PR - Global Payments Completes Integration of Discover Card Acceptance

Atlanta-based Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN), a world leader in payment processing services, announced yesterday that it has completed the integration of Discover Network card transaction processing and support services for the majority of its merchants.

Global Payments now processes Discover Network card transactions for its direct merchants, as well as the merchants in its alliance with Comerica Bank, offering authorization, settlement, and support services in one, integrated, cost-effective, and simplified payments solution.

"This is a significant shift in the acquiring market. Discover has adopted the predominate open loop acquiring model in order to streamline and broaden card acceptance. We believe offering a single point of contact for all Discover, Visa and MasterCard transactions will be well received by our customers and will expand the reach of Discover Network cards to small and mid-sized merchants," said Jim Kelly, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of Global Payments.

Global is also currently integrating Discover Network card transaction processing and support services for its independent sales organizations (ISOs). Global expects to complete the integration of all of its independent sales organizations within the first half of next year.

"Global’s integration of Discover Network card acceptance provides even further benefits," said Gerry Wagner, vice president of acceptance and client relations for Discover Financial Services. "Global’s alliance partners and ISOs benefit from greater opportunity to serve small-to mid-sized merchants, merchants benefit from a cost-effective, integrated payments package, and cardholders benefit from increased opportunities to use their Discover Network cards at more of the small- to mid-sized merchant locations where they shop."