News

In all the talk about the Visa and MasterCard roadmaps, it's been generally assumed that everyone everywhere knows all about Europay, MasterCard, Visa (EMV) and its presumed challenger, Near Field Communication (NFC). But that isn't necessarily the case.
 

If present trends continue, the stars may be aligning for a gradual return to profitability for U.S. credit card issuers.

The Members Group (TMG) has redesigned the look of its Visa open-loop prepaid ATIRAgift card to meet regulations and become clearly distinguishable from non-compliant plastic. The redesign also aims to differentiate ATIRAgift in an increasingly competitive gift card market.

It is not an understatement to say that the CARD Act has turned the credit card industry on its ear. But, credit unions, by maintaining their focus on offering the best card product available to members, can still be true to who they have always been. And in the light of the day, the CARD Act gives us the chance to shine.

Ignore the balmy temperatures and late-summer sun. Card processors say this is the time credit unions should be preparing their card options for this year’s holiday season.

“People often don’t realize that the holiday season, in terms of preparations and gift purchases, runs from end of October to the end of December,” explained Jeff Falk, director of product development for TMG.

Bancography, a positioning firm from Birmingham, Alabama, recently released its 2008 Bancography Brand Value Index, which ranks the most powerful financial institution brands among all U.S. banks and credit unions. The Bancography Brand Value Index is a comprehensive ranking which scores brands according to the premium they contribute to each...