PSCU has announced the launch of a pilot program that will putcard art from six of its members in Google Wallet,the search giant's digital payments technology.

In a statement on Thursday, the St. Petersburg, Fla., cards andpayments CUSO elaborated: “When cardholders of the sixparticipating PSCU credit unions add their cards to Google Walletthey will see an actual image of their credit union's card. Thisbrand reinforcement is key to helping credit unions own their shareof the mobile channel.”

The six credit unions invited to join this test of Google Walletare the $868 million Arkansas FCU in Jacksonville, Ark.; the $1.7billion Baxter CU in Vernon Hills, Ill.; the $1.4 billion CFE FCUin Lake Mary, Fla.; the $1.5 billion GTE Financial in Tampa, Fla.;the $1.4 billion TruMark Financial CU in Trevose, Pa.; and the $711million Vantage Credit Union in Bridgeton, Mo.

Google Wallet presently is acceptedby a range of merchants including Bloomingdale's, Jamba Juice andDuane Reade.

It allows payments via tap and go with select mobile phonesequipped with NFC. It also is an online payment tool (similar toPayPal).

In explaining why PSCU pursued an alliance with Google, PSCU CEOMike Kelly, in an interview, said, “The U.S. Post Office is acautionary tale. And it offers a lesson to credit unions.

“We think the time has come for mobile payments and, frankly,the risk for credit unions is disintermediation” – that is, beingput out of the action.

“Being able to deliver branded payments – as our credit unionswill be able to do with Google Wallet – keeps credit unions in thegame,” said Kelly.

Kelly declined to put a timeline on the pilot program but he didindicate that when the pilot successfully concludes, “Our plan isto offer this Google Wallet tie in to our other members. Oncewe have learned what we need to, we will offer it broadly.”