ACQUIRING

(1) Streamline to Become a Domestic German Acquirer, May/June p6, (CN).

(2) Ambitious euroConex, May/June p8, (CN).

(3) More Business for euroConex, Sept/Oct, p4, (CN).

BRIEFS         

(4) Mar/Apr: Spain defers EMV; HBOS splits with Cetelem; ABN Amro signs up with MasterCard; Danish snack for Crédit Agricole; UK transactions in 2003.

CARD MARKETS

(5) Off-line Debit Gets Scorched, Jan/Feb p21. Lower interchange, new freedom for US merchants to choose card brands, and other changes have caused the old world of debit cards to go up in flames. What will the new world look like? Plus: Ploy or Painful Lesson from Wal-Mart ? (SB) and First Data Sells NYCE (SB).

(6) Credit Card Launches in Russia and Poland, Jan/Feb p5, (CN).

(7) UK Credit Card Market Facing Final Phase of Consolidation, Jan/Feb p5, (CN). Plus: Cashback Won’t Go Away ­ Morgan Stanley, (SB).

(8) EC Hits Out at “CB” for ‘Secret Agreement,’ July/Aug, p5, (CN).

(9) RBS Buys Bibit and Hanco, July/Aug, p8, (CN).

(10) Cards Conquer Cash in UK market, July/Aug, p4, (CN).

(11) ECB’s Tumpel-Gugerell Calls for Action on SEPA, Sept/Oct, p5, (CN).

(12) AmEx Sues the Card Schemes, Nov/Dec, p4, (CN).

(13) Legal Win for UK Credit Card Issuers, Nov/Dec, p5, (CN).

(14) Change on the Cards, Nov/Dec, p20. Credit cards are winners under Basel II, the banking industry’s new capital adequacy accord ­ but its application to credit card lending is complex, particularly under the IRB (internal ratings-based) approach.

CARD PROCESSING

(15) Card Processing ­ M&A in Slovakia and Czech Republic, Jan/Feb p4, (CN). Plus: SiNSYS contract with KBC, (SB).

(16) M&A and the Changing Face of Europe’s Processors, Mar/Apr, p25. European interbank payment processors face increased competition. They must adapt by becoming independent and partnering with other organizations to remain competitive.

(17) Doctor’s Orders, July/Aug, p5. Cards tied to new healthcare accounts, coupled with widespread card connectivity, are leading US providers and insurers to adopt electronic payments networks for broader claims-processing applications.

(18) Chaotic Infrastructure Needs Radical Change ­ Visa, Sept/Oct, p5, (CN).

COUNTRY AND REGIONAL REPORTS

(19) Cash Challenge, Jan/Feb p9. Of the big EU economies, Italy’s is the most dominated by cash. But the building blocks are in place for an accelerating pace of electronic payments. Plus: 6 tables.

(20) Seeking Integration, Mar/Apr p21. The Nordic region, particularly its Scandinavian element, is one of the most closely-integrated parts of Europe. Its banks, however, emphasize that the process is far from complete and needs to be stepped up. Plus: 5 tables.

(21) China Opens Up, May/June, p21. Foreign banks now have a credit card beach-head in China. This opening portends a boom in transaction volume, but the road will be anything but smooth.

(22) Ukraine Unleashed, Sept/Oct, p18. Seven years after bank card issuing began, Ukraine is experiencing an explosive rate of growth in Maestro and Visa Electron card programmes, spearheaded by a group of progressive banks. Plus: 5 tables.

COVER STORIES

(23) Searching for the Optimum Model, Jan/Feb, p12. European processing companies operate in an environment of oversupply and sub-economic volumes. The industry is in a state of flux and must choose between severally radically different strategic options. Plus: 6 tables.

(24) Profiting from Confusion, Mar/Apr, p14. Broad globalization trends favour the biggest POS terminal manufacturers. But because of flaws in the EMV process, many countries continue to need niche POS products, leaving an array of market opportunities for the smaller players. Plus: Troubled Waters for Oil, (SB).

(25) The Unstoppable Growth of Debit, May/June, p9. Driven by consumers, not by banks, debit cards are changing the payment cards landscape ­ marginalizing cheques, cannibalizing credit cards and mounting an assault on cash. Plus: 6 tables.

(26) Sponsoring Sport, July/Aug, p9. The card schemes take a high profile at sporting events with their global sponsorships ­ but are they good value for money?

