Blogs

Mobile Banking: A Case Where Even I Would Pay a Fee

Will Hernandez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:10:36 GMT

As an avid mobile banking user, I pay particular interest to discussions over when, and whether, fees should be applied to the service. This has become especially true since earlier this year, when I moved to a location where my

Proactive Outbound Communication: What’s Your Plan?

Will Hernandez — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:42:42 GMT

Today, competition in the prepaid market is higher than ever even Justin Bieber has a card and regulatory scrutiny continues to put the squeeze on companies in the industry. In order to remain competitive, a focus on customer experience is

How to Defeat Showrooming

Will Hernandez — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:46:30 GMT

Merchants today have a big problem on their hands showrooming. People come into their brick and mortar stores to see and touch products in real life, but instead of buying them, they look them up and purchase online, often for

Banks Can Top Convenience Stores in Convenience

Application Administrator — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:11:06 GMT

Lifestyle demands continue to impact purchasing habits and it all boils down to the key appeal for consumers time and place convenience. We have all seen the successful leveraging of one stop convenience by big box and convenience stores. That's

Comparing American and British Consumer Mobile Banking Habits

Will Hernandez — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:03:55 GMT

In late May, United Kingdom payment network operator VocaLink released survey results from British consumers about mobile banking and payments use. The results reinforced the trend mobile payments are gaining traction with consumers as 50 percent of respondents stated they

Who Might Wrestle TSYS for Ownership of NetSpend

Will Hernandez — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:40:45 GMT

In February, processing company TSYS announced that it would buy prepaid program manager NetSpend for approximately $1.4 billion in cash. The deal was expected to close sometime in the middle of the year, according to the initial press release announcing

Biometrics: We’ve Reached the Tipping Point

Will Hernandez — Wed, 29 May 2013 19:30:12 GMT

I, like a growing number of consumers, am at risk. I have so many password protected mobile app, website, bank and other accounts, I just can’t do the right thing, which is to use different user names and passwords for

Trouble in Transit – Transit Agencies Move to Offer Open-Loop Cards But Questions Remain

Will Hernandez — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:46:56 GMT

When Chicago Transit Authority decided to add an open loop purse to its new Ventra transit cards, it was criticized for the fees that riders might need to pay if they decide to use the open loop feature. The card

The Risks and Rewards of Payments Innovation

Will Hernandez — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:16:09 GMT

Partnerships are the name of the game in payments today Discover and PayPal, American Express and Wal Mart, Square and Starbucks. These strategic relationships are extremely powerful because they utilize each other’s strengths to make their companies more successful and

Is PayPal Really a “Frenemy”of the Banks?

Will Hernandez — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:43:25 GMT

In the last 15 years, PayPal has enjoyed a meteoric rise and has gained an enormous consumer following worldwide. Consumers use PayPal for its trusted and reliable service in delivering secure online payments. But as PayPal has grown and moved

Is UK Government Really Increasing Financial Services Competition?

Will Hernandez — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:45:48 GMT

The United Kingdom’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, a British cabinet member responsible for all economic and financial matters, earlier this year told JPMorgan Chase staff members at a company retreat the government wanted to introduce more competition in the market

Gyft Gives Smartphone Users a Mobile Management Tool for Gift Cards

Will Hernandez — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:30:50 GMT

Editor’s note This is the first in a series of Perspectives from Prepaid Senior Analyst Ben Jackson testing different prepaid mobile applications. Start up company Gyft is betting the smartphone can make gift cards more valuable for retailers and cardholders.

The Next Generation of Cross-sell

Will Hernandez — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:41:27 GMT

Cross sell is, and always has been, a core component of financial institutions’ business strategies. However, in today’s market—with lenders looking to grow their credit portfolios and the competition for new customers remaining incredibly fierce—the idea of deepening wallet share

The Many Combinations and Permutations of Mobile Banking Solutions

Will Hernandez — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:30:42 GMT

As part of Mercator Advisory Group’s research for recent (and future) reports on mobile banking, we see an ever increasing array of available products, solutions, and deployment methods. Mobile banking solutions offer something for everyone, and can include one or

Remain Relevant, Through Mobile Technology Adoption

Will Hernandez — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:15:54 GMT

Today’s consumers are empowered by new online and mobile technology, driving forces behind continued, dramatic changes in banking and retail commerce. They expect to transact business and make payments electronically – anytime, anywhere and on any type of device. First

Electronic Identity Cards for Every European Citizen?

Will Hernandez — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:37:53 GMT

Speaking at the European Citizens' Initiative last month, European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič said he believed that all European Union citizens will be required to carry electronic identity (eID) cards in the not too distant future. With the majority

Card Manufacturer Finds Simpler Cards, but More Outlets in Review of Gift Card Trends

Will Hernandez — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:21:04 GMT

During the holiday season, more merchants hosted card malls, but the cards in those malls were simpler than in years past.Travel Tags Inc., a card manufacturer and printer based in Inver Grove Heights, Minn., visited 108 unique merchants in the

The Top 4 Reasons the Unbanked Pay Prepaid Fees & Why Consumer Groups Should Let Them

Will Hernandez — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:47:34 GMT

Consumer groups and legislators argue prepaid fees are unfair, as if there were no costs involved in delivering the benefits that low and moderate income users enjoy when using prepaid products. These are the features the unbanked and underserved need

People Do Not Leave Their Wallets Before Their Phones

Will Hernandez — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:07:38 GMT

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that a person will leave their wallet at home before they leave their phone, then I might have enough to fix the damage done from grinding my teeth every time

Euronet Raises the Bar in the Global Prepaid Market

Will Hernandez — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:25:35 GMT

Prepaid markets worldwide have expanded quickly the past decade, often surpassing credit and debit card growth. Prepaid represents tremendous opportunities, which is a highlight during today’s economic slowdown. But for the most part, the global prepaid market is fragmented with