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.

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Industry Experts Discuss the Untapped Opportunities in Prepaid

After an exciting panel discussion in the Program Managers Workshop at APEX 2015, titled "Building New Markets, New Business and New Marketing Power in the Prepaid World", Moderator Omri Dahan of Marqeta, Andrew Siden of NexisCard/Prepaid Ventures, and Patrice Peyret of Banking Up joined us to discuss the future of prepaid, prepaid as a vehicle for the affluent, the biggest untapped opportunities in prepaid, as well as the biggest challenges for the industry. See what these industry experts had to say about each below.

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Top 5 Payments Trends of 2015 [Infographic]

The above infographic was created from the All Payments Expo 2015: Executive Summary - To download the complete summary, click 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. Join us March 21-23, 2016 in New Orleans for APEX 2016!

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Building New Markets, New Business and New Marketing Power in the Prepaid World

At All Payments Expo 2015, in the Program Managers Workshop there was a session titled "Building New Markets, New Business and New Marketing Power in the Prepaid World". This session consisted of the following industry experts;

• Cathy Corby Iannuzzelli, Corby & Company, Inc. 
• Patrice Peyret, Banking Up 
• Jack Pyros, Momentum Groups 
• Andrew Siden, NexisCard/Prepaid Ventures, LTD 
• Moderator: Omri Dahan, Marqeta

This exciting session delved into the new, multidimensional uses for prepaid are emerging outside of the under-served market. What are some of the opportunities out there, and how do program managers overcome these niche challenges?

• Going beyond the under-served: tackling challenges when moving into new customer segments
• Leveraging prepaid for more in-store visits and interaction
• Building and expanding reload, retail and distribution partners
• Leveraging technology partners: challenges and opportunities
• Marketing a program more effectively
• Prepaid for luxury customers

Couldn't make it to Las Vegas last February? Then take a look at some of the many highlights to come out of APEX.



Stay updated on APEX 2016, March 21-23 in New Orleans - Check out our website.

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A Look Back: The Pulse of APEX 2015

Take a look at what attendees had to say at the 2015 All Payments Expo

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News from APEX Europe: GPS Appoints Former Head of Issuing at Optimal Payments PLC

London - May 18th, 2015 - Leading global payments processor Global Processing Services (GPS) today announced that Suresh Vaghjiani will be joining their Senior Management team as Executive Vice President of Card Services. Suresh commented, "We have all witnessed the growth of GPS globally in recent years and it is certainly exciting to be part of the team tasked with continuing the expansion of our global footprint".

In his former role as Director of Issuing at Optimal Payments PLC, Suresh successfully established the Issuing and newly formed Card Services division. Previously, as a founding member of Kalixa Payments Group, in his role as Head of Kalixa Pay, Suresh launched the award winning Kalixa prepaid card across international markets. Suresh has a substantial understanding of electronic money, throughout its complete value chain from Issuing to Acquiring, with strategic knowledge on what works and does not work in various international markets.

As a member of the UK Contactless Advisory Committee, Suresh worked with TFL to pilot some of the first contactless prepaid products used on the London transport network. In 2011, Suresh launched the first ever contactless wristwatch in the UK. This is in addition to being responsible for launching the first App controlled NFC solution for i-phone in Europe. Suresh is an elected Advisory Board member for the Emerging Payments Association.

GPS was founded in 2007 by the owners of Flex-e-vouchers (FEV). FEV was one of the pioneers of prepaid Programme Management in Europe and continues to operate successfully today. FEV's founders identified weaknesses in prepaid processor capability and decided to launch a second business (GPS) that would provide the flexibility needed to service prepaid Programme Managers worldwide. GPS is a MasterCard, Visa Inc. and Visa Europe accredited processor. The platform was built in-house from the ground up and is tailored to prepaid card functionality, utilising the multi-year experience gained from operating one of the largest programme management companies in Europe.

Neil Weeks, Chief Commercial Officer at GPS commented, "Suresh is a well-known and respected industry expert. We are delighted to announce his appointment to our senior management team".