(27) Processors from Mars, Bankers from Venus, Sept/Oct, p10. Processors are still struggling to become fully customer-focused and move to an orbit that synchronizes with banks rather than collides ­ while banks want tailor-made services for a commodity price.

(28) Looking East, Nov/Dec, p12. The number of payment cards issued in Europe continues to slow down, even in the new EU member states ­ but there is scope for tremendous growth in the region’s emerging markets. Plus: Notes and Definitions, (SB), and 7 tables.

FRAUD

(29) UK Figures Show  Growth in CNP Fraud, Mar/Apr p12, (CN).

(30) The Weakest Link, May/June, p16. With chip and PIN implementation bearing down on high street fraud, card-not-present is emerging as the weak link in the payment system.

INTERNET PAYMENTS

(31) Relief for the Chargeback Blues, July/Aug, p27. High chargeback rates pose one of the greatest obstacles to the growth of e-commerce. But with the aid of a broad range of anti-fraud measures, on-line retailers finally are experiencing a dramatic decrease in chargebacks.

INTERVIEW

(32) Alex Labak, Nov/Dec, p8.  MasterCard Europe’s new president talks to ECR.

ISSUER STRATEGIES

(33) Garanti Promotes Bonus Card Outside Turkey, Jan/Feb, p8, (CN).

(34) Behind the AmEx/MBNA Deal, Mar/Apr p5, (CN).

(35) JPMorgan Chase/Bank One ­ a New US Colossus, Mar/Apr, p8 (CN).

(36) MasterCard Logo for Diners Club Cards, May/June, p8 (CN).

(37) CIBC Dumps AmEx, July/Aug, p8, (CN).

(38) SEB Kort Buys Danish Eurocard Franchise, July/Aug, p6, (CN).

(39) Egg Pulls Out of France, Sept/Oct, p8, (CN).

(40) Russian Consumer Credit in the Spotlight, Sept/Oct, p6, (CN).

(41) Co-branding Programmes Give Scope for Innovation, Nov/Dec, p6, (CN).

MOBILE COMMERCE

(42) Jan/Feb: Finland m-payment trial • NTT launches FeliCa trial • Siemens’ m-tickets • PayPass providers.

(43) Vodafone Investing ¤ millions in m-Payments, Mar/Apr p6 (CN).

(44) Mar/Apr: Visa expands CEMEA m-payments project • Takashimaya introduces m-payments with JCB • Dutch railways to trial SMS ticket service.

(45) Simpay’s Tim Jones on the Record, May/June, p30. Plus: Simpay Postpones Wallet Plans (SB) and Simpay Outsources to First Data’s Encorus.

(46) July/August: Another step towards commercial launch for Simpay • Mobileway and MasterCard in SMS marketing campaign • Encorus powers ‘Mobile Wallet’ • Operators call for open terminals.

PAYMENT SYSTEMS

(47) e-money in Europe, Mar/Apr, p29. With Paypal and Oslo-based Contopronto obtaining e-money licences, there is renewed confusion over EU e-money regulations. Should mobile operators apply for banking licences?

(48) Complying with SEPA, May/June, p4. Plus: SEPA rules, OK? (SB) and MasterCard’s SEPA licence (SB).

(49) Harmonizing Interchange, July/Aug, p14. Retailers and European officials see a single, universal MIF as a logical corollary of SEPA’s borderless EU concept. But the consequences will be uncomfortable and unpredictable unless MIF rates are allowed to converge over a lengthy period.

(50) Murky Future, Sept/Oct, p23. Interchange is meant to be the pricing mechanism which balances the interests of various parties to a card transaction, but it has come under increasing attack from merchants as transactions have become electronic. The only certainty in this debate is that settling it will be a messy business

PRODUCTS & CONTRACTS

(51) Jan/Feb: MasterCard and eFunds in debit processing alliance • GZS unveils eMAXS • Tieto/Credit Bank • Dutch public transport goes for Mifare • CreditCall contract in Rotterdam • BNP Paribas selects Axalto • B&B-ATMOS • Easy as ABC  with GIG and Collis • OCS contracts • Visa-Philips alliance progress report • Visa launches VISOR with Fair, Isaac • OpenWay-Wincor • MagTek’s Magneprint • MC Advisors ­ one-stop consultancy shop.

(52) Mar/Apr: MULTePAY delivers e-vouchers • US and UK deals for CreditCall • Clear2Pay buys Element • EFT Consultants • Trintech’s SmartPIN LINK • Luottokunta contracts • ID Data buys Mids & Horsey • APACS Standard 70 • BA secures e-commerce channels • CardBASE launch • Cardpoint deal with Welcome Break • Nomad African contract • 02 contactless payments • Thales/Link • TranSys roll-out • VeriFone in petrol retailer deal • Dione advance orders for Xplorer.

