ICBA Bancard and Vantiv Ink Deal for Credit, Merchant Processing Services

Jan 7 - Vantiv Inc. (NYSE: VNTV), a provider of payment processing services and related technology solutions for financial institutions and merchants, announced today a strategic alliance with ICBA Bancard, the payments subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America, to offer its member clients credit card processing and merchant services. 

"Credit card and merchant services are critical components of community banks' payment services," said Noah Wilcox, ICBA Bancard chairman and president and CEO of Grand Rapids State Bank in Grand Rapids, Minn. "This relationship with Vantiv will undoubtedly help our community bankers meet and exceed their consumer and small business customers' expectations while strengthening the total banking relationship."

Vantiv works to take the complexity out of credit card issuing through its easy to implement technology and account management tools so that community banks can focus on the growth of their portfolios. The Vantiv merchant services program provides bankers robust service-levels, including sales and marketing support, assistance in managing payments and capturing new revenue opportunities, 24/7 availability, a dedicated customer support team, and sales and referral reporting.

"Vantiv is proud to work with ICBA Bancard and their membership to help fulfill the needs they have for credit card processing and merchant services," said Royal Cole, president, financial institution services at Vantiv. "Through the ICBA agreement, we can now extend our reach to even more community bankers and provide them strategic consultation in tailoring solutions that broaden and deepen their relationships with consumers and merchants."