Tony Kerr, Chief Executive Officer at GPS added, "Suresh has a depth of product and industry knowledge that is amongst the finest in our sector. We believe that Suresh will strengthen our executive team, further underpinning our global rollout strategy".

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Key Insights from APEX 2015 Now Available in Executive Summary

More than 800 professionals with a stake in the payments ecosystem converged on Las Vegas, NV this year for APEX 2015—the All Payments Expo—to  network and get up to speed on the latest in payments innovation and developments in prepaid, alternative financial services, retail and technology. 

We on the APEX team are now pleased to present the official 2015 executive summary, an exclusive report featuring key insights and analysis from APEX, along with detailed coverage of specific presentations and panels from the conference.

Highlights:

› The future of payments will be device, platform and location-agnostic. Retailers are scrambling to wrap their brains around the options, but the nature of POS transactions will most definitely change dramatically in just the next couple of years as mobile technologies bundle POS, marketing, shopping, customer engagement and data collection seamlessly.

› Cryptocurrencies may reach an adoption tipping point sooner than expected and with a profound impact on multiple financial service categories and industries, most notably by driving a low-to-no-cost peer-to-peer payments revolution.

› Competition to capture the patronage of the massive un- and under-banked populations of the world (including those in wealthy First World markets) will occupy the attention of established players and start-ups alike as technology knocks down barriers to access.

The saying goes, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Luckily that does not hold true for APEX 2015! Download the executive summary now to learn more and see what the buzz was about. 

Download | All Payments Expo 2015: Executive Summary

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See Latest APEX Europe Attendee List

In just a few short weeks, 200+ payments and retail executives are heading to Marbella for All Payments Expo Europe. This is Europe's only devoted retail & payments business development meeting, where the prepaid and retail value chain host meetings, create new partnerships and explore synergies.


With delegates coming from 25+ countries, you'll be able to hear insights from an international group of merchants, programme managers, issuers, MNOs, networks and processors. You'll sharpen your strategies with expert insights on:

• Latest data on prepaid's growth and market size
• New opportunities created by HCE technology
• New sales channels for gift cards
• White space for prepaid partnerships in mobile money, education and B2B
• Consumer demands in contactless
• Contextual commerce's impact on conversion and more!

Join an international community and get face time with the peers and partners you need. Register today to secure your spot - PLUS save €100 when you use the code XU2940BLOG.

Here are some of the companies you'll meet:
3V Transaction Services • Accent Intermedia • ACI Worldwide • Airplus International SRL • Al Fardan Exchange • ArbitorSports • Auctionata • Bankable • C24 Payments Contact Center LLC • CardOneBanking • Cardwise • Centigo AB • Contact Payment System • Coop Danmark • Dansk Supermarked A/S • Di Pocket • Edgar Dunn & Company • Emerging Payments Association • eNett International • ePayService • Epipoli SpA • EuroCommerce • First Data • FlexCard • Flex-e-Vouchers • Gap Inc • Gemalto SA • Genesys • GKFX • Global Prepaid Exchange • Globoforce • Gruppo Poste Italiane • Hobbs Limited • Home Retail Group plc • Hotel Voucher Shop • IKEA MOS • IMA • IQ Card • John Lewis Partnership • Leroy Merlin • Italia srl • Load & Go • Localz • Locke Lord • Lycamobile UK Ltd • Marks & Spencer • MBXP ApS • Mercator Advisory Group • MintCombine • MTACC Inc • MySafePay • Nordic Choice • Optimal Payments • Orwell • P&MM Ltd • Payment Card Solutions • Payoneer EU Limited • PerfectCard Ltd • PMA Media Group • Polymath Consulting • PPRO • Prego Prepaid Solutions • Prepaird International Forum • PSI-Pay Ltd • Raphaels Bank • Rapid Financial Solutions • Reward Technology • Rideau Recognition Solutions • Riverbridge Partners LLC • SafeCharge Card Services • Sears Holding Company • Signet • Simple Card • Skrill Ltd • Smart Concepts BV • Swift Prepaid Solutions Inc • TESCO Bank • Thames Card Technology LTD • The Billing Project LLC • Ticket Surf • TJX Europe • Trancash Italia • Travel Payments Amadeus IT Group • TrustEu Affairs • TrustPay • Tuxedo • WEX • Wickes Building Supplies Limited • XXImo BV • Yandex Money • Zalando SE


