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Press Release: The Value of Rewards

Electronic Payments Coalition | March 12, 2019

Electronic Payments Coalition (EPC) released a report today on the value of debit and credit card rewards programs for merchants and consumers across all income levels. The report highlights that the vast majority of consumers own at least one credit card, including nearly two-thirds of adults earning less than $40,000 per year. This report shows that more than 90% of all credit cardholder spending was charged to rewards cards in 2016, and consumer preference for spending on rewards cards versus non-rewards cards holds true across income groups, with lower-income cardholders using their rewards cards for more than 70% of their spending.
The report also shows that rewards cards provide a host of benefits for merchants. Through a phenomenon known as “ticket lift,” where debit and credit card transactions are 2-4 times larger than cash transactions, and, relative to a non-rewards consumer credit card, rewards cards are associated with an average transaction size that is 25-60% higher.

“This report stands in line with what we’ve been saying since the Durbin Amendment was signed into law. The vast majority of consumers across all income levels use credit cards and prefer to use cards with rewards programs because of the value they provide, whether through convenience and security or by earning cash-back, airline miles, or hotel stays,” said Jeffrey A. Tassey, Chairman of the Board of EPC. “Retailers continuously criticize rewards programs for their higher interchange fees, when, in reality, the benefits outweigh the costs through increased sales, lower costs, faster transactions, and prompt and guaranteed payments. In fact, retailers often operate their own in-store rewards programs to drive net spending by incentivizing consumers to participate through lower prices and discounts at the shelves.”

The report also describes the dynamics of a two-sided market where a platform or service serves multiple end-users, which in the case of rewards cards includes cardholders and merchants. EPC found that the value derived from using the electronic payments system depends on the extent to which both groups participate. Ultimately, the price to participate balances the need to attract merchants with the need to increase the number of cardholders.

To view EPC’s Report on the value of rewards, click here.
EPC Study Reveals Value of Rewards Cards for Consumers and Merchants

Electronic Payments Coalition | March 12, 2019
EPC Study Reveals How the Durbin Amendment Tipped the Scales at the Expense of Consumers

Electronic Payments Coalition | December 6, 2018

Durbin Amendment, Interchange Fees
Experts Weigh in on Harmful Effects of the Durbin Amendment

Electronic Payments Coalition | November 9, 2018

In the past week, multiple experts have offered insight into the failings of the Durbin amendment since its enactment seven years ago. Here’s what they had to say:

J.W. Verret, associate professor of law at George Mason University, spoke to the measure’s shortcomings for The Hill:

“In 2011, the Federal Reserve adopted rules implementing fee caps on debit card transactions, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. These rules have led to diminished access to credit products for consumers and have failed in their promise to lower consumer debit fees. The last eight years have shown this to be a failed experiment.

…

Studies by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond demonstrate that the Durbin amendment didn’t even fulfill its intended purpose. Retailers simply kept the cost savings. Thus, the Durbin Act merely reflected a very successful act of lobbying by retailers.”

In The Daily Caller, Andrew Wilford, who is a policy analyst for the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, had this to say about retailer and regulator intervention in the card market:

“After the Durbin Amendment capped debit card swipe fees, a Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond report found that 98.8 percent of retailers either kept prices the same or raised them. And a Federal Reserve Bank of Boston report found that rewards benefits generally exceed any price discounts that retailers can provide for using debit or cash.

While retailers claim their effort to strong-arm credit card providers is pro-consumer, the reality is that the best thing is to keep courts and legislators out of this argument. Credit card companies should have the right to refuse their service to retailers that don’t abide by certain conditions, such as avoiding steering practices and honoring all cards.”

What Others Are Saying Durbin Amendment, Interchange Fees
Consumers’ Views of Durbin Amendment on 7th Anniversary Underscore Need to Repeal

Electronic Payments Coalition | October 1, 2018

More than half of voters feel they have not received a discount from retailers since the Durbin amendment went into effect seven years ago, despite retailers’ promises otherwise, according to new Morning Consult data. As such, a plurality of voters believes the amendment should be repealed if savings aren’t being passed along, consistent with consumers’ views in 2017.

“Year after year, retailers continue to harm consumers by failing to pass along promised savings—to the tune of six to eight billion dollars each year—while obstructing data security legislation establishing standards for all parts of the industry.,” said Jeff Tassey, chairman of the board of the Electronic Payments Coalition (EPC). “As we hit another unfortunate milestone with the Durbin amendment, it’s time retailers put their customers over profits in all areas of payments.”

The Durbin amendment, passed as part of the Dodd-Frank Act, placed price controls on interchange for debit card transactions. This nominal fee contributes to the cost of maintaining the complex electronic payments system, including processing and authorizing card payments. Since 2011, consumers have lost out on perks like free checking and debit card rewards in order to offset the price controls.

Moreover, a 2017 report from Javelin Strategy & Research found small merchants are more concerned about value, not price, when it comes to debit card interchange. A majority of small merchants were satisfied with what they pay and are even happier “when they are allowed to choose additional benefits even at a greater cost.”

“The electronic payments industry remains committed to providing consumers and businesses with many choices to pay and encourage retailers to do their part in adopting new technologies,” said Tassey. “As the industry continues to lead on creating secure, convenient ways to pay, we look forward to working with consumers to make the checkout process fit their needs. However, Congress must look out for consumers’ and merchants’ best interests and remove unnecessary government intervention—like the Durbin amendment—in the marketplace to ensure important innovation can take place.”

