Register for APEX by Friday, Save $900

The early-bird rates to attend the 2016 All Payments Expo are expiring this Friday, November 20th. Save $900 when you use the code XU2948BLOG – Register now.  

Why All Payments Expo? 

1. 3 Expos within APEX: Design Your Optimal Experience 

• Merchant Expo: Technologies and innovations affecting how consumers interact with your brands 
• Gifting Expo: The latest strategic thinking, technologies and innovations impacting the gift card industry. 
• Prepaid Expo: Converging business leaders in prepaid to drive industry growth. 

2. More Merchants Than Ever Before. 
With more retail-focused content than before, you will get access to the following retail job functions: Head of Marketing | Head of Payments | Head of IT | Head of OmniChannel | Head of eCommerce | Head of (Product) Innovation | Head of Loss Prevention (LP) | Gift Card Manager | Head of Digital Marketing | Head of POS | Head of Security and more.

3. Where Business Gets Done. 
With our new VIP Meeting Concierge, we'll help you secure meetings that are 100% relevant | 5,000+ on-site meetings take place annually | Average 10 meetings per day

For more information, download the agenda. 

We look forward to seeing you at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, March 20-23, 2016.

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

Last Chance to Register for APEX | Save $100

All Payments Expo 2015 is taking place next week at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, but is it not too late to register. Save $100 now by using the code XU2848LNKIN | Register here. 

All Payments Expo is the annual meeting place at the intersection of payments innovation, including emerging payments, prepaid, alternative financial services, retail and technology. APEX attracts the highest caliber of payment decision makers. Attendees span every link of the value chain, from merchants to card networks to banks to entrepreneurs - allowing you access to decision makers with several potential partners at once.

You do not want to miss this, see you in Las Vegas!

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

Prepaid Debit Cards Set to Face Rules on Overdrafts and Disclosure

Via Bloomberg

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will propose to limit overdraft charges on prepaid debit cards and require more disclosure from issuers about all fees they charge, a person familiar with the matter said.

The market size for prepaid debit cards has nearly doubled to an estimated $80 billion since the CFPB began reviewing the products after the initial criticism that transaction fees on some products were too high.

The competition in the prepaid marketplace has driven lower fees over the past four years. The person familiar with the proposal told Bloomberg that it could come in early November and won’t include broad restrictions on transaction fees.

CFPB officials have been studying the prepaid market since 2010, when cards including one issued by reality TV stars the Kardashian sisters were charging as much as $1.50 for withdrawals or for speaking with a customer service. Such fees became rarer after increased competition from new market entrants.

According to Madeline Aufseeser, senior analyst with the Aite Group, a Boston-based consultancy, these cards have risen in popularity. In 2010, consumers had about $37 billion loaded onto prepaid cards, a number that is expected to rise to nearly $80 billion by the end of this year.

To read the complete story from Bloomberg, click here.

With more consolidation and saturation in key niches of the marketplace, it's never been more important for prepaid to continue to drive new growth and unearth new business opportunities. To support prepaid players, that is why at All Payments Expo 2015, we've created the Prepaid Forum, a dedicated forum focused on relevant and important content for the prepaid industry.

Click here to view the updated event brochure. 

Make sure you join us this February 23-25 at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas - As a blog reader, use the code XU2848BLOG when you register and save $100 off the current rate | Register Here.

See you in Las Vegas!

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

All Payments Expo Agenda Now Available!

