WALLINGFORD, Conn. -- CheckFreePay, now part of Fiserv Inc., a provider of information technology services to the financial industry, today announced an agreement with Ready Credit Corp. to implement the CheckFreePay walk-in bill payment service at all ReadySTATION kiosks in the United States.
The bill payment service is expected to be available at the kiosks, which use the NCR EasyPoint Xpress kiosk platform, in early spring 2008.
The ReadySTATION, currently deployed at 55 retail, convenience and grocery store locations in six states, allows consumers to purchase a fully functional [image-nocss] ReadyCARD Prepaid MasterCard. With the integration of the CheckFreePay walk-in bill payment service, which securely transmits payment information directly to billing companies, consumers will also be able to pay bills with cash at any ReadySTATION.
"Retailers that offer walk-in bill payments give consumers multiple reasons to visit their store on a regular basis," said Paul Harrison, senior vice president and general manager of CheckFreePay, Wallingford, Conn. "Walk-in payment services have the potential to increase foot traffic and customer loyalty, particularly when available alongside other frequently used products in kiosks such as the ReadySTATION."
All integration of the CheckFreePay Link software is being handled securely without service interruption. This is possible because CheckFreePay Link leverages web services technology to transmit encrypted payment information, eliminating the need for a software installation at each individual kiosk, it said.
"Cash-reliant consumers—those who do not have traditional bank accounts or credit cards, can now benefit from having a completely self-service bill payment option at their fingertips every time they visit a ReadySTATION at select retail and grocery outlets," said Michelle Schuleman, vice president of marketing at Ready Credit Corp., Minneapolis. "The self-service functionality enabled by the ReadySTATION also provides retailers an opportunity to offer additional services to their customers without added personnel hires."
Bill payments made at a ReadySTATION can be processed the next business day for $2.50, or through standard three-business-day processing for $1.50.
Stores already featuring ReadySTATION kiosks include Dollar Tree in Atlanta and Houston, Save-A-Lot in Milwaukee, selected stores in the SUPERVALU network and two convenience stores in Minneapolis (Kwik Mart and Super Stop 2) and two c-stores in El Paso, Texas (C&R C-Store/Gas and Howdy's).
All ReadySTATION kiosks are expected to offer walk-in bill payment functionality by early spring 2008, the companies said.
CheckFreePay processes payments for hundreds of billers at more than 11,500 retail agent sites across all 50 states, it said.
Brookfield, Wis.-based Fiserv provides information management and electronic commerce systems and services to the financial and insurance industries. Services include transaction processing, outsourcing, electronic bill payment and presentment, investment management solutions, business process outsourcing (BPO), software and systems solutions.
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