Traditional Payment Players Wary as "Nonbank Wallet" Offerings Expand Online Payment Options

Business Wire,  May 14, 2008  

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TowerGroup Global Payments Analyst to Present at NACHA Payments 2008 Conference

NEEDHAM, Mass. -- Alternative ways to pay for goods online are on the rise, driven by online merchants looking for more consumer-friendly options and consumers looking for greater security and choice. New research from TowerGroup notes that the alternative payment method known as the "nonbank wallet" is one area to watch in 2008.

Within the last two years, the nonbank wallet category has seen a flood of new entrants, from such major names as Amazon and Google, to more focused players like Moneta. TowerGroup defines a nonbank wallet as an Internet-based storage service of consumer financial data, which helps facilitates online purchases without exposing consumers' financial information directly to the online merchant. These nonbank wallets do not replace traditional payment processes, but rather provide merchants and consumers with a secure integration layer that connects multiple payment methods and processes.

TowerGroup projects overall U.S. e-commerce retail sales reached $232 billion in 2007, though they remain a relatively small percentage of total retail sales at 5.6 percent. A graphic on these statistics may be downloaded at: http://www.towergroup.com/research/content/page.jsp?pageId=3122.

Despite the fact that nonbank wallets process, settle, and fund transactions made by consumers through existing payment infrastructures, the banking industry continues to express concern over their growth and acceptance. TowerGroup believes that the concern nonbank wallets engender among financial institutions is warranted, yet more on an individual bank or provider basis than as a macro financial services industry "threat."

The challenge that nonbank wallets present to the traditional payments system will ultimately be countered by the overall value that they will provide to the financial services industry as both clients and partners. This is in addition to the value they will drive among consumers, by continuing to build confidence around and drive transaction volume of e-commerce.

The TowerGroup research report is titled "Online E-Commerce Nonbank Wallet Payment Alternatives: Bankers' Friends or Foes?" and is authored by Jennifer Roth, a senior analyst in the TowerGroup Global Payments practice. It reviews four nonbank wallet providers currently facilitating purchases over the Internet and analyzes the impact and potential threat of these offerings for bank-driven traditional payment methods.

Roth will be a featured speaker at the upcoming NACHA Payments 2008 Conference in Las Vegas, NV. She is scheduled to participate in a panel titled, "Generating Revenue from Next Generation Online Financial Services" on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 1:45 p.m.

To request a copy of the research and/or to arrange an interview with Roth, please contact Thea Linscott at +1.212.455.8045 or tlinscott@cooperkatz.com. Those interested in subscribing to a TowerGroup research service may call +1.781.292.5200 or email service-info@towergroup.com.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter, TowerGroup News, to stay informed on the latest research and events. To learn more, visit: http://ui.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1101074606706&p=oi.

About TowerGroup: TowerGroup is the leading research and advisory services firm focused exclusively on the financial services industry. A respected source for trusted information and advice, TowerGroup brings many of the world's leading financial institutions, technology companies, and professional services firms a deeper understanding of the business and technology issues impacting their organizations. Headquartered near Boston in Needham, Massachusetts, and with offices in North America and Europe, TowerGroup serves a global client base. Visit www.towergroup.com for more information.

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