Event Partner

Platinum Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors

 Bronze Sponsor

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ICICI Bank announce the release of their Tap N Pay payment technology

A recent announcement in the prepaid payment technology world was that ICICI Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, have collaborated with Tech Mahindra Limited, to launch a contactless payment service that is based on the Near Field Communications (NFC) technology. This innovative new payment service which has been named ‘Tap n Pay’ will allow anyone, including non-ICICI Bank account holders to make over the counter purchases, reducing dependency on cash.

The customer will be able to use their NFC enabled mobile phone at the merchant’s point of sale device to make payments. The new innovation is a pre-paid account that allows customers from any bank to register for it and can transfer money online from any account. Customers are also able to top up their ‘Tap n Pay’ accounts by sending an SMS.

Tech Mahindra managing director and chief executive CP Gurnani stated that “The synergies between the two partners (ICICI Bank and Tech Mahindra) will bring about a new payments ecosystem, parallel to, and yet in harmony with, the existing payment networks in the country,".

The service is currently a closed end service and not a universal payment method. The announcement stated that at the moment the new technology is only for large campuses at corporate offices. For example being used at canteens or to buy meal coupons. To me this is advantageous using it less as a universal card but for certain purposes at the start and then maybe expanding. An issue that can come around with universal tap like payment systems can be unwittingly paying for things you didn’t want to.

This was a problem in London, England. The London Underground has a barrier system were the majority of users swipe their Oyster card which has a set amount on, to get through. However, people often kept the Oyster card in their wallet to swipe and their wallet often already had a tap payment card; this meant that money would sometimes be debited off that card whilst trying to swipe through the barriers. This became a serious problem and announcements were having to be made on the Tannoy public speaker systems to warn customers.

This announcement shows the ongoing advances being made in the prepaid payments industry that seeks to increase payment efficiency and to many, signals the lack of need for physical cash. The increase in these types of innovation, many also believe could mean a lack of dependency in banks. Banks will have to come up with innovations of their own to help keep up with the changing times.

About the Author: Harry Kempe, a marketing intern at IIR USA, who works on various aspects of the industry including social media, marketing analysis and media. He is a recent graduate of Newcastle University who previously worked for EMAP Ltd. and WGSN as a marketing assistant on events such as the World Architecture Festival, World Retail Congress and Global Fashion Awards. He can be reached at hkempe@IIRUSA.com

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Speed & Simplicity - The Key for Social Shoppers

Omnichannel retail strategies have been much on the thoughts of retailers over the last couple of years because of an increased focus on ‘social shopping’. Omnichannel strategies aim to create a seamless consumer experience across different platforms. One of the platforms that is being utilised more often is social media. Social shopping refers to consumers who use social media spaces to share coupons, reviews, purchases and more in order to help with their own and others’ future retail experiences.

Recent apps such as Like2Buy combine the huge popularity of social media with a purchase platform. Like2Buy is now incorporated with many companies’ Instagram accounts which allows users to click on a picture that they like which will take them immediately to the brand page for purchasing. With Instagram getting more than 75 million users daily, it could be a huge source of revenue. Getting a seamless transition from picture to buying is vital. Being on a social media site also allows consumers to see the popularity of the product. Instagram allows users to like pictures and seeing that a product is popular will go a long way for persuading a customer to buy.

This quick link between picture and purchase shows the drive to create faster links and an easier experience for consumers. Social shoppers are notoriously impatient; slow websites and longwinded routes to purchase often means a higher probability that the customer will click off site and may in the future go elsewhere.

A survey carried out by Compuware showed that social media shoppers are influenced greatly by the speed and efficiency of online retail platforms. Around a third of survey participants expect a retail website to load in two seconds when using tablets, 24% expected loading in one second and 13% expect loading in less than a second. Obviously there is quite a large dependency on how good of a signal there is but it also shows the fickle nature of social shoppers. These statistics show how important navigation of an online retail platform is. Allowing users to move easily and quickly throughout different areas of a site can go a long way to retail customers. 46% of customers are more likely to go to a competitor’s website if they have a bad experience on a website.

