Showing posts with label Dick Durbin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dick Durbin. Show all posts

POSTED BY JOHN B. FRANK MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2010  - 6:18 PST

WASHINGTONJune 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Electronic Payments Coalition issued the following statement in response to the proposed changes to Senator Dick Durbin's debit interchange amendment to financial reform:

"Senator Durbin has underscored his commitment to big box retailers and their bottom lines through his so-called compromise. The fact that he has to carve anyone out to provide 'protection' from his amendment gives some indication as to the damage this amendment will cause. Consumers will pay higher fees, lose rewards programs, and have limited choices for debit cards due to the disruption this amendment will bring to the economics of the debit card market. We will continue to fight to ensure that retailers do not succeed in their decade-long lobbying campaign to shift the cost of what they pay to accept cards onto the backs of consumers."
About Electronic Payments Coalition
The Electronic Payments Coalition is dedicated to protecting consumer value, choice, and competition in electronic payments systems. The coalition is a broad-based group of payment card networks, financial services companies, and financial services trade associations whose primary goal is to educate policy-makers, consumers, and the media about the value of electronic payments systems — including economic growth, convenience, speed, reliability, and security — and to ensure the continued growth of global commerce by promoting consumer choice and the stability of the vast payment networks that connect millions of consumers with millions of retailers each and every day.




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Posted by John B. Frank Monday, June 21, 2010 0 comments

U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, of Illinois.Dick Durbin Image via Wikipedia
Ahead of the Bell: Visa, Mastercard tumble on vote



(AP) — PHILADELPHIA - Shares of Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. fell Friday after the Senate voted to impose curbs on debit card fees paid by businesses to card issuers.

Late Thursday, the Senate passed an amendment proposed by Democratic Whip Dick Durbin that would lower so-called "swipe fees" paid by business when a customer uses a debit card. The amendment is part of a broader Wall Street reform bill, which still needs to get final approval. Businesses pay similar fees for credit card transactions.
"High swipe fees are yet another way that banks and credit card companies hurt small businesses by charging fees that cut into already tight profit margins," Durbin, who represents Illinois, said in a statement.
If the amendment becomes law, it will hurt Visa and Mastercard because its lessens their ability to set prices, regulates debit card interchange fees for the first time and makes negotiations with customers more complicated, Janney Capital Markets analyst Thomas McCrohan said in a note to clients.
Visa shares tumbled $7.42, or 8.7 percent, to $78.31 in premarket trading. Competitor Mastercard slid $22.31, or 9.6 percent, to $210.
While Durbin's legislation only affects debit cards issued by financial institutions with more than $10 billion in assets, there's concern that credit card fees would attract more regulatory oversight.
"The amendment also opens the door for additional scrutiny of credit card interchange fees down the road," McCrohan said.
The Durbin amendment could have unintended consequences as well, he said in a research note, as card issuers raise other fees to make up for lower debit card fees.
Credit Suisse analyst Moshe Orenbuch estimates that a 20 percent reduction of these fees could result in a 2 percent to 4 percent drop in revenue for Visa and Mastercard. He added that his estimate isn't a forecast necessarily, since both companies can act to offset the fee drop.
FBR Capital Markets analyst Scott Valentin said any share weakness should be viewed as a buying opportunity because of the long-term trend of consumers moving from paper forms of payment to electronic.
© 2010 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.


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Posted by John B. Frank Friday, May 14, 2010 0 comments

U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, of Illinois.Dick Durbin Image via Wikipedia
Ahead of the Bell: Visa, Mastercard tumble on vote



(AP) — PHILADELPHIA - Shares of Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. fell Friday after the Senate voted to impose curbs on debit card fees paid by businesses to card issuers.

Late Thursday, the Senate passed an amendment proposed by Democratic Whip Dick Durbin that would lower so-called "swipe fees" paid by business when a customer uses a debit card. The amendment is part of a broader Wall Street reform bill, which still needs to get final approval. Businesses pay similar fees for credit card transactions.
"High swipe fees are yet another way that banks and credit card companies hurt small businesses by charging fees that cut into already tight profit margins," Durbin, who represents Illinois, said in a statement.
If the amendment becomes law, it will hurt Visa and Mastercard because its lessens their ability to set prices, regulates debit card interchange fees for the first time and makes negotiations with customers more complicated, Janney Capital Markets analyst Thomas McCrohan said in a note to clients.
Visa shares tumbled $7.42, or 8.7 percent, to $78.31 in premarket trading. Competitor Mastercard slid $22.31, or 9.6 percent, to $210.
While Durbin's legislation only affects debit cards issued by financial institutions with more than $10 billion in assets, there's concern that credit card fees would attract more regulatory oversight.
"The amendment also opens the door for additional scrutiny of credit card interchange fees down the road," McCrohan said.
The Durbin amendment could have unintended consequences as well, he said in a research note, as card issuers raise other fees to make up for lower debit card fees.
Credit Suisse analyst Moshe Orenbuch estimates that a 20 percent reduction of these fees could result in a 2 percent to 4 percent drop in revenue for Visa and Mastercard. He added that his estimate isn't a forecast necessarily, since both companies can act to offset the fee drop.
FBR Capital Markets analyst Scott Valentin said any share weakness should be viewed as a buying opportunity because of the long-term trend of consumers moving from paper forms of payment to electronic.
© 2010 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.


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Posted by John B. Frank 0 comments

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