(53) May/June: Visa launches EMV combi cards • aiCorp links with Informa • Atos ATM top-ups • Norsk Tipping Multos contract with Buypass • Austria Card/Postbank • Cardpoint in Germany • AIB’s mc2 card • AIB deal with Norkom • More Magic from Axalto • Nomad/BZWBK • ABN Amro’s pre-paid Maestro for KLM • New CreditCall customer ID system • Dione launched MasterCard’s M-TIP • Contactless terminal from ASK • CTL’s PRIME 3 • Company Rosan • Hansabank/TietoEnator • Credit Andorra • Axalto deal with ING • Ingenico launches Pay@table.

(54) July/August: TSYS wins JP Morgan Chase contract • First Data buys Delta Singular’s processing unit • VeriFone launches ‘Ocius’ with Commidea • Pago’s ‘Fraud Screening’ service • New card contracts for ID Data • MasterCard back with Wal-Mart • Danmønt phased out • Axalto is No 1 - Gartner • CTL solution for HVB • EFT Consultants • EMC deal with Visa • ERG settles Proton terms • Experian’s Hunter • Nomad in UK hosting deals • ATM outsourcing agreements • Gemplus in EMV deals • Omron/Aures • Hypercom/MKS • ReD/Travelocity.

(55) September/October: Visa’s VISOR • ABN Amro issues Multos card in India • SEB selects Clear2pay solution • CR2 partners with Tata • CTL in Pakistan deals • Nationwide extends First Data contract • Europay France instals IRIS • Ingenico’s Unicapt • M&S contract for ReD • Dione and ITD Partner in Poland • Samsung launches 256k smart card • Setec wins Swedish passport contract • Thales/TietoEnator deal in Azerbaijan • Card contracts for TransLink project • VeriFone-Burger King.

(56) November/December: Rising ATM fraud hits UK and US issuers • In-branch smart card issuance • CTL upgrades PRIME • Experian buys Equifax Italy • Introducing Savantor • ING Bank Romania rolls out with Nomad • S1 buys Mosaic • Cardpoint in Germany • VeriFone alliance with Mosaic and ID Data • Retail Logic launches plug-and-play chip and PIN • SSB anti-fraud deal with ACI • Internet banking contracts • Certegy contract with LaSer.

SMART CARDS

(57) Leveraging the EMV Platform, Jan/Feb p17. As banks across Europe roll out their EMV programmes, the focus is on getting the chip infrastructure in place ­ and in several countries, banks are starting to look again at the potential for multi-application smart cards.

(58) US Smart Cards ­ Off Target, Mar/Apr p4, (CN). Collapse of Target’s Visa project spells the end for contact-based smart payment cards in the US.

(59) Banks and Governments ­ Can They Cooperate? May/June, p32. The outlook for bank-government cooperation in ID. Plus: Not Endorsed, Barclaycard’s Endorse project (SB).

(60) No Business Case for EMV ­ Landesbank Berlin, July/Aug, p5, (CN).

(61) Going Dutch, Nov/Dec, p23. The nationwide mass transit ticketing project in the Netherlands will lift convenience levels for travellers ­ and cut fraud losses by 40%.

TECHNOLOGY

(62) Biometrics’ Cinderella Story, May/June, p25. For years, biometrics technology languished, afflicted by high costs and spotty results, but then came 9/11, an epidemic of identity theft, and rising transaction costs. Now fingerprint scans seem poised to break into the electronic payments mainstream.

(63) Uphill Struggle, Sept/Oct, p30. After the electronic purse debacle, getting Europe’s banks to take an interest in multi-application smart cards is hard work ­ but GlobalPlatform says it is starting to make progress. Plus table.

(64) NFC Steals the Show, Nov/Dec, p28. While the use of contactless cards has been commonplace in mass transit ticketing applications for several years, activity has only built up more recently in NFC (near field communications)-based open payment applications. Plus: NFC or RFID? (SB) and NFC Forum (SB).

(65) POS Terminals ­ Buoyant Manufacturers Seek Out New Market Segments, Nov/Dec, p32. Ten years ago, manufacturers of POS terminals did most of their business with the banks. Today, the industry is reaching out to a widening spectrum of customers ­ retailers, public sector bodies, processors, taxi fleets and lottery operators.