Catering to the needs of social shoppers and boosting omnichannel retail strategies could really help to boost retail sales. The majority of social shoppers are millennials between aged 18-24; this generation of consumers have grown up with the internet and expect more now from online retail. With the wealth of information available, online retailers should use this to their advantage and put social shopping as a priority for the future of their omnichannel retail strategies.

About the Author: Harry Kempe, a marketing intern at IIR USA, who works on various aspects of the industry including social media, marketing analysis and media. He is a recent graduate of Newcastle University who previously worked for EMAP Ltd. and WGSN as a marketing assistant on events such as the World Architecture Festival, World Retail Congress and Global Fashion Awards. He can be reached at hkempe@IIRUSA.com

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Last Chance to Save for APEX Europe is Friday!

 LAST CHANCE TO SAVE ON YOUR APEX EUROPE REGISTRATION!

All Payments Expo Europe is designed for you to meet with industry peers to analyse the impacts of new technology, regulation and new players in the payments and retail landscape. By attending, you will hear new insights from leading players, best position yourself among competition and your improve business relationships with clients and partners.

Access 8+ hours of unique networking opportunities, including:

Private Executive Boardroom Sessions: Capped at 20 participants, these sessions are off-the-record and limited to senior-level executives. These are discussion driven, private discussions focused on the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the prepaid and retail sectors.

Match-Making Lunch: Looking to meet a particular type of attendee? We'll help you set up lunch dates to stimulate deal flow and collaborate with new businesses. E-mail Diana Middleton at dmiddleton@iirusa.com for more details.

Two Evening Receptions: Some of the best conversations happen after the sessions conclude. Receptions include a welcome party a Guey Marbella and a White Party at La Sala By the Sea.

View the Agenda

Register by Friday 17 April and save €200! Use the code XU2940BLOG

I hope to see you in Marbella this May.

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Are Chipotle Leading the Way with Retail Incentives?

Gifting incentives in the retail industry are fast becoming standard practice throughout different brands and retailers. Loyal customers are rewarded for their allegiance to the brand with incentives such as ‘buy 9 and get the tenth free’. In hindsight when the free purchase is reached, it is just a 10% discount for each purchase and for me a scheme like that won’t make me desperate to get to my 10th purchase. So then what really can be deemed as a real incentive for the customer? Chipotle reward their customers in a completely different manner to most.

Chipotle as a brand are known for their powerful marketing campaigns that reach out to consumers in order to educate the customer on issues in farming. Chipotle’s ethos and values were imprinted in their adverts that drew attention to farm animals being injected with hormones and unethical, inhumane farming practices that are cruel to the animals. Chipotle want to educate their customers and enlighten them to these issues and thus reward them for their learning.

At first I was skeptical. My first thought was how can a customer prove they have learnt about the issues whilst trying to get their reward? However, Chipotle have ways of letting customers show they are engaging with their values. For example recently they had a promotion that let customers purchase a tofu burrito and that would allow them to use the receipt of purchase for a free purchase at a later stage. This helps push Chipotle’s belief that tofu can be as good as pork, chicken or beef. Another huge reward scheme is their interactive Scarecrow game.

Photo Credit: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock

Chipotle started their education through their advertising campaigns which included slogans such as ‘‘we’re anti-antibiotics (but pro-chicken)’, but then shortly after took the world by storm with short videos such as ‘Back to the Start’ and ‘Scarecrow’. Scarecrow comes with a game that encourages sustainable farming and gaining points in it wins the player Chipotle products. By gaining points shows customers engaging with the Chipotle values embedded in the game regarding unsustainable farming issues. Another game scheme they have is ‘Farm Team’ that again teaches customers where Chipotle’s produce comes from and educates them on sustainable farming.

In the near future will other companies use a different approach in rewarding their customers that goes against the usual rewards, such as getting a thousand subpoints and get a free subway? Ultimately will educating consumers be more of an incentive than buying a certain number of products and getting a free one at the end?

