Payments/Credit/Debit

While direct mail card offers slid in 2008, more of them were for cards that carry annual fees, according to market research firm Synovate.

The economic downturn appears to have brought the market for credit union card portfolios flickering back to life, although brokers indicated that the market for CU card assets is no longer what it once was.

The $1.6 billion Space Coast Credit Union has launched a program to allow members to donate 50% of the points they earn on specially marked credit and debit cards to go to support research against breast cancer.

A new application from software developer Intuit offers the promise of expanding the market for consumers to use their cards in more places.

Credit unions may face a market for credit cards where some of their traditional consumer card advantage will be lost, thanks to the credit card reform legislation recently signed into law.

President Obama is scheduled to sign legislation this afternoon that will place tighter restrictions on credit unions and other credit card issuers.