All Payments Expo is your Q1 meeting place to execute 2015 strategy:
 
• Meet with Existing Partners & Clients in Prepaid, Gifting and Incentives
• Meet New Prospects in Omnichannel Retail and Disruptive Technology
• Get Free Meeting Space and Intuitive Technology to Find, Vet and Manage Meetings

 

Download the Agenda Here

New Ideas from these Payments Movers and Shakers to Keep You Competitive:
1-800 FLOWERS
Macy's
Emerge Financial Wellness
Softcard
Gliph
Boom Financial
GoCoin
Digital Currency Council
Paybefore
Darden Restaurants
NBPCA
PayPay Financial
SavedPlus
Flash Foods
Ethereum
Overstock.com
Coin Capital
CVS
Connexions Loyalty
TechCafe
Transcard
Locke Lord
Gx
Hudson Bay Co.
Paybefore
Dorado Industries
Cabela's Inc.
YellowPay
Dravis Group
SeaWorld
Home Depot
Strategic Counsel Corp.
Women's Annex Foundation
Cold Stone Creamery       
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Wallaby Financial
Papyrus
GoBank
Fandango
FBI
Verifone
Sears Holdings Corporation
Icon Capital Reserve SA
Mobetize, Corp.
Groupon
Bain Capital Ventures
Xerox
Regions Bank
Mercator Advisory Group
Moven
RK Incentives
Cirque du Soleil
Coinsetter
Socure
Sparkpr
SnipSnap
Unidos Financial
National Anti-ORC Association
451 Research
Square
MacAngel LLC.
Transact24
Datzing
Domino's
BankingUp
Rebellion Lab
DineEquity   
Momentum Groups
Accion Venture Lab
Drizly
Bryan Cave
Toys R Us
Plug N' Play
Rushcard
Tally Capital
Keefe Bruyette & Woods
Claire's
U.S. Senate
BitGo
BitPay
Mercator Advisory Group
BigDoor
Central Bank
Wal-Mart
Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores
General Catalyst Partners
HouseTab
Bitcoin Strategy Group
EMV Migration Forum
NCFTA
Self Synthesize!
Gift Card Network
Fiserv
MintCombine
Giftcards.com
Logbar, Inc.
Hyatt Incentive Rewards
Libra
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Kofax

Register for All Payments Expo 2015 now! Use code XU2848BLOG to save $100 off the current rate – total savings of $400 when you register by 11/21 – Register here.

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

Last Chance to Register for All Payments Expo

There is just 1 week left until All Payments Expo – a gathering of 1,500+ industry doers and thinkers. With new business opportunities across the entire payments ecosystem, this is a must attend event for all payments industry professionals. Don’t miss out – register for APEX today! Use code XU2748BLOG to receive your 10% discount.

Register Here 

See you in Las Vegas!

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

Prepaid Expo Day 2: Mid Day Recap

"Are GPR Cards a Destination or a Journey?" was an interactive panel with many industry heavyweights debating the trajectory of prepaid GPR cards. The panel was moderated by the CEO of Paybefore Marilyn Bochicchio and the panel was made up of: - Dan Henry, CEO, Netspend - Brett Adams, Lead, U.S. Prepaid Products, MasterCard Worldwide - Mark Putnam, SVP & Divisinal Manager of Prepaid Solutions, First Data - Adam Rust, Director of Research, Reinvestment Partners Incase you missed the session, here are some highlights: - There are 68 million people that are underbanked - for many, GPR cards are the only choice (18-23% of all people get turned down on traditional banking options) - Over the past few years, the total cost of ownership for prepaid cards has steadily decreased - Prepaid options that are totally transparent can lead to increase trust from the consumer - Mobile enabled features is key: it all comes down to combining the paper and the digital worlds - The appeal of prepaid is about having immediate access to your funds

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

Facebook: The Next Player in Prepaid?

Facebook is expanding their prepaid presence with the launch of its own branded gift card. The card began rolling out last week and continues to expand availability gradually for U.S. users. This card is currently available for use at four merchant partners; Jamba Juice, Olive Garden, Sephora, and Target. Once a user physically possesses the card, gift amounts will be loaded onto that card – which has separate balances for each merchant. Balances are available to monitor from within users Facebook accounts, and users will receive a notification every time  a charge is made.

This is an interesting move from Facebook – especially given the numerous more flexible gift card options in the market.  Does a move from a social media heavyweight like Facebook have merit or do their failed attempts at virtual currency hang a shadow over this development?

