Datacap’s DataTran

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Paymentech’s Host And Terminal Capture Networks Available Via Datacap’s DataTran

Datacap Systems, Inc., a leading provider of integrated payment systems, announces the availability of Paymentech’s host and terminal capture interface via DataTran. The new releases support credit, debit and check processing for existing Paymentech point-of-sale processing applications that have been supported by Datacap products for years at thousands of payment points.

DataTran is a powerful integrated payment interface that enables any business system, regardless of hardware or operating system platform, to communicate with payment processors for card and check verification. Retail systems developers interfaced to Datacap’s current Universal Application Interface can now make Paymentech’s host and terminal capture services available to their merchants.

‘Paymentech has very aggressively pursued markets that increasingly demand integrated terminals,’ said Terry H. Zeigler, Datacap President. ‘Combining Paymentech’s marketing power and Datacap’s access to business systems developers creates significant opportunities for both companies to penetrate new markets.’

‘Datacap is widely recognized as a reliable provider of payment solutions for all types of business systems,’ said George E. Wilcox, Paymentech’s group manager for retail product management. ‘This certification will increase Paymentech’s reach into the integrated systems market, and add to our flexibility in obtaining Transactions from virtually any business systems.’

For more information call Datacap at (215) 997-8989, or Visit our Home Page on the Web at http://www.dcap.com.

Datacap Systems, Inc.

Datacap Systems, Inc., has successfully designed, manufactured and marketed integrated credit/debit/check certification systems, point-of-sale registers and software for retail systems for over 15 years. Datacap’s experience with business system developers and banks/processors has guided the development of products and services that help banks obtain transactions from integrated business systems, and makes it easy for merchants to get their business systems activated and support for payment verification. In the process, Datacap has created partnering relationships between business systems providers and banks for rapid deployment and support of integrated payment verification solutions.

Datacap’s payment verifications interfaces are designed to allow virtually any system, regardless of operating system or hardware platform, to get easy access to payment processing networks for credit, debit, check, EBT and loyalty program processing. Datacap’s products are used in retail, mail/telephone order, hospitality, quick service, lodging, petroleum, parking, auto rental, convenience, medical and government applications.

Paymentech, Inc.

Paymentech, Inc. founded in 1985, provides full-service electronic payment solutions for direct merchant clients as well as third-party transaction processing. Paymentech also offers complete commercial card payment and information programs to businesses and other entities. Paymentech (www.paymentech.com) is the third largest processor of bankcard transactions and a leading issuer of commercial cards in the United States.

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Sub-Prime Woes

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Los Angeles-based Bank Plus Corp. continues to deal with mounting delinquencies and chargeoffs from its venture last year into sub-prime credit cards. According to information released Friday afternoon overall delinquencies (30+ days) hit 22.21% as of Jan. 31. At year-end ’98 delinquency stood at 21.26% and at year-end ’97 delinquency logged in at 10.65%. The bulk of the delinquencies were coming from a sub-prime card program marketed by MMG Direct, Inc. where the 30+ day figure hit 33.57% as of Jan. 31. Bank Plus has terminated all of its sub-prime programs. The bank said Friday that all litigation with American Direct Credit LLC, one of the sub-prime marketing partners, has been dismissed with prejudice. The firm also confirmed Friday that its real estate secured credit card program with First Alliance Mortgage Company has stopped originating new credit card accounts.

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EarthLink VISA

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First USA’s e.card program has been answered as EarthLink and MBNA America Bank announced this morning the new ‘EarthLink VISA Card’. Based Pasadena, CA, EarthLink provides access and hosting solutions to thousands of communities internationally from more than 1,700 points of presence. The company is a haven for Mac users and is the default ISP on Apples iMacs computer. The firm recently formed a broad business relationship with Sprint. Card incentives include: $5 in ‘EarthLink Cash’ immediately upon credit card approval; 2% back on purchases made at the EarthLink Mall; and 0.5% back on any Internet or offline purchases.

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Car Calling Card

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OH-based Reynolds and Reynolds Company introduced prepaid calling card program to assist automotive marketing. The program was developed by Calling Card Promotions, a partnership between Reynolds and MCI WorldCom, and was unveiled at the National Automobile Dealers Association Annual Convention in San Francisco last week. Reynolds’ Calling Card Promotions uses customized or standard prepaid calling cards and includes incentives such as: “1-800-DRIVE ME” rewards new customers with phone minutes for test driving new models; “Consumer Rewards” , a calling card key chain presented to a customer as a thank-you for visiting the dealership with an opportunity to receive 1000 free minutes if they return and purchase a vehicle; “Passport Minutes”, a retention program giving customers free minutes for using dealership services; “Motivation Plus”, a program designed for rewarding top employees throughout the dealership; and “Pocket Billboard” which prints business cards on a prepaid calling card.

