The Electronic Payments Association’s Council for Electronic Billing and Payment issued final guidelines for the use of Quick Response (QR) codes in consumer bill payments. The guidelines describe the use of QR codes in a variety of bill payment functions such as viewing bills, making bill payments, enrolling for eBills, and setting up payees in online banking in both biller direct and consolidator/aggregator billing and payment models. The goal is to establish a single QR code format to be printed on a paper bill and scanned by the consumer’s mobile phone using a biller, mobile banking, or generic QR code reader. Click here for more information.

U.S. Bank announced that in early 2013, they will launch Mobile Photo Bill Pay, a service that will allow customers to pay bills by snapping a photo of their paper bill or remittance coupon with their mobile device. Click here for more information.

Bank of America's new Mobile Pay on Demand service, available 12.03.2012, will provide small businesses with the ability to accept card payments through their mobile phones. This service includes a free mobile app with secure card reader for smartphones and iPads, next day access to funds, data encryption, and the ability to redeem card offers through BankAmeriDeals. Mobile Pay on Demand has no monthly or annual fees, and a 2.7% transaction fee for swiped, and 3.5% plus $0.15 for hand-keyed transactions for Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Merchants who sign up between 12.03.2012 and 12.31.2012 will receive a free year subscription to iDeals Marketing Platform Pro, an online marketing resource where merchants can promote their businesses. Click here for more information.

U.S. Bank is releasing a new mobile app designed for the Windows Phone 8 operating system. The release of a mobile banking app on the Windows Phone platform means that U.S. Bank can now serve customers who choose any major mobile phone, having previously released apps for Android, iPhone, and Blackberry. The app can be downloaded for free from the Windows Phone Store. Click here for more information.

Associated Bank’s Pogo application allows business customers to accept credit card and signature debit payments with their smartphone or tablet using the free card reader. There is a monthly service charge of $5.95, and a $0.15 per item fee. The interchange rate ranges from 2.69% to 3.69% for swiped and key entered transactions. Click here for more information.

Silicon Valley Bank has linked their SVB Business Debit and Business Credit cards to Google Wallet. Business clients can now make secure payments to any business with a MasterCard PayPass contactless terminal, just by tapping a compatible phone. The Google Wallet mobile app securely stores cards and loyalty offers to pay quickly by phone or computer. Click here for more information.