Either way you see it, Facebook’s move clearly denotes one thing – prepaid is a growing industry and competition continues to heighten.

Prepaid Players –  let us know what you think about this move from Facebook!

See the full article from Paybefore 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.

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

Your Vote Counts: 2013 Paybefore Awards

Let your voice be heard! Starting Monday Jan. 28^th at 8:00am EST, you can participate as Paybefore Awards "sixth" judge to choose Best-in-Category winners in the program categories . This is your chance to recognize the most innovative products and programs in the industry.

Voting will end on Wednesday, Feb. 6^th at 5:00 p.m. ET. Anyone may vote in any category (you do not need to be a Paybefore subscriber), so tell your colleagues to vote as well!

Click here to see the voting details in full. Voting couldn’t be easier – just visit Paybefore.com starting Monday and click on "Paybefore Awards 'Sixth' Judge Voting."

The winners will be revealed during the Paybefore Awards Ceremony at the 2013 Prepaid Expo on Monday March 4^th, at 5:45pm.

Exercise your right as a member of the prepaid and emerging payments community—and vote!

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

2013 Paybefore Awards Europe: Open Call for Nominations

All industry members are invited to submit nominations for the 2013 Paybefore Awards Europe, recognising excellence in prepaid and emerging payments in the U.K. and Europe.

Paybefore Awards, the industry's oldest and most prestigious juried awards in the world of prepaid, are sponsored by Paybefore, the global source for prepaid and emerging payments news, information and analysis.

This year, Paybefore will recognise excellence in eight categories including:

1. Best Gift Card or Voucher Programme

2. Best Incentive, Reward, Rebate or Loyalty Card Programme

3. Top Prepaid Retailer

4. Best Consumer Value in Prepaid/Emerging Payments

5. Best Corporate- or Government-Funded Programme

6. Most Innovative Prepaid/Emerging Payments Programme

7. Outstanding Mobile Wallet or Mobile Application

8. Breakout Prepaid/Emerging Payments Company of the Year

Three winners will be honoured in each of the above categories and one winner in each category will be selected Best in Category.

The 2013 Paybefore Awards Europe presentation ceremony will take place at Prepaid Expo Europe at the Park Plaza Victoria, London, on 18 April 2013. 

Download the nomination form today!

The deadline for 2013 Paybefore Awards Europe nominations is Friday, 18 January 2013.

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

The B2B Applications of Prepaid: Implications of Mobile Payments

In the video below, Carol Lee Mitchell of Global Prepaid at MasterCard sits down with Marilyn Bochicchio, CEO of Paybefore, earlier this year at Prepaid Expo USA 2012 to discuss Paybefore's mission.

Marilyn speaks about emerging and developed market trends She highlights the B2B applications of prepaid and the implications of mobile payments. She also shares her views about the existing regulatory environment in the US.

As the leading prepaid and emerging payments publishing company, Paybefore sponsors the Paybefore Awards®:

Now in its seventh  year, Paybefore Awards is the oldest and most prestigious awards to recognize excellence in the worldwide prepaid and stored value industry.

Three winners will be selected in approximately 20 categories, including Most Innovative Prepaid Solution and Breakout Prepaid Company of the Year. Best-in-Category and Industry Achievement winners will be announced at the Prepaid Expo USA, March 4-6, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. Applications will be available in mid-September, with nominations due Friday, November 16, 2012.

Editor's Note:  We encourage you to learn more and become involved with Prepaid Expo 2013, bringing together professionals from leading retailers, processors, financial institutions, service providers and marketers in the prepaid marketplace every year. Over 12,000 people have attended Prepaid Expo USA since 2007 to hear industry experts discuss what's next in the growing prepaid marketplace and where it fits in our new economy. Visit www.PrepaidExpoUSA.com to learn more.

* Thank you! Save 10% off the standard rate when you register for Prepaid Expo 2013, use Prepaid Expo Blog Reader VIP Code: XU2648BLOG10.

