Research and Markets: Prepaid Distribution in the United States

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Prepaid Distribution in the United States" report to their offering.

New Research Shows How Closed-Loop Prepaid Program Managers Drive Volume And Program Profitability

For prepaid card program managers, distribution is top priority. New research from Mercator Advisory Group, Prepaid Distribution Strategies in the United States, examines the methods available to prepaid card program managers as they look for new opportunities to get their cards in front of potential customers.

The report provides an overview of ways that prepaid card issuers and program managers can expand their reach by placing their cards in new locations and leveraging new technologies. The report also discusses the dollar volume loaded onto prepaid cards in both direct-to-consumer and business-to-business channels.

Distribution plans must include both business and technological facets, and this research covers the current state of the digital card market. While these cards and channels will become increasingly important, until now adoption has been slow.

The prepaid card industry needs to study what business channels and technological channels will give them a competitive edge. It is not enough to simply be where your competitors are or to beat them to a market. The report also considers the actions issuers and program managers should take regarding mobile wallets.

"Due to thin margins, prepaid programs depend on volume for profitability. So, getting cards into many hands is critical to success," Ben Jackson, senior analyst, Mercator Advisory Group's Prepaid Advisory Service and author of the report, comments. "Program managers, whether handling open-loop or closed-loop cards, have a variety of distribution options. Understanding those options requires a grasp of both business and technological considerations."

Highlights of the report include:

- The factors affecting profitability for prepaid card issuers, the eight main channels used to support card sales

- The channel that witnessed growth even after government mandated changes in regulations implementing by the CARD Act of 2009

- Findings from Mercator Advisory Group's CustomerMonitor Survey Series showing how card buyers seek out prepaid cards and that their preferences are subject to change

- The advances offering new ways to sell cards to customers and how quickly retailers and consumers are adopting them

- The approach growing in popularity with program managers selling general purpose reloadable cards

- Business-to-business distribution types, the engine driving growth, and the business considerations needed in distribution plans.

Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

Introduction

Technology and Distribution: Plastic Remains the Dominant Form

Mobile Prepaid Cards

Virtual Prepaid Cards

Understanding the Prepaid Distribution Channels

Internal Channels

External Channels

Examining Segments in External Distribution

Card Malls

Open Money Financial Services Cards (General Purpose Reloadable Cards)

Business-to-Business Distribution

Conclusion

On the Business Side, Multichannel Distribution Is Essential

On the Technical Side, Diversity Will Remain

End Notes

Copyright Notice

Examples of Companies Mentioned:

- Ace Cash Express

- Advance America

- Affinion Group

- American Express

- Apple

- Best Buy

- Cash America International

- CashStar

- Dillard's

- DimpleDough

- Discover Financial Services

- Dunkin' Brands

- Google

- InComm

- iCardMall.com

- Isis

- JPMorgan Chase Bank

- Maritz Holdings

- MasterCard International

- NetSpend Holdings

- SCVNGR (DBA LevelUp)

- Speedway LLC

- Target Corp.

- Transaction Wireless

- UniRush LLC. (RushCard)

- Visa

- Wal-Mart Stores

- Winn-Dixie Stores

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/x7499v/prepaid