Sheehan's Consulting LLC: September 2014

Monday, September 22, 2014

“Apple Pay” and Credit Unions

Just when you think you are caught up and what could be next? Here it is “Apple Pay”!

For the banks and credit card networks, Apple Pay could threaten some revenue streams, since Apple is getting a financial piece of every transaction. In return, the banking industry is hoping for improved POS security and privacy benefits as well as inroads into an expanded online and mobile purchasing universe.

Reports indicate that the financial services industry began working on the Apple Pay project in January 2013, when Apple had the first concrete conversations with the credit card networks. In the summer of 2013, Apple approached the top six banks involved in the project (American Express, Bank of America, Capital One Bank, Chase, Citi and Wells Fargo), without revealing what other banks were involved.

Willing participation of the top six banks as well as Barclaycard, Navy Federal Credit Union, PNC Bank, USAA and U.S. Bank suggests both Apple’s power in the mobile space and the recognition that there are other payment solutions being promoted that are not as willing to work with the banking industry. For instance, the Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX) would prefer to replace the card networks altogether. This is highlighted by the fact that the two most prominent members of MCX, Walmart and Best Buy, announced that they would not accept Apple Pay

To read more and see who the players are and how it will Impact Non-Participating Banks and credit unions visit - http://thefinancialbrand.com/42321/banks-promote-apple-digital-payments/

Understanding EMC for Credit Unions CU24

In order to understand the significance of implementing the new EMV credit cards as discussed in the previous posting , CU24 has provided the following whitepaper to better assist you in understanding the change;

https://ncofcu.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/White_papers/understanding%20emv%20for%20%20credit%20unions%20april%202013%20cu24.pdf

Credit Unions Lag as EMV Chip Deadline Slowly Approaches

By David Morrison CU Times

As the October 2015 implementation deadline approaches, some leaders who helped credit unions launch EMV chip-equipped payment cards estimated that fewer than 50% of card-issuing cooperatives would have both EMV-equipped credit and debit cards ready in time.
Oct. 15 next year marks the point when the cards’ brands have said liability for fraud losses will shift to the party that has not put EMV cards in place. This means that the party, either the issuer or merchant, that does not support EMV assumes liability for counterfeit card transactions, possibly costing or saving credit unions significant amounts of money.
“Credit unions are definitely gearing up and picking up the pace,” said Barney Moore, manager of card consulting services for Card Services for Credit Unions, the association of credit unions that use the services of payment processor FIS. “But it seems unlikely that they will have gotten it done by next October.”
Moore cited concerns about the costs of issuing the chip-enabled cards among credit unions, as well as delays in ironing out technical details with EMV-equipped debit cards. Another hurdle includes bottlenecks among plastic card suppliers, he added.
“We are urging credit unions that might not be ready to pull the trigger to at least get the project started and get into a queue for a chance to get EMV cards,” Moore advised.