Empower Federal Credit Union Teams with Vantiv for Suite of Payment Solutions

Empower Federal Credit Union Teams with Vantiv for Suite of Payment Solutions


Syracuse-based credit union signs multi-year agreement to offer complete suite of payment processing solutions and related services for new and existing members

CINCINNATI - March 17, 2015 - Vantiv, Inc. VNTV, a leading provider of payment processing services and related technology solutions for merchants and financial institutions of all sizes, and Empower Federal Credit Union (FCU), a full-service financial institution with more than $1.3 billion in assets, announced today an agreement to provide consolidated payment solutions, including merchant services and consumer card issuing products.

Empower FCU has signed a multi-year agreement with Vantiv to offer members a comprehensive suite of payment solutions, including debit card and credit card processing, with Vantiv Analytics, Europay/Mastercard/Visa (EMV or chip) card reissue, Apple Pay and MasterPass mobile solutions, prepaid cards, merchant services and rewards processing. 

"We were looking for a consolidation of payment processors," said John Wakefield, chief executive officer at Empower FCU. "Before Vantiv, we had a mix of backend processors making it very nearly impossible to track transactional data to provide us with useful information for our business needs. By consolidating merchant services and card issuing, Vantiv's technology is a huge differentiator in this industry for a larger credit union because they understand both sides of the transaction."

Empower FCU was formed Jan. 1, 2007, through a merger of Empire Federal Credit Union and Power Federal Credit Union. Based in Syracuse, the credit union has 21 branches that serve northwestern New York.

Merchant services programs provide the ability for businesses to accept various forms of payment - debit cards, credit cards and gift cards - across various platforms including online, brick-and-mortar retail locations and via mobile devices. The high levels of access and 24/7 support offered by Vantiv provide financial institutions like Empower FCU a turnkey, integrated processing solution that can help their commercial customers meet their business goals.

"We are pleased to have been selected by Empower FCU as their partner," said Royal Cole, president of financial institutions at Vantiv. "Empower has a strong reputation as an institution that values the community and cares for its members and employees. Vantiv is proud to work with them to deepen and expand their business and member relationships."

To learn more about Empower FCU, please visit empowerfcu.com. For more information about Vantiv's merchant services for financial institutions program, please visit vantiv.com/Products/Merchant-Services-for-Financial-Institutions or on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube.

CONTACTS:
Lori Stafford-Thomas
Director, Public Relations
970-335-4904
lori.stafford-thomas@vantiv.com

Beth Sullivan
Manager, External Communications
513-900-4212

elizabeth.sullivan@vantiv.com

About Vantiv, Inc.
Vantiv, Inc. VNTV is a leading payment processor differentiated by an integrated technology platform. Vantiv offers a comprehensive suite of traditional and innovative payment processing and technology solutions to merchants and financial institutions of all sizes, enabling them to address their payment processing needs through a single provider. We build strong relationships with our customers, helping them become more efficient, more secure and more successful. Vantiv is the third largest merchant acquirer and the largest PIN debit acquirer based on number of transactions in the U.S. The company's growth strategy includes expanding further into high-growth channels and verticals, including integrated payments, ecommerce, and merchant bank. For more information, visit www.vantiv.com.

About Empower FCU
Founded in 2007 and based in Syracuse, Empower FCU was formed through a merger of Empire Federal Credit Union and Power Federal Credit Union, at that time, the two largest credit unions in the Central New York Chapter of the New York Credit Union Association. It has more than $1.3 billion in assets and more than 21 branches serving communities in the northwestern parts of New York. Empower FCU provides financial services to multiple member groups, but primarily serves the communications and utilities sector. For more information, visit empowerfcu.com, facebook.com/EmpowerFCU and twitter.com/EmpowerFCU.

© Copyright Vantiv, LLC.  All rights reserved.  Vantiv, the Vantiv logo, and all other Vantiv product or service names and logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Vantiv, LLC in the USA and other countries.  ® indicates USA registration.

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