Network Services Inc. (TNS) formed a relationship with Mars Electronics International (MEI), manufacturer of unattended payment systems. Under terms of the nonexclusive relationship, TNS and MEI will provide vending customers with the ability to purchase items via cash, coins, debit or credit cards supported by MEI's Remote Data Port technology.

TNS also formed an agreement with Precidia Technologies Inc. that incorporates Precidia's protocol conversion and network management technology with the TNS FusionPoint Express managed merchant Internet gateway. Finally, TNS and Vital Processing Services renewed a multiyear contract under which TNS will provide transaction transport network services for Vital.

ACQUISITIONS

ClickPay Solutions CA merges with ClickPay Solutions NV

ClickPay Solutions Inc., Nevada has merged with ClickPay Solutions Inc., California. As a result, the California corporation has been dissolved, leaving the Nevada corporation as the surviving entity. ClickPay will immediately change management to help facilitate growth as well as elect a new board of directors.

InComm acquires Airtime Technologies

InComm acquired the majority interest of Airtime Technologies Inc.'s capital stock. Airtime Technologies markets POS prepaid and debit transaction solutions. The acquisition marks the third recent acquisition by InComm.

APPOINTMENTS

CyberSource appoints two

Scott Cruickshank has been named President and Chief Operating Officer of CyberSource Corp. David Hansen has been appointed President of BidPay.com Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CyberSource.

Cruickshank has been a member of CyberSource's board of directors since 2005 and will remain on the board. He was most recently President and COO of Qsent. Previously, he served as Chief Marketing Officer at Paymentech and Senior Vice President of First Data Merchant Services.

Hansen was most recently Vice President and General Manager of BidPay. Previously he served as Vice President in new product development and operations for First Data's payments group.

Inside Contactless names CEO

Remy de Tonnac, Chairman of the Board of Inside Contactless, has been named the company's new CEO. As a partner of the VERTEX management funds in Europe, he sits on the board of several technology and services companies. Before joining VERTEX, de Tonnac was with Gemplus.

Favilla appointed President of Discover Bank

Christina Favilla has been named President of Discover Bank. She joins Discover from T.D. Waterhouse, where she served as First Vice President, Banking and Cash Management, Product Development. Previously, Favilla was Vice President and National Cross Sell Director of Citigroup/Citibank's Consumer Asset Division. She also served as the Vice President, Business Analyst for Retail Banking for Chase Manhattan Bank.

Nelson and Tartavull join Hypercom board

Hypercom Corp. appointed Todd S. Nelson, former Chairman, CEO and President of Apollo Group Inc., and Philippe Tartavull, President of Oberthur Card Systems North and Central America, to its board of directors.

Prior to Apollo, Nelson was a General Manger at Amembal and Isom, a management training company. Tartavull is President of Oberthur Card Systems North and Central America. Prior to joining Oberthur Tartavull was President and CEO of Syseca Inc.

Wechsler joins Peppercoin's board

Robert Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Client Service of Chase Paymentech Solutions, has been appointed to Peppercoin's board of directors.

Before joining Chase Merchant Services, Wechsler served as Vice President of North America of Schlumberger, Executive Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing of Convergent Group Corp., and Founder and COO of Link2Gov Corp.