To view EPC’s infographic on the polling, click here.

Morning Consult, on behalf of the Electronic Payments Coalition, conducted an online survey of 1,979 registered voters from September 11-13, 2018. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of +/- 2 percent.

Press Releases/Statements Consumer Harm, Durbin Amendment, Interchange Fees
OP-ED: Retailers need to do more heavy lifting on payment security

Payment Source | July 13, 2018

The availability and convenience of electronic payments hinge on them being a secure method of exchanging money. For now, consumers are still willing to use these technologies, but retailers risk eroding trust in commercial institutions with their lack of security preparation.

Consumers expect the retail and payments industries to move forward together in developing safer, more secure technologies that will protect consumers from the intrusion and disturbance of fraud. Clearly, the data breaches of the past few years have made an impact on consumer attitudes, and they are becoming more vocal. Retailers must decide if they will heed this call and do the right thing by investing in the security we need today and the innovation of tomorrow.

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Op-Ed Credit Card Fraud, Data Security, Payment Technology
EPC Statement on SCOTUS’ Ohio v. AmEx Decision

Electronic Payments Coalition | June 25, 2018

Statement from Jeff Tassey, chairman of the board of the Electronic Payments Coalition, on SCOTUS’s Ohio v. American Express decision:

“EPC applauds today’s Supreme Court ruling for establishing once and for all that the electronic payments system is a two-sided market and for clearly explaining how it operates. As card networks serve both consumers and merchants, regulation favoring one harms the other. Today’s decision establishes the need for policymakers to account for the interdependent nature and competitive realities of two-sided markets, undo harmful regulation, and reject future attempts by one party trying to gain unjust benefits at the expense of the other. Because electronic payments provide businesses and consumers with great benefits, we must ensure nothing impedes the ability of card networks to balance the interests of both sets of customers.”

Press Releases/Statements
Once Again, Voters Call on Retailers to Pull Their Weight When It Comes to Payments

Electronic Payments Coalition | June 18, 2018

WASHINGTON (June 18, 2018)—Financial institutions continue to dedicate resources towards developing and implementing innovations to make payments more convenient and secure, just as voters expect them to do. However, a majority believe both retailers and large financial institutions should invest in innovation, according to new Morning Consult survey data.

“Time and time again, retailers have shown they are more interested in cutting their own costs instead of making the necessary upgrades to make checking out more efficient and protect customers from fraud,” said Jeff Tassey, chairman of the board of the Electronic Payments Coalition (EPC). “While financial institutions remain committed to innovation in order to strengthen consumer choice, retailers must step up and catch up to the times.”

With a majority of consumers trusting innovative payments authentication methods, such as biometrics and encryption, retailers must fulfill their role in the payments ecosystem by adopting and supporting new technologies. In fact, more than one in three voters say fingerprint identification is more secure, beating out “traditional” methods such as PIN.

EMV chip still plays an important role in reducing fraud and a plurality of voters believe stores should only accept electronic payments if they’re equipped with EMV. While the number of merchants accepting EMV continues to grow—in March, it was estimated that 63 percent of merchants were EMV-enabled—it remains vital that retailers upgrade so all card payments are chip-on-chip.

“Financial institutions will continue to invest in resources that make electronic payments safer, easier, and more beneficial for retailers and consumers, but all players in the payments ecosystem—including retailers— must pull their weight,” said Tassey. “As breaches increase and fraudsters switch their methods, collaboration remains critical in order to protect consumers from fraud. Coming off one of the most breach-filled years in 2017, we cannot afford to waste any more time.”

To view EPC’s infographic on the polling, click here.

Morning Consult, on behalf of the Electronic Payments Coalition, conducted an online survey of 2,201 registered voters from May 18-22, 2018. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of +/- 2 percent.

Press Releases/Statements Data Security, Payment Technology
EPC Statement on Secure Payments Partnership

Electronic Payments Coalition | June 7, 2018

The below statement can be attributed to Jeff Tassey, Chairman of the Board of EPC, on the creation of the Secure Payments Partnership:

“Here retailers go again, lobbying Washington for further regulation in the interest of cutting their own costs instead of protecting their customers from fraud. Despite claims, all players in the payments ecosystem—including retailers—have the opportunity to provide feedback and participate in the process. We must all be committed to providing consumers with security and innovation without impeding consumer choice.”

Press Releases/Statements Data Security
Financial institutions maintain electronics payments competitiveness, survey finds

Financial Regulation News | April 26, 2018

Survey results have determined voters still prefer bank institutions over retailers with regard to developing payment technologies and protective initiatives.

The effort executed by Morning Consult showed four in five voters agree stores should update their technologies to ensure customers have a range of payment options at the register and retailers should share in the infrastructure fees that make electronic payments possible.

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Viewing results for:

Press Release: The Value of Rewards

EPC Study Reveals Value of Rewards Cards for Consumers and Merchants

EPC Study Reveals How the Durbin Amendment Tipped the Scales at the Expense of Consumers

Experts Weigh in on Harmful Effects of the Durbin Amendment

Consumers’ Views of Durbin Amendment on 7th Anniversary Underscore Need to Repeal

OP-ED: Retailers need to do more heavy lifting on payment security

EPC Statement on SCOTUS’ Ohio v. AmEx Decision

Once Again, Voters Call on Retailers to Pull Their Weight When It Comes to Payments

EPC Statement on Secure Payments Partnership

Financial institutions maintain electronics payments competitiveness, survey finds

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