About the Author

Valerie M. Russo is a Senior Social Media Strategist at IIR USA and Managing Editor of the Prepaid Expo Blog. She has worked in media positions at Hachette Book Group, Aol, and Thomson Reuters and has an anthropology and brand-building background. She is also published poet and maintains a literary blog. She will be live blogging during Prepaid Expo 2013, taking place March 4-6, 2013, in Orlando, Florida and hopes to meet you there. She may be reached at vrusso@iirusa.com. Follow her @Literanista.

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

The Week in Prepaid & Payments

We are still working on compiling materials from Prepaid Expo 2011 to share with all of you, but in the meantime, here's a roundup of what new in the Prepaid and Payments space:

• Amex hires former MasterCard exec for development‎
  
• CUNA Urges Delay in Prepaid Debit Card Rules for Fed Benefits
• Javelin Strategy & Research's released a new report "2011 Prepaid Cards and Products: Expanding and Innovating for Mass Market Appeal."
• Beginning of the End for Paper Social Security Checks
• Prepaid Debit Helps a Key Metric Improve for TSYS
  
• Starbucks Mobile POS Success Shows Barcode’s Potential
• PayPal Steps Up Fight Against Smartphone Wallet With Fig Card Acquisition
• Photos from the Paybefore Awards at Prepaid Expo 2011 are now available here.

INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENT WINNER: Anabel Perez, NovoPayment

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

The 2010 Paybefore Awards Ceremony

Here are the best in category winners for the 2010 Paybefore Awards:

Best Consumer-Funded Program
Facecard MasterCard Teen Card
-edo Interactive
-Meta Payment Systems

Best General Purpose Reloadable Program
Green Dot GPR
-Green Dot Corporation

Best Network Branded Gift Program
New American Express Gift Card
-American Express

Best Closed-Loop or RAN Gift Program
Downtown Gift Card Program
-Downtown Boise Association
-StoreFinancial

Best Prepaid Marketing Program
Bonus Alimentacion/Provis Alimentacion
-NovoPayment, Inc.
-Transferencia Electronica de Beneficios, C.A.

Best Corporate/Business-Funded Program: B2E
Payoneer Prepaid MasterCard
-Payoneer
-Meta Payment Payment Systems

Best Corporate/Business-Funded Program: B2B
Visa InsurCard Program
-The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group

Best Corporate/Business-Funded Program: B2C
Just Energy Prepaid TruCa$h MasterCard
-DCR Strategies, Inc.
-TruCa$h

Best Corporate/Business-Funded Program: Transit
TransitChek Card
-TransitCenter, Inc.
-The Bancorp Payment Solutions Group
-FIS

Best Government-Funded Program
ReliaCard
-U.S. Bank

Best Third-Party Retail Program
Walgreens
-Walgreens
-InComm

Best Web Sales Channel
GiftCardMall.com
-Blackhawk Network

Best Card Design
Crystal Mosaic Cards
-Perfect Plastic Printing

Best Non-U.S.-Based Program
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
-Citizens Bank of Canada
-Vancity Credit Union

Most Innovative Program
NetSpend Personal Financial Manager
-NetSpend Corporation

Best Virtual Card Program
Starbucks Card Mobile
-mFoundry

2010 Individual Awards
Talbott Rochue
Senior Vice President, Blackhawk Network

Gary L. Palmer
Co-Founder, WildCard Systems Prepaid Advocate and Entrepreneur

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

Craig Fuller of TransCard Recognized as a Top Rising Star of Prepaid

This article in Enhanced Online News reports that CEO of TransCard Craig Fuller has been named as one of the Top Five Rising Stars of Prepaid by Paybefore Magazine. Paybefore's website allowed people to vote from mid-July to August, the five recipients of the award will be profiled in a fall 2009 issue of Paybefore magazine.