Personally I think the majority of consumers will prefer to feel that they may be helping a bigger issue. I believe major brands could incorporate educational retail rewards and incentives into schemes they may have already. I believe promoting sustainable practices could boost customer loyalty in many fields. Clothes outlets could promote issues such as sweatshop labour and coffee shops could help to promote fair trade coffee. I think incentives through rewards are a very clever ploy and should be incorporated more in the retail world.

About the Author: Harry Kempe, a marketing intern at IIR USA, who works on various aspects of the industry including social media, marketing analysis and media. He is a recent graduate of Newcastle University who previously worked for EMAP Ltd. and WGSN as a marketing assistant on events such as the World Architecture Festival, World Retail Congress and Global Fashion Awards. He can be reached at hkempe@IIRUSA.com

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Will new prepaid payments rules improve or hinder the development of the prepaid industry?

Prepaid cards are growing in popularity in today’s payments world with consumers becoming increasingly reliant on prepaid products in order to purchase goods and access funds. Director Richard Cordray of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) predicted a total dollar value of general purpose reloadable cards to grow to around $100 billion by the end of 2014. The CFPB decided in 2014 that there needed to better rules in order to help to protect users in a way that is more similar to the security that comes from a credit or debit card.

Towards the end of 2014, the CFPB proposed new rules for prepaid accounts that will create amendments to the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Truth in Lending Act. The rules fall under 4 main categories:

1. Credit Protections – relates to credit products in prepaid accounts. Now means monthly billing statements, allowance of time to pay debts, late fees and limitations on fee and interest charges.
2. Prepaid Protections – allow prepaid users to have the same protection as they would receive with a normal checking account. This includes easy access to account information and lost-card and fraud protection.
3. Prepaid/Credit Distinction – rules to be implemented in order to distinguish between credit products and prepaid accounts.
4. Prepaid Fee Disclosures – rules in order to standardise upfront disclosures and that card agreements must be publicly accessible. 

The rules will exclude cards that are marketed and labeled as gift cards or certificates. Also excluded are flexible spending accounts, medical savings account, health reimbursement arrangements and health savings accounts.

So are these rules going to be advantageous in the prepaid payments world? The general consensus is yes; much of the 870 page proposal is widely considered to be reasonable. The rule allows credit to be offered and will mean a decline in hostility from regulators in regard to the prepaid industry providing credit, so a measure of regulatory consistency has now been provided. Providers are now allowing check writing and bill paying to help persuade cardholders to use prepaid payments as their primary banking platform.

However the issue that has been raised by many in the industry is that the rules will stifle any future innovations into digital wallets, person-to-person payment systems and cryptocurrency products. The CFPB, some believe simply have too much power and so rulings like these tend to go unopposed. The Bureau has the power to break businesses due to its huge influence. The industry tends to accept new rules and regulations in the fear that if they say no there could be negative repercussions.

To me, looking in from the outside of the industry, it looks as if the rules will be advantageous to the ever-growing industry at present. Providing security and the ability to pay debts, limiting interest charges amongst other plus points will continue to increase the popularity of prepaid payments. However stifling the potential for development and innovation may in the long run mean a limit to longevity if another disruptive innovation within the payments world comes along.

About the Author: Harry Kempe, a marketing intern at IIR USA, who works on various aspects of the industry including social media, marketing analysis and media. He is a recent graduate of Newcastle University who previously worked for EMAP Ltd. and WGSN as a marketing assistant on events such as the World Architecture Festival, World Retail Congress and Global Fashion Awards. He can be reached at hkempe@IIRUSA.com. 

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Mark your calendars for APEX Europe | Brochure now available!

APEX Europe is the international meeting place for prepaid, technology and retail executives to grow business and identify consumer needs.

Access Insights: Hear next generation consumer needs - and gain a better understanding of how to position your company to capture new business.