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Low and Long

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Following a holiday teaser rate battle Chase Manhattan is marketing, this month, a nine-month, fixed 2.99% rate on its Platinum cards. During the fourth quarter introductory rates were pushed down to as low as 0%. However the 0% rate and other rates under 4% were very short term. In solicitations hitting mailboxes this week, Chase is offering the 2.99% rate for purchases as well as cash advances. The go-to pricing is prime +5.49% for accounts with balances exceeding $2500; prime +7.49% for accounts with balances under $2500; and a punitive rate of prime +13.99%. Applicants who do not qualify for the Platinum program are charged prime +9.49%.

Click here for more information on Chase’s Credit Card Offer

Click on the graphics below to view the different pages of the Application:

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[4]: /cardflash/secure/oldstatic/1999/february/chaseplat2.html
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[10]: /cardflash/secure/oldstatic/1999/february/chaseplat5.html

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AmEx Promotes Arway

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Pamela Arway has been named to the newly created position of Senior Vice President, Global Supplier Relations, for American Express Corporate Services, the division of American Express that offers travel management services to companies. For the last 12 years, Ms. Arway has held leadership positions with Amex Canada Inc., most recently heading its Travel Services Group division.

In her new role, Ms. Arway will be responsible for leading the company’s travel agency relationship with airlines, hotels, car rental companies, tour operators, cruise lines and computer reservation systems. She will transition American Express’ existing supplier relations functions into a closely linked global organization, leveraging American Express’ position as the largest business and leisure travel agency in the world. This new position will be key to advancing the company’s worldwide travel business, providing long-term strategic focus to this highly complex area of the travel industry.

Ms. Arway will be based in New York and will report jointly to Ed Gilligan, President, Corporate Services U.S., and Charles Petruccelli, President, Travel Services Group International. She will directly manage the existing Supplier Relations Groups in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Canada.

“Pam has proven herself as a strong leader and is well versed in the intricacies of the travel industry,” said Charles Petruccelli. “With a rapidly changing environment marked by global airline alliances, consolidation and repeated reductions in travel agency commissions, American Express will benefit from a more active and unified approach to travel supplier relations. We are very excited that Pam has agreed to drive this strategy.”

During her career with American Express in Canada, Ms. Arway has held several leadership positions. These have included: Director, Corporate Card/Business Travel Marketing; Vice-President, Consumer Card Marketing; and Vice-President and General Manager, Consumer Travel. In 1994, she oversaw the integration of Thomas Cook’s travel operation after American Express acquired that company’s worldwide corporate travel management business.

In 1995, Ms. Arway was promoted to her most recent position of Senior Vice President and General Manager, Travel Services Group, Canada. Under her leadership, the company’s travel management business has become a market leader in Canada, winning major new business like the Canadian Government’s Corporate Card program and the travel service contract for the Canadian Department of National Defence.

Ms. Arway has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Marketing Association for 1992-93, is a past-chair of the Executive Committee, and has been on the Board for seven years. She is also a Board Member of the Centre for Research in Women’s Health (CRWH) at Toronto’s Women’s College Hospital since February 1996.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Memorial University in Newfoundland and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Queen’s University in Ontario.

American Express operates the world’s largest travel agency, with business and leisure travel sales worldwide of more than $19.9 billion in 1998. American Express Corporate Services, which includes the American Express Corporate Card, Business Travel Services and Corporate Purchasing Card, assists companies in managing and controlling their business travel and general expenses. It is a unit of American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Express Company — a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.

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Vital CEO

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Vital Processing Services’ board of directors Friday announced the addition of Jonathan J. Palmer as the new president and chief executive officer. The search for a new CEO began nine months ago when Vital CEO Fred Gumbel abruptly resigned. Palmer currently serves as chairman, president, and CEO of Wellspring Resources, a human resources administration outsourcing company, in Jacksonville, FL. He also was with Barnett Bank in Jacksonville, where he served as the chief retail banking and technology executive. Palmer previously held senior positions with Fidelity Bank in Philadelphia, Shearson Lehman Brothers, and Furash and Co.. Palmer will assume his new post on February 15.