Craig Fuller, CEO of TransCard mentioned in response that:

“What is most important to me as a CEO in the prepaid industry is to never stop innovating and pushing the envelope. This is a rapidly expanding field and only companies that invest in the newest, most cutting-edge technology will make it. At TransCard, I am proud to be a part of a team that continually generates groundbreaking ideas and solutions. We will make any organization’s vision a reality.”

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

The 2009 Paybefore Awards Ceremony

Marilyn Bochicchio, CEO of Paybefore, starts off the 2009 Paybefore Awards Ceremony by thanking the judges that have reviewed all nominations.

Here are the categories for the awards ceremony and the best in category award winners.

· Best Consumer-Funded Prepaid Card – Walmart MoneyCard

· Best Business/ Corporate- Funded Card – TeacherDollars and U.S Express Dual Purpose Corporate Card

· Best B2C Corporate-Funded Prepaid Card - Verizon Wireless Rebate Program

· Best Government Funded Prepaid Card of Program - g2g Youth Opportunity Card

· Best Third-Part Card Retailer – Variable Load Program

· Most Innovative Prepaid Product, Service or Card - ItzCash Octroi Automation

· Best Non-US Based Prepaid Card or Program - paysafecard

· Best Prepaid Marketing or Awareness-Building Program - NBPCA

· Best Prepaid Materials Design – Anne Geddes Card Designs

Now the winner for the highest recognition in the industry

Industry Achievement

Matt Gillin, CEO & Founder – Citi Prepaid Services

Steve Streit, CEO & Founder – Green Dot Corporation

Brad Hanson, President – Meta Payment Systems

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

NBPCA White Paper: State Escheat Laws Need to Evolve for Prepaid

The Network Branded Prepaid Card Association is releasing a white paper during the Prepaid Card Expo. The paper, developed by leading attorneys working in the prepaid field, describes current abandoned property laws as they relate to prepaid cards. Abandoned Property Laws and Network Branded Prepaid Cards: Questions and Concerns Raised When Trying to Fit Cards into the Existing Abandoned Property Legal Framework explores the history of escheat law and how changes over time and variations from state to state can present significant challenges for prepaid businesses. The paper does not take a position on the application of escheat laws to funds underlying prepaid cards, but suggests that states should explore how to bring their positions into line with current payment products. “Difficulties arise when regulators try to apply existing abandoned properties laws to new products or services. If escheat must apply to prepaid cards, then certainly state legislatures should develop new state laws that specifically address prepaid products in the marketplace—giving special attention to those cards that are essential to consumers’ day-to-day lives—rather trying to shoehorn new prepaid products under existing laws,” the white paper says. The NBPCA’s workshop, “The Prepaid Card Industry’s Take on State Abandoned Property Laws,” will feature attorneys and compliance officers sharing their expertise on abandoned property issues. The white paper is available on www.nbpca.com and Paybefore.com.

For more daily coverage of the prepaid and stored value card industry, visit Paybefore.com. To learn about subscriptions, visit Paybefore’s booth #727.

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

2009 Paybefore Awards Best-in-Category, Industry Achievement Winners Announced Tomorrow

The 2009 Paybefore Awards Ceremony, Tuesday at 9:35 a.m., will honor the 32 best prepaid and stored value programs in the world. The highlight of the ceremony will be the announcement of 11 Best-in-Category winners as well as the three executives who will take home Industry Achievement Awards.

Now in its third year, the Paybefore Awards received almost double the number of entries in this year’s competition compared to last year, and nearly 20 percent of the nominations represented programs outside of the United States.

“The quality of the nominated products, services and programs was exceptional, creating quite a challenge for the judges who carefully evaluated each entry on its merits and in context of all the nominations,” said Marilyn Bochicchio, Paybefore CEO.

