Government Use of the Payment Card System: Issuance, Acceptance, and Regulation

Monday, July 11, and Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Conference Summary

The U.S. General Services Administration’s SmartPay program accounts for nearly one in every five dollars transacted on procurement cards. The Government Accountability Office reported that government agencies accepted over $27 billion in payments made with cards. Over 30 states, as well as federal agencies, have adopted prepaid cards to disburse funds for Social Security payments, unemployment benefits, and income tax refunds. Meanwhile, state legislatures and Congress are enacting card-related legislation that can affect the practices and business models that make these programs feasible.

The Payment Cards Center of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia will host a conference to explore the reasons for public-sector adoption of payment card options, the differing needs and preferences of the various participants, how the resulting strategic boundaries must be navigated to achieve balanced solutions that work for all parties, and how that balance can be affected by disruptive events, including regulatory action.

Conference Agenda

HTML format with presentations
PDF format (6.34 MB, 16 pages)

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