Network Exclusivity The Changing Direction of the Industry

A trend within the leading EFT networks indicates that they are redefining their PIN debit strategy. The Interlink, STAR, PULSE and NYCE networks have all announced sole provider or exclusive processing agreements for PIN Debit POS transactions with member financial institutions. The STAR, PULSE and NYCE networks, once only regional networks, then super-regional, are now national networks that have saturated the majority of POS acceptance locations to the extent that the need for multiple network connections to provide cardholders with unlimited card access has diminished. This ubiquity in PIN debit acceptance presents an opportunity for networks and financial institutions (FIs) to rethink network participation.