• Our fraud prevention article, which describes the actions you can take to help be part of the solution.
• Growing our business together in ways that support our separate strategies and ideas is important. We believe that the flexibility in the Discover Extras program provides you with an opportunity to specifically target potential new customers and increase sales and transaction amounts. 
• PULSE Points and the article on customer loyalty, both of which offer insights into consumer spending and preferences around payment choice. 
• The topic of EMV 
• What is happening in Washington 

Download the latest issue now by clicking on the link below: 

Discover_Momentum_Newsletter_Spring_2013

Unlock the Power of QR Codes for Your Business

They’ve been around for years, and lately they seem to be everywhere. Businesses of all types are using QR codes in advertising and signage, on business cards, and on their websites, social media and Facebook pages. If you’re not already using QR codes, there are many good reasons to get started.

This little square pattern can be a significant part of your marketing plan, and one of your most cost-effective promotional tools.

QR codes enable you to deliver detailed messages, or messages that may be too long to fit on a sign, an ad, or your business card. They are a great way to engage your target audience directly, since only those interested in your product are likely to scan your QR code.

Consumers have become familiar with QR technology over the years, and that technology is now in the hands of everyone who uses a smartphone. So why not capitalize on this popularity and use QR codes to reach your target audience? A quick online search will yield many solutions for generating a QR code, and many of them are free. All you need to do is enter the website you want your customers to visit, download the unique pattern, then place it on your marketing materials to guide customers to your business.

At Discover, we’re committed to providing tools and information that you can put to work for your business. QR codes help you offer more options for your customers, which in turn can mean increased profits for your business. Watch this video to learn how.

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Surprisingly, in the US alone, more than 60% of B2B payments are still paid by check, and almost 90% of companies still manually enter and re-key remittance data. Ariba’s current customers have the desire to adopt a system that improves this process. In fact, according to the EMC study, almost 80% of companies are likely or very likely to ‘convert the majority of B2B payments from checks to electronic payments in the next three years¹.’

Available in 2014, AribaPay gives buyers the benefits of fewer paper checks, fewer payment inquiries and lower processing costs. Sellers can benefit from on demand, real-time remittance information and faster reconciliation with more transparency.

AribaPay is the latest chapter in Discover’s drive to further shape the emerging payments landscape and offer our network capabilties to new and different partners around the world.

To learn more about Discover’s innovative solutions in emerging commerce, click here.

¹Source: “Electronic Payments & Remittance Data: Pain Points & Solutions,” Federal Reserve Bankes of Minneapolis & Chicago, December 2012

Watch this video for more information.

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Facebook: The ultimate in word of
mouth for your business

A Facebook business page offers many potential benefits. No matter how small your business, a Facebook page can put you in touch with many of the one billion registered Facebook users worldwide. You have the option to set up a Facebook business page as an artist, a band or a public figure, a cause, a community, or an entertainment venue. Having a Facebook business page allows you to easily build a closer relationship with your audience and customers, and it doesn’t have to cost a penny.

A business page, done well, can be a vital cross-marketing tool, as it will drive traffic to your website. Facebook users are loyal and enthusiastic. After someone “likes” your page or a post on your page, they are statistically more apt to recommend it to others, and there is a higher probability that they will make a purchase. Plus, just the act of clicking “Like” serves as an instant testimonial to all their Facebook friends. Consider adding an incentive for viewers to “like” your page (i.e., sweepstakes, giveaways, important information, etc.).

At Discover, we’re here to help your business grow. We created this video to show you how easy it is to set up a Facebook business page, and just as important, what to do once your page is established. This video walks you through the setup, and then provides some great ideas for keeping your page fresh and interesting. Watch here and learn more.

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Read Press Release

ETA is the premier business and networking event of the year for the payments industry. With nearly 200 exhibitors, more than 3000 top industry executives, dozens of conference sessions, more floor space and an increased media presence, this year will be the biggest in ETA’s history, reflecting the rapid growth in our $3.6 trillion industry.

Source: http://www2.electran.org/am13/

Award winners will be announced live on April 30 during the payments industry’s largest annual event, the ETA Annual Meeting and Expo, which runs from April 30 to May 2 in New Orleans.  

As Executive Vice President and President of Payment Services for Discover Financial Services (DFS), Diane leads the Payment Services division, managing three payments networks: Discover Network, Diners Club International and the PULSE ATM/debit Network. Under her leadership, overall Payment Services volume grew 13 percent from the previous year, to end 2011 at a record $281 billion. Diane has been instrumental in shaping the ease and flexibility of payment offerings such as Discover’s open‐acquiring model to the electronic transaction arena for ETA constituents. Diane has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance by American Banker Magazine for the past five consecutive years, moving up each year on the list to her most recent No. 7 ranking in 2012.

The ETA Awards and Recognition Committee, a panel of industry executives, narrowed down dozens of nominations to a group of finalists, ultimately voting on a winner in each category. The recipients will be announced at the ETA President’s Dinner on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in New Orleans. Tickets to the event at the ETA Annual Meeting and Expo attendees can be obtained here: http://www2.electran.org/am13/doc/AM13RegisterSpecialEvent.pdf.

“We are thrilled to have received so many excellent nominations for the ETA Star Awards,” said Jason Oxman, ETA CEO. “The ETA awards program, symbolizes a tradition of excellence and commitment in the Payments Industry. I look forward to seeing the winners announced, and I’m thrilled that ETA is honoring Diane Offreins as the ETA Distinguished Payments Professional in recognition of her enormous contributions to our industry.”

Finalists were named in the following categories: Business Partner of the Year, Member of the Year, Committee of the Year, Committee Volunteer of the Year, ISO of the Year and Technology Innovation of the Year.

The ETA Star Awards Finalists include:

Committee of the Year
Mobile Payments
Education
Government Relations
ISO Practices

Committee Volunteer of the Year
Scott Goldthwaite, ROAM
Curt Hensley, Impact Payments Recruiting
Mike Cottrell, TriSource Solutions
Bob Baldwin, Heartland Payments

Member of the Year
Deana Rich, Rich Consulting
Peggy Bekavac Olson, Strategic Marketing
Henry Helgeson, Merchant Warehouse

Business Partner of the Year
Discover
Merchant Warehouse
SecurityMetrics
NPC, A Vantiv Company

ISO of the Year
TransNational Bankcard
Priority Payment Systems
North American Bancard

Technology Innovation of the Year
Merchant Warehouse Genius
ShopKeep POS

Source:  Electran.org

2.5 Days, 600+ Retail, Hospitality and Industry Executives, 65+ Presenters and 12+ Hours of Unparalleled Networking Opportunities – RAMP IV

Retail Payments, Marketing & Technology Executives meet to make informed end-to-end decisions In order to unlock the true power of mobile in retail.

Learn more about this event.

Source:  retailramp.com

Join fellow payment veterans and innovators to network, learn and gain invaluable industry insight during the leading cards and payments event of Spring.   

A featured speaker at this event will be Joe Hurley, SVP, Global Business Development, Discover Financial Services:

Monday, April 8, 2013
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
THE POWER OF STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS

Learn more about this event.

Source:  Paymentsource.com

OMI’s online video tutorials make it easy for you or an employee to learn how to effectively use social media, email, blogs, and websites to find new customers and boost sales.

As a thank-you for accepting Discover, you can receive two free months unlimited access to OMI. But HURRY- offer only valid for the first 600 merchants to register here.