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    Forty-six state associations now support The Merchant Bill of Rights, an initiative designed to help small and mid-sized business owners manage the cost and complexity of credit and debit card acceptance.
    When it launched in September of 2007, The Merchant Bill of Rights, which promotes fairness and transparency in credit and debit card processing, had 13 association supporters.

    First Data Corp. recently made several business moves. The company completed its acquisition of Intelligent Results, a customer data analytics and decision management software company, for an undisclosed price.
    First Data is also acquiring Datawire Communication Networks,Inc. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
    First Data also elected to exit the check and money order business. In another announcement the company reached a revenue sharing agreement with TCF Bank.

    The National Federation of Independent Business and Visa USA have teamed up to help small businesses develop stronger security practices.
    Among the concerns: 37% of card-accepting businesses store customer card numbers; 24% store customer Social Security Numbers; and 28% store customer bank account numbers or copies of their checks. 52% of all small businesses keep at least one these sensitive pieces of information.

    First Data Corp., with both The Georgia and National Restaurant Association, recently launched the TakeCharge payment program.
    It offers multiple payment choices and special credit card processing rates for small and mid-sized restaurateurs.

    Comstar Interactive recently launched Charge Anywhere POS software designed for QuickBooks, enabling merchants to connect a card reader to their PC and swipe cards directly through QuickBooks.
    These transactions are automatically posted into QuickBooks and the invoices are marked as paid.
    The company also unveiled its Charge Anywhere Web Terminal, Charge Anywhere Web Terminal PLUS and Charge Anywhere Ecommerce Edition designed for merchants who want to use laptops or PCs as POS terminals.

    The U.S. Army recently approved Apriva’s Sensa mobile e-mail system and its Common Access Card readers, enabling Windows Mobile Operating System devices that run Sensa to be added to the list of Army wireless e-mail devices.

    3PEA International, Inc. recently signed a three-year agreement to provide card processing and related services in the U.S. for Ukash/ Smart Voucher Limited.
    3PEA International will provide services for issuing, account maintenance, customer service, transaction processing and settlement of funds to support prepaid debit card programs.
    The company also unveiled its PayPad EFT Link solution, enabling customers to process PayPad transactions through their own payment processing connections using a thin client model.

    Bank of America recently introduced Emergency Relief Cards, a suite of prepaid card products designed to help firms and government entities to prepare for catastrophic events.
    The special-use cards are designed to be incorporated into business contingency plans.

    ITSportsNet and NXGEN Canada have joined forces to extend on-line payment options to sports clubs and leagues in Canada and internationally.
    NXGEN Canada is an authorized reseller of NOVA Information Systems Canada, an affiliate of NOVA Information Systems.

    Litle & Co., a merchant acquirer, recently selected Planet Financial Services’ Acquire360 Interchange Compliance Module.
    Acquire360 provides financial institutions and third-party processors with the ability to process card transactions, compute discounts and fees, and produces reports, special forms, and statements.

    TSYS Acquiring Solutions recently renewed its merchant-processing service agreement with Sage Payment Solutions, a provider of payment- processing services to small- and mid-sized merchants.

    eFunds Corp. recently launched its new corporate brand, EFD.
    The company will transition to the new name, which is also its stock ticker symbol, over the next 18-24 months, during which time it will be known as EFD, eFunds Corp.

    New rules allowing for the back-office conversion of checks to electronic transactions will streamline the entire check transaction process.
    The new rules, developed and issued by NACHA, The Electronic Payments Association, became effective in mid-March. They enable merchants to collect all consumer checks accepted during the day and convert them into Automated Clearing House transactions in the “back office,” away from the checkout lane, eliminating the need for a scanner at each checkout lane.

    Under a new partnership agreement, Fast Transact will provide Secure Check’s RCK free check recovery services to its new and existing merchants, enabling the recovery of receivables without the use of outside collection agencies.
    Secure Check offers automatic recovery of NSF items for businesses with integrated collection and accounts receivable management.

    As Direct Technology Innovations and Sky High Speed are now collaborating to bring wireless technology, including card processing solutions, to small business merchants.

    PayTrace recently launched its Cash Advance transactions module.
    This enables banking and other financial merchants to accept cash disbursements through point-of-sale software.

    Since the company’s founding in May 2005, International Merchant Solutions, has signed up over 200 agents and helped them earn residual income through businesses they would have otherwise ignored.

    Vesta Corp. recently acquired the Telecom Decisioning Services assets of Lightbridge, Inc. to help customers determine applicant creditworthiness. TDS also provides fraud tools.
    This acquisition further diversifies Vesta’s offerings, building upon its portfolio of payment and security services for wireless carriers.

    EWA-Canada, an Interac accredited device certification agent, recently certified Way Systems, Inc.’s MTT 1556C Mobile wireless POS terminal.

    GreenZap, Inc., an online payment provider, recently filed a lawsuit against website-hosting-company Liquid Web, Inc. and Vodien, Inc. for a total of $57.5 million, claiming that defamatory comments are being posted concerning GreenZap and its executives.
    The defendants were not available for comment.

    Western Independent Bankers Service Corp. is endorsing MoneyPass to provide surcharge-free ATM access to more than 600 community banks within WIB’s 10 western states and U.S. territories.

    Butterfield Bank recently a partnership with AmbironTrustWave.
    The alliance will offer Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance solutions to merchants who process credit card payments through the financial institution.


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