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MBNA Pro Bowl Event

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MBNA America Bank, N.A. congratulated the 1998 NFL Teacher of the Year, Michele Eggleton, a computer teacher at St. Augustine High School in San Diego, California, this past weekend’s AFC-NFC Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The award, presented by MBNA, will be presented during a Sunday pregame ceremony to Ms. Eggleton, who was nominated by her former student, defensive tackle Darrell Russell of the Oakland Raiders, will receive a $5,000 grant from the NFL. A $10,000 NFL award will be presented to St. Augustine High School, where Ms. Eggleton is the head of the Computer Department and helped design the school’s computer laboratory. She had taught mathematics for 10 years at the high school. Eggleton also was selected as the “Distinguished Teacher of Mathematics” in San Diego last year. Prior to the position at St. Augustine, Ms. Eggleton taught in junior high school and developed an algebra program for several schools.

The NFL Teacher of the Year program, sponsored by MBNA, was created in 1990 by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and the NFL clubs to honor school teachers who had positive influence on NFL players. MBNA is pleased to sponsor this annual award as part of the company’s longstanding commitment to support education initiatives through scholarships and grants.

The NFL Teacher of the Year program is also part of MBNA’s relationship with the NFL, which has endorsed MBNA as the official credit card issuer of the NFL and for its 31 member teams. More than 1.2 million loyal fans have chosen to carry a National Football League credit card from MBNA.

MBNA’s sports marketing sector includes endorsements from more than 600 sports organizations, including Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), many of the National Basketball Association teams, the PGA of America and the American Quarter Horse Association. MBNA has endorsements in every major sport, including football, baseball, basketball, tennis, hockey, soccer, golf, horse racing, and automobile racing.

MBNA Corporation, a bank holding company and parent of MBNA America Bank, N.A., a national bank, has $59.6 billion in managed loans. MBNA, the largest independent credit card lender in the world, also provides retail deposit, consumer loan, and insurance products.

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Bay Card

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MBNA and Save The Bay, a non-profit organization in Rhode Island established to protect and preserve Narragansett Bay,signed an affinity agreement Friday to issue a credit card. Established in 1970, Save The Bay has picked up the support of more than 20,000 individuals, businesses, and community groups primarily in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. The Save The Bay program is part of MBNA’s Special Interest Sector, which has credit card programs with 400 membership and cause-related organizations, including more than 100 wildlife and environmental-related groups. Other special interest card programs from MBNA include: Ducks Unlimited, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, and the Wilderness Society.

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CCS & Chevron

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Card Capture Services ATM Program Selected By Chevron

Potential for over 8,000 ATM locations in 23 states

Card Capture Services, Inc., a leading independent ATM provider, announces the selection of its CCSExpress ATM program by Chevron Corp. The agreement, signed November 23, is the only ATM program approved by Chevron for its non-corporate owned locations. Triton 9600 series ATM hardware has been selected for the deployment.

National Selection Process

In response to requests from dealers for a standardized ATM program, Chevron Products Company, a division of Chevron Corp. conducted a search for a national ATM provider. CCS was selected from a pool of five bank and independent finalists.

According to Stephen O’Grady, ATM Project Leader for Chevron Products Company, ‘CCS was the best fit among companies we reviewed. They were able to provide a customized program to meet our specific ATM needs, and CCS’ existing Chevron customers were impressed with the company’s service and reliability.’

‘We are very pleased to partner with Chevron in providing this unique service to their dealers and convenience to their customers,’ comments Dave Grano, President and CEO of CCS.

Customized for Chevron Satellite Link

All Chevron dealers are connected to Chevron’s proprietary VSAT satellite communications network. The network connection enables Chevron to collect electronic data, such as credit card, POS (point of sale) and ATM transaction information, in a central location for tracking and analysis. Typically merchant-owned ATMs use dial-up communication technology. For Chevron, the ATMs will use Chevron’s existing satellite communication technology, thereby eliminating the cost of a dial-up connection. In this configuration, the Triton 9600 connects directly to the satellite interface unit in the store. CCS, Chevron and Triton Systems worked together to develop this link.

How the program works

The CCSExpress ATM program for Chevron offers easy to maintain, low-cost Triton 9600 series hardware and a CCS turn-key ATM management program. Through CCS, Chevron dealers will receive a special rate on ATM hardware, transaction processing, machine maintenance, 24-hour customer service support, machine monitoring, accounting and reporting. Chevron has negotiated a strong transaction revenue sharing program for its independent locations.

