Paybefore Honors Innovation in Orlando (March 4, 2013)

Written by FinTech Futures
5th March 2013

March 4, 2013

Paybefore celebrated 72 programs in 23 categories, naming for the first time Best-in-Category honorees at the 7^th Annual Paybefore Awards Ceremony, which capped off the first day of Prepaid Expo USA in Orlando, Fla.

This year—for the very first time—there was a sixth judge, consisting of the votes of visitors to Paybefore.com, who participated in the selection of the Best-in-Category winners. In all, more than 3,200 people voted, and their votes made the difference in the Best in Category choice in nine categories.

“It’s a dynamic time in electronic payments. Our Paybefore Awards winners are innovators that solve payments problems, reach new consumers and advance the industry,” said Loraine DeBonis, Paybefore editor-in-chief.

“As the world changes, so do the payment and money management needs of individuals, businesses and government agencies,” added Marilyn Bochicchio, Paybefore’s CEO. “Paybefore Awards recognizes the organizations that use financial services to make people’s lives better, which is why it is so exciting for us to honor those who champion innovation and excellence.”

2013 Paybefore Awards Best in Category Winners

Best Network Branded Gift Card

Western Union Gift and Greeting Cards

Most Effective Closed-Loop or RAN Prepaid Card Program

Do It Yourself Home Improvement Gift Card from InComm

Best General Purpose Reloadable Card Program—U.S. Solutions

PayPal Prepaid MasterCard

Best General Purpose Reloadable Card Program—International Solutions

American Express Global Travel Card

Best Third-Party Payroll Card Program

ALINE Card by ADP

Best Corporate Payroll Card Program

Walmart Money Network Payroll Distribution Service from Walmart and Money Network, A First Data Company

Best Prepaid Incentive, Reward, Rebate or Loyalty Card Program

Vitality HealthyFood Card from Walmart and HumanaVitality

Best Benefits Distribution Card Program

Aetna Flu Care Card Program from Aetna and Citi Prepaid Services

Best Business-to-Business Prepaid Card Program

TPC Payables Prepaid Visa Card from The Payments Company and The Bancorp Bank

Outstanding Mobile Wallet or Mobile Application

moneto Prepaid MasterCard Mobile App from DeviceFidelity and MasterCard

Best Virtual or Digital Program

$10 Starbucks Card eGift for $5, LivingSocial Deal from Starbucks, LivingSocial and CashStar

Most Effective Marketing Campaign

2012 Visa Prepaid National Consumer Campaign

Best Retail Merchandising of Prepaid Cards/Emerging Payments Products

Green Dot Retail Marketing

Best Prepaid Card or Packaging Design

Simple Visa from Simple

Best Consumer Value

BlackboardPay from Blackboard Transact; Money Network, A First Data Company; and Discover Financial Services

Most Effective Payments Solution

UEPS/EMV Debit SASSA MasterCard from the South African Social Security Agency and MasterCard

Best Non-U.S.-Based Program

Power to Pay Program from ItzCash Card Limited, Canara Bank, National Payments Corporation of India and Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay

Most Innovative Program

MTA Reload Card from MTA Bridges and Tunnels, ACS (a Xerox Company) and Visa

Best Retail-Based Prepaid Card Program

Walmart Prepaid Card Program

Expanding the Boundaries of Prepaid

Discover Prepaid

Outstanding Newcomer

KAIKU Visa Prepaid Card from Kaiku Finance

Breakout Company of the Year

Rȇv Worldwide

Judges’ Choice

ACF International: Action Against Hunger (Action Contre la Faim) from Citi Prepaid Services and ACF International

Aetna ValuePass from Aetna Card Solutions, UMB Bank, StoreFinancial Services and ConvergenceHealth and

NetSpend Community Connect

Visa Prepaid Card Distribution via ATMs from Better ATM Services Inc.

Congratulations to all of our winners. You can read more about them here.

Brooks Smith and Roy Sosa Honored for Industry Achievement

The final awards of the night were for Industry Achievement—Paybefore’s highest honor given to individuals who advance the industry through innovation and advocacy. A panel of five past winners selected Brooks Smith, president and CEO, InComm; and Roy Sosa, co-founder and CEO, Rȇv Worldwide, as this year’s winners.

“Brooks started InComm in his garage in 1992, and beginning with long distance phone cards, has pioneered the growth of the prepaid industry to encompass a wide variety of products that benefit consumers, retailers and partners,” said Bochicchio. “And while Brooks’ resume as the leader of InComm is impressive, it’s not the only thing that prompted the judges to select him as an Industry Achievement Winner. Instead it was Brooks’ leadership outside the office, talking to regulators and lawmakers, particularly in New Jersey, to bring about much needed changes to a law that stood to damage the entire industry and leave consumers without the products they want.”

Sosa was recognized for his trailblazing work in bringing financial tools to unbanked consumers around the world. In addition to implementing 38 programs in 12 countries, Sosa is committed to working with regulators in a variety of markets, most recently speaking at the G20 meetings in Los Cabos, Mexico. “As a leading advocate for underserved consumers, Sosa first championed prepaid in the United States and now is doing so in Latin America and beyond,” said DeBonis.

“We are proud to recognize these two pioneers of prepaid for their amazing work to move the industry forward,” she said.

Winners who are attending Prepaid Expo who haven’t already received their trophies should pick them up at Paybefore booth #643 in the exhibit hall. Also stop by the booth during the show to enter a drawing for an iPad mini. A winner will be announced at the conclusion of the conference.

Paybefore Awards Europe Winners Announced

Paybefore ended the evening by announcing winners in its 2^nd annual Paybefore Awards Europe. Below is a list of distinguished winners, who were selected by a five-judge panel, including Andrew Johnson, director general, UKGCVA; Siobhan Moore, senior associate, Locke Lord and UKGCVA board member; Dr. Hugo Godschalk, PaySys Consultancy GmbH, managing director/partner; Prepaid Forum Deutschland, founder, as well as Paybefore’s Bochicchio and DeBonis. Join us at Prepaid Expo Europe where we will announce the Best in Category winners. (Register with Paybefore’s discount code XU2740PAYB4 to save 10%).

Best Gift Card or Voucher Program

£5 for a £10 Starbucks Card eGift, LivingSocial Deal
Starbucks, LivingSocial, CashStar

ASDA Closed Loop Gift Card
First Data

Westfield
Flex-e-vouchers Limited

Best Prepaid Incentive, Reward, Rebate or Loyalty Card Programme

ASDA Pocket Money Card
First Data

Samsung and Citi Prepaid Services Continue to Triumph with Appliance Cashback Programme
Samsung & Citi

Western Union MyWU Prepaid Card
Western Union

Top Prepaid Retailer

Asda
Supported by InComm Europe

TUI Travel Money & Gift Card
PrePay Solutions – TUI

Visa Open-Loop Gift Card and Gift Card Mall
Tesco