Paybefore Recognizes Market-Leading Programs in London

Last week at Prepaid Expo Europe, Paybefore announced the Paybefore Awards Europe 2013 Best-in-Category winners. Paybefore Awards Europe was created to recognize excellence and innovation in the European prepaid and emerging payments market.

“Prepaid is a global phenomenon,” said Marilyn Bochicchio, Paybefore CEO. “Nearly all of the companies we’re honoring here tonight are supporting innovative and effective programs in Europe, and are operating in or planning to expand into new geographic markets.”

2013 Paybefore Awards Europe Best-in-Category Winners are:

Best Gift Card or Voucher Programme
£5 for a £10 Starbucks Card eGift, LivingSocial Deal
Starbucks, LivingSocial and CashStar

Best Prepaid Incentive, Reward, Rebate or Loyalty Card Programme
Western Union MyWU Prepaid Card
Western Union

Top Prepaid Retailer
Asda
Supported by InComm Europe

Best Consumer Value
paysafecard
paysafecard group

Best Corporate- or Government-Funded Programme
Simple Payment
Citi Prepaid Services and Department of Work and Pensions

Most Innovative Programme
Bratislava City Card
First Data

Outstanding Mobile Wallet or Application
O2 Wallet
O2 Money Telefónica UK

Breakout Company of the Year
Wave Crest Group Limited

For a complete list of winners, click here. 

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Can Green Dot compete with Retail Banks as it beta-tests a mobile banking app?

Green Dot announced this week the debut of a beta version of its mobile consumer checking account – dubbed GoBank – thrusting the prepaid card company into retail banking.

Green Dot has been diversifying its business through several acquisitions and in this latest move is looking to leverage the negative sentiment and fee fatigue that many consumers have towards traditional banking institutions.

The GoBank checking app targets smartphone users and is FDIC – Insured. It leverages Green Dot’s extensive ATM network and includes optional fees, as well as a bevy of mobile features, such as remote check deposit. One feature, called “Ask The Fortune Teller”, is geared toward encouraging users to save money – drawing comparisons to tools from nontraditional banks like Simple and leaving the retail banking community to wonder if this is enough to secure a seat in an already crowded market.

In an interview with AmericanBanker, Green Dot CEO Steve Streit points out that this product is an FDIC – Insured bank account – which differentiates it from the prepaid Bluebird card from Walmart and American Express, which is issued and backed by American Express Travel Related Services Co., Inc. What does this mean for Bluebird, Simple, or other third party options?

Streit, CEO of Green Dot will be speaking side by side with American Express at this year’s Prepaid Expo (as well as executives from MasterCard and InComm). With the race on to capture the wallet power of consumers at a fever pitch, you can expect a lively discussion about mobile strategy and what opportunities exists for traditional prepaid players in the larger payments ecosystem. 

Check out the full article americanbanker.com here.


 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan Geswell is a New Media Analyst in the Finance Division at IIR USA with a background in Marketing and Media. He can be reached at rgeswell@iirusa.com.

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Interview with Bob Skiba, EVP Financial Services Business Development at InComm

Carol Duchardt, U.S. Region Sales Manager at MasterCard had an opportunity to interview Bob Skiba, EVP Financial Services Business Development of InComm, at Prepaid Expo USA 2012, last month in Las Vegas Nevada.

 In the video below, Bob touches on InComm's responsibilities to distribute cards to retailers, themed cards for several occasions, and self use cards.

 

* Thanks to Partners in Prepaid for sharing the video with us.

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Zygna to start providing virtual prepaid cards

According to Virtual Worlds News, Zynga is teaming up with InComm and will be providing virtual prepaid cards for their suite of online games. Prepaid cards are already available at retail locations including 7-11, Best Buy, Target and others. Zynga produces virtual games including Farmville, Mafia Wars and YoVille. Read the full article here.

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InComm and Cartoon Network Partner on New Gaming Card

According to a press release, InComm has partnered with Cartoon Network to distribute prepaid cards for their AAA, browser-based massively multiplayer online game (MMOG), FusionFall. Cards are now available for purchase at select locations of major InComm retail partners including WalMart, Toys"R"Us, FYE, Suncoast, and will be rolling out to GameStop locations next week. FusionFall prepaid cards will be available in more than 17,000 retail locations nationwide this summer.

InComm and Cartoon Network Partner on New Gaming Card

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Gaming gets Prepaid Cards

In a recent news article at Austin Business Journal, they reveal that NC Soft has teamed up with InComm in order to issue prepaid cards for certain games. Focusing on the online titles City of Heroes, Tabula Rosa, and Exteel, gift cards valued at $10 and $20 will be sold at Target, Best Buy and Rite Aid for 30 days of play.

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InComm Launch of Poni Cards Help Break International Barriers

InComm, a provider of prepaid transaction processing has partnered with American Cash Exchange to release the Poni Card, which is a money remittance card used from US to Mexico.

According to this article on News Blaze, individuals in the US using Poni Cards will be able to transfer money internationally to Mexico. The recipient will use a similar card to withdraw pesos from over 26,000 ATM machines in Mexico. No fees will be assessed to both the purchaser and the recipient.

Brooks Smith, president and CEO of InComm delivers this message:

“By delivering this cutting edge remittance technology, InComm's retailer customers will be able to provide the Hispanic community with access, at 145,000 retail locations, to the most convenient remittance option in the world. InComm is committed to providing our customers with the best pre-paid products available in the marketplace today, and we are very excited to offer American Cash Exchange's Poni Card. Today's announcement reflects our dedication to augment our product offerings for our retailers."

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FirstData Corporation acquires InComm

First Data Corporation, a world leader for payment processing services and electronic commerce has announced in this press release that they are acquiring InComm. InComm is known for its industry leadership in marketing, distributing and technology innovation in the store and prepaid card industry.

InComm, in 2007, had over $300 million of net revenue and $8 billion of retail sales transactions. The goal of this acquisition is for First Data Corporation to be able to offer end to end prepaid solutions for retailers and customers throughout the world.

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