About Chevron

Chevron Corporation, one of the world’s largest integrated petroleum companies, is involved in every aspect of the petroleum industry. It is active in more than 90 countries and employs about 34,000 people worldwide. In the United States, Chevron is the leading marketer of petroleum products and the third largest producer of natural gas.

About Triton

As the leading manufacturer of cash-dispensing ATMs for off premise locations, Triton Systems is committed to redefining and leading the retail market for cash delivery systems. As the third largest manufacturer of ATMs and ATM management software, Triton has been named two years in a row to Inc. Magazine’s ‘Inc. 500’ ranking of the fastest growing privately-held companies in the U.S. Triton was also named one of America’s 25 most successful small manufacturers by Industry Week Growing Companies in November 1998. Triton ATMs are in use in over 25,000 locations in the U.S., with recent expansion into Canada, Latin America and other regions throughout the world. The company is headquartered in Long Beach, Mississippi. For more information, visit the Triton Systems website at www.tritonsystemsinc.com or contact Mary Edith Dressel, mdressel@trtn.com, 800-367-7191, ext. 3122

About CCS

Portland, Oregon-based Card Capture Services, Inc. (CCS) offers turn-key ATM programs to a growing base of retailers, banks and entertainment venues nationwide. Founded in 1993, the company currently has nearly 100 employees, a nationwide network of 30 independently contracted dealers and 5,770 ATMs nationwide. For more information about CCS, contact Amy Paterson, amy@lanemarketing.com, 503-221-0480, or visit the company’s web site at www.CCSExpress.com.

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Credit Complaints Rise in IL

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For the third consecutive year, home repair and telephone “slamming” remained the top two consumer complaints in Attorney General Jim Ryan’s office while consumer credit problems climbed from sixth to third place.

Ten percent of the consumer complaints received by Ryan’s Consumer Fraud Bureau — 2,395 complaints — involved construction and home repair problems, according to statistics compiled by the bureau. Slamming, or switching a person’s phone service without his or her consent, was close behind with 1,788 complaints.

Consumer credit problems, such as billing errors or unsolicited credit cards, leaped by more than 700 complaints between 1997 and 1998, going from 927 to 1,630. The annual Consumer Protection Week beginning Feb. 1 has chosen credit as its focus in order to teach consumers about how to protect themselves against credit fraud.

Following is the Top Ten list of consumer complaints received by the Attorney General’s Office during calendar 1998.

Home Repair 2,395 10.2%
Slamming 1,788 7.6%
Credit 1,630 6.9%
Used Vehicle Sales 1,393 5.9%
Cramming 1,246 5.3%
Auto Repair 1,229 5.2%
Contests, Promotions & Scheme 1,159 4.9%
Mail Order 894 3.8%
Electronic Devices 850 3.6%
Business & Professional Services 542 2.3%

“With this week designated as National Consumer Protection Week, now is a good time for all Illinois consumers to be aware that they can be victims of scams,” Ryan said. “Last year, as in most years, our office received nearly 24,000 individual consumer complaints. This is a very large number, but it probably represents only a fraction of the actual number of people who are victimized but simply don’t report it.”

In particular, the Attorney General has been in the forefront of protecting consumers against telecommunications fraud, including slamming and cramming. The Attorney General has filed more lawsuits against companies that slam consumers than any other state.

Cramming, the newest telecommunications fraud, represents unauthorized monthly charges to a consumer’s phone bill, such as voice mail. Illinois was the first state in the nation to sue fraudulent companies for cramming.

“Our list shows the wide variety of consumer problems facing Illinoisans,” Ryan said. “Consumers — especially the elderly who are so often targeted — can follow some simple rules to avoid becoming victims. Never give out credit card or other personal information to people you don’t know. Do business with individuals or businesses you either know personally or who have been referred to you by someone you trust. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is and should be avoided. And never be pressured into making a quick decision which you might regret later.”

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Diebold Record

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Diebold reported yesterday it shipped a record number of upgrade modules in 1998, matching unit shipments for the first time in the company’s history. The company shipped 26,286 self-service terminals and 26,211 upgrade modules worldwide in 1998, resulting in hardware revenue of approximately $500,000,000. However Diebold says the company would no longer break out self-service unit shipments when reporting its global self-service revenue in the future. The firm believes unit shipments alone are no longer a valid barometer in measuring market activity. Diebold says the emergence of low-end cash dispensers, as well as the growing importance of upgrade modules, has precipitated a change in the way the market should be measured. One research firm, GartnerGroup Financial Services, says it will measure marketshare for all major ATM providers by revenue.

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