Pivotal Payments expands its Canadian card acceptance platform to include Discover Financial Services

MONTREAL, May 28, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Pivotal Payments, a leading provider of merchant services and global payment processing solutions today announced a merchant acquiring agreement with Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) that allows Pivotal's Canadian merchants to accept all cards on the Discover Global Network, including Discover, Diners Club International and PULSE.

Discover Global Network is the third largest payments network in the world, operating in 185 countries and territories. The agreement provides Pivotal Payments' clients with greater payment options, especially when catering to international shoppers. Businesses in the travel, entertainment, dining and hospitality industries can leverage Pivotal Payments' enhanced card acceptance platform to offer an improved shopping experience that can help increase sales and attract more clients from abroad.

"Providing Discover Card acceptance is aimed directly at improving the overall payment experience for our valued merchants and their customers, especially considering the significant number of cross-border shoppers in Canada," said Ross Haider, senior vice president of Canadian sales. "We are actively seeking new opportunities that will provide better solutions to match our clients' diverse business needs."

"In 2013, Discover added more than 100,000 new Canadian merchants to its acceptance portfolio, a pace that has remained consistent during the last several years as we continue to execute against our strategic growth plan to meet cardmembers' needs," said Gerry Wagner, vice president of Discover. "With Pivotal Payments known for delivering proven acquiring solutions to a large base of clients, we are confident that our new relationship will help achieve this goal."

Discover Card acceptance is one of several merchant-facing enhancements Pivotal Payments is rolling out to Canadian businesses in the coming months. As part of its expanded processing platform, the company's goal is to provide additional innovative payment services, improved hardware and software solutions, along with greater integration opportunities for its clients and partners.

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers home loans, private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its direct banking business. It operates the Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.

About Pivotal Payments

Pivotal Payments is a leading provider of merchant services and global payment processing solutions. The company provides to point of sale, online and mobile merchants a variety of services such as debit and credit card processing, electronic check conversion, merchant cash advance programs, business discounts, loyalty/gift card programs and terminal management solutions. Pivotal Payments offers these services to small and mid-sized retail businesses, e-commerce, m-commerce and other card not present merchants, chain stores, franchises, restaurants and dealerships. Processing over US $12 billion in annual bankcard sales volume, Pivotal Payments serves more than 70,000 customers. To learn more, visit http://www.pivotalpayments.com

SOURCE: Pivotal Payments

Louis Georgakakis, Pivotal Payments, 1 866 693-2000 x8001, [email protected]; Katie Allmaras, Discover, 224-405-4437, [email protected]