Fiserv and Blackhawk Network to Expand Walk-in Bill Pay Options for Cash-preferred Customers
Additional 30,000 retailers nationwide will join the CheckFreePay network
BROOKFIELD, Wis., October 19, 2023 – Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE: FI), a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions, will expand access to walk-in bill payment through a strategic relationship with Blackhawk Network (BHN), a leader in global branded payments. Consumers who prefer the convenience of paying household bills, including rent, and topping up digital accounts in person using cash will be able to do so at more than 60,000 locations nationwide.
Fiserv, the largest processor of walk-in bill payments in the United States, will double the size of its existing CheckFreePay agent network to include more than 30,000 retailers that offer gift cards via BHN. This includes big box stores, national grocery chains, specialty retailers, post offices, and pharmacies. Locations accepting CheckFreePay walk-in payments can be found using the CheckFreePay Payment Center Locator.
“Access to convenient payment options makes people’s lives easier,” said Brett Narlinger, Head of Global Commerce at Blackhawk Network. “By working with Fiserv, we’re able to help meet this need by offering easily accessible bill payment options at grocery stores and other locations where people are already shopping for everyday items. Retailers also stand to benefit from increased foot traffic as they meet demand for this type of payment access in their communities.”
In order to pay at a BHN retail network location, consumers must present a scannable barcode included on their printed bill or downloadable via a smartphone, which includes the bill payment details. This information will flow through the BHN gift card platform to Fiserv to facilitate delivery of the payment to the biller. The BHN agent will provide a receipt to the customer confirming the payment. This process eliminates the need for the agent to key in payment details and significantly reduces potential errors and the time taken to complete the transaction.
“By partnering with BHN, we will be able to provide a much wider network of payment locations to cash-preferred consumers,“ said Brian Seemann, SVP of Biller Solutions at Fiserv. “The majority of these consumers express a need for fast and convenient payment options. The use of digital barcode technology will allow for an expedited payment experience, ensuring consumers can quickly and easily pay bills at places they visit as part of their daily lives.”
CheckFreePay is the largest processor of walk-in bill payments in the United States. For more than 30 years, CheckFreePay has provided reliable bill payment services to consumers who prefer to pay their bills in person. With CheckFreePay, billers can offer the convenience of walk-in services through a large network of retailers, convenience stores, grocery stores, neighborhood bodegas and more. Consumers can pay bills including utility, credit card and auto bills, pay rent, top up digital wallets and toll pass accounts, and more.
In a world that is moving faster than ever before, Fiserv helps clients deliver solutions in step with the way people live and work today — financial services at the speed of life. Learn more at fiserv.com.
About Blackhawk Network (BHN)
Blackhawk Network (BHN) is the leader in global branded payment technologies. We strengthen relationships between brands and their customers, employees, and partners by transforming transactions into connections. BHN’s portfolio includes: Gift Card & eGift products, promotions and distribution that grow revenue faster; Rewards & Incentives that build loyalty and acquisition and are integrated into today’s leading platforms; and Payments that enable businesses and customers to access and disburse funds in convenient and innovative ways. BHN’s network spans across the globe with over 400,000 consumer touchpoints. Learn more at BHN.com.
About Fiserv
Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE: FI), a Fortune 500 company, aspires to move money and information in a way that moves the world. As a global leader in payments and financial technology, the company helps clients achieve best-in-class results through a commitment to innovation and excellence in areas including account processing and digital banking solutions; card issuer processing and network services; payments; e-commerce; merchant acquiring and processing; and the Clover® cloud-based point-of-sale and business management platform. Fiserv is a member of the S&P 500® Index and one of Fortune® World’s Most Admired Companies™. Visit fiserv.com and follow on social media for more information and the latest company news.
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Released October 19, 2023