Merchants:
Participating retailers include: Home Retail Group, Zalando SE, Coop Danmark, Dansk Supermarked, M&S, Tesco Bank, John Lewis, Nordic Choice, Auctionata and more
Hear from other merchants on the new path to purchase:

• How omni and multi channel strategies are impacting every customer touch point, from in-store payments to gift cards
• How mobile can tangibly improve customer engagement and drive bigger conversions and increase in-store visits
• How mobile can tangibly improve customer engagement and drive bigger conversions and increase in-store visits
• How digital gift cards are transforming brick-and-mortar institutions' strategies
• The impact of ApplePay and digital wallets on retail marketing and couponing
• The implications of new in-store technologies, including iBeacon and geolocation
• How e-commerce executives are anticipating customers' evolving needs across Europe     

   
Prepaid:
Participating programme managers include: Bankable, IQcard, Tuxedo Money Solutions, Perfect Incentive, 3V, WEX, Payment Card Solutions (UK) Ltd., eNett International and more
Hear from industry stakeholders on new consumer needs:

• New innovations in grants administration
• Prepaid's evolving role in gaming
• The rise of new use cases, including social media payments, prepaid for the affluent and alternative banking platforms
• The latest developments in corporate payments, and how to identify new opportunities
• The implications of the latest regulations, and the impact on product development
• The latest consumer-centric links between prepaid and loyalty
• What's blocking global issuing?
• Partnership opportunities with new players, from cryptocurrency to P2P technologies     

Access the full agenda here.

Join attendees from across Europe to meet, partner and devise powerful new partnerships. Use the code XU2940BLOG to save. Register now to lock in the lowest rates.

We look forward to meeting you in Marbella, Spain in May this year!   

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Live at APEX | Building New Markets, New Business and New Marketing Power in the Prepaid World

Building New Markets, New Business and New Marketing Power in the Prepaid World

Cathy Corby Iannuzzelli, Corby & Company, Inc.

Patrice Peyret, Banking Up

Jack Pyros, Momentum Groups

Andrew Siden, NexisCard/Prepaid Ventures, LTD.

Moderator: Omri Dahan, Marqeta

Prepaid Adoption: 

49% of Americans do not want a credit card

79% of millennials use prepaid

The lifecycle of innovative prepaid programs:

Program design

Selecting the right partners 

Program build

Going to market

Getting to scale

Pulse of the Session: Insights from the panel of experts

- One card to manage all aspects of a card program is a very exciting trend in prepaid.

- There has been a recent explosion of new uses for prepaid to move money in a more intelligent way.

- Prepaid becoming a part of the lexicon of how money gets moved.

- What is the future of banking? More integrated financial services. And the compartmentalization of prepaid is going to power that.

- Prepaid could be the precursor to credit. 

- The industry is in the beginning steps of exploiting data analytics to better serve the consumers needs.

- The market is moving so fast that you may be left behind before you can actually get to market. Finding the right partners is a key way to avoid this, it is the single most import aspect.

- Prepaid is an access device - ApplePay is a new way to access these funds - slicker, faster, more convenient - and there will be others to come. 

- Leveraging what apple is doing today is critical.

- ApplePay is non-threating for the people in this room.

- Until all ATMs allow you to take cash out from your phone, plastic will still be here.

- Major regulatory concern for prepaid - Data breaks. A lot of the information that is getting out from these breaches is the very information that you use to validate the identity of a customer. 

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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!

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Your Holiday Gift from All Payments Expo | Register by Friday 12/19 & Save $300

Register by December 19th and save $300 - Use the code XU2848BLOG | Register.

Find Your Next Buyer at APEX

With more than 1,300 global payments players on the hunt for new technologies and partners, APEX is the best place to kick off 2015 with meaningful meetings and new business opportunities.

 

 Meet the executives with buying power to take your business to the next level. 

 

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Register for All Payments Expo by Friday to Save $400!

Designed to Help You Find New Partners and Grow Business

2015 promises to be a big one for payments players with the world shifting toward lightning-speed disruption from technology and data players; new currencies and form factors entering the fray; and a vast need to uncover new customer segments to avoid market saturation.

Start the year right at All Payments Expo, the only payments event designed to help you find new partners and do business on-site.

You'll save $300 if you sign up for All Payments Expo by Friday, Nov. 21, but use the code XU2848BLOG and save an extra $100 – total savings of $400!

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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!

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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

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