2009 Paybefore Awards Winners include:

BEST CONSUMER-FUNDED PREPAID CARD

• The Jackson Hewitt iPower Prepaid Visa Card
• Stored Value Card
• Wal-Mart Money Card

BEST GIFT CARD
• Bonus Kontor Forum Prepaid
• The Gift That Takes the Gold: “Amazing Moments”
• Starbucks Card

BEST CORPORATE-FUNDED PREPAID CARD

• TeacherDollars
• U.S. Xpress Dual Purpose Corporate Card
• WageWorks Visa Healthcare Card

BEST B2C CORPORATE-FUNDED PREPAID CARD

• PowerPump Gas Rewards
• Verizon Wireless Rebate Program

BEST B2B CORPORATE-FUNDED PREPAID CARD

• Esteem Pass
• IMAGINE
• SVC PlayDeck Program

BEST GOVERNMENT-FUNDED PREPAID PROGRAM

• g2g Youth Opportunity Card
• Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians
• TV Converter Box Coupon Program

BEST THIRD-PARTY PREPAID CARD RETAILER

• Ace Cash Express
• Shoppers Drug Mart
• Variable Load Program

MOST INNOVATIVE PREPAID PROGRAM

• American Express Handhelds
• ItzCash Octroi Automation
• The iPower Line of Credit from Meta Payment Systems and Jackson Hewitt

BEST PREPAID MATERIALS DESIGN

• 2008 Earth Month Gift Card
• Anne Geddes Card Designs
• The Gift That Takes the Gold: “Amazing Moments”

BEST NON-U.S. PREPAID PROGRAM

• Carrier/Bryant Canadian Dealer Sales Incentive
• paysafecard
• Poste Italiane Social Card

BEST PREPAID MARKETING/AWARENESS PROGRAM

• Green Dot Corporation
• H&R Block for “Money Suit” Commercial
• Network Branded Prepaid Card Association

For more daily coverage of the prepaid and stored value card industry, visit Paybefore.com. To learn about subscriptions, visit Paybefore’s booth #727.

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |

CFSI Research: Industry Optimistic, Awareness Needed

Nearly 70 percent of polled industry executives believe that growth in the general purpose reloadable (GPR) card market will increase or stay the same in 2009 compared to 2008, according to research released today by the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI).

In its latest installment of GPR-related research, CFSI turned its attention from consumers to industry executives to examine attitudes and trends.

“Our most exciting finding, perhaps, was that this industry is optimistic,” according to the report. “Even in the face of the current economic environment, prepaid card industry participants are bullish about the future.”

The research was culled from an Internet poll, conducted by CFSI in partnership with Paybefore, and in-depth follow-up interviews by CFSI with 18 industry leaders across the prepaid value chain. Although the online survey was conducted in November and December—when the economic picture was slightly better—the executive interviews were conducted between December and February, and the optimism was still intact.

“What we heard in the interviews was consistent with what we learned in the survey,” Rachel Schneider, special projects director for CFSI, tells Paybefore. “Essentially people are saying, whether by choice or necessity, there is going to be less consumer access to credit, and prepaid will be an attractive option. In addition, the industry is still so new, there’s room for growth even in a negative economic environment.”

Less surprising, perhaps, is respondents’ No. 1 ranked challenge—building consumer awareness. Almost 33 percent of respondents cited consumer awareness as the biggest challenge for the industry, followed by business-model economics at nearly 27 percent. The executives interviewed concur with this sentiment, according to CFSI. “Almost universally, they argue that consumers do not yet have sufficient general awareness of what GPR cards offer or how they work.”

To best address the awareness issue, 65 percent of survey respondents thought better customer education for existing cardholders is key. Increased marketing was the second most popular answer at 61 percent.

Today at 1:15 p.m., during the “Understanding the Underbanked Consumer Experience with Prepaid Cards” session, CFSI Director Jennifer Tescher will present these findings as well as CFSI’s consumer segmentation study and its latest work interviewing underbanked consumers.

For more daily coverage of the prepaid and stored value card industry, visit Paybefore.com. To learn about subscriptions, visit Paybefore’s booth #727.

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |