First Federal Savings Bank now offers mobile payments to its customers and local businesses to reduce costs, improve security and enable rewards programs.

The bank is partnering with Bling Nation to power the service, which connects consumers, businesses and financial institutions through mobile tap-and-pay technology at the point of sale. Hundreds of businesses have signed up to support the contactless mobile payment system.

“We’re looking forward—mobile payment is the future, and we wanted to try this service out because Bling Nation is secure and easy to integrate into our system,” said Earl Bradley, CEO of First Federal Savings Bank, Clarksville, TN. “It’s also easy to implement and use.

“We’ve always focused on serving the Clarksville community, and Bling Nation is another offering that allows us to add value to our customers and support ‘shop local’ programs,” he said.

“Having a mobile payment service a huge differentiator—it’s helping us innovate and be at the forefront of mobile payments in the region.”

Founded in 1953, First Federal Savings Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Advantage Bancorp, is a federally chartered savings bank.

Bling Nation mobile payment services connect local financial institutions and businesses, allowing customers to use their mobile phones to tap-and-pay for purchases and receive text account balance and transaction confirmations at the point of sale.

First Federal ramps up mobile services
Customers with a checking account at First Federal Savings Bank can sign up for a BlingTag, a quarter-sized microchip sticker that adheres to the back of any mobile phone to enable debit transactions.

Since BlingTags do not store any personal information, they offer more security than traditional plastic cards and reduce the risk of identity theft, according to Bling Nation.

Customers receive a text message payment confirmation and real-time account balance with each purchase.

First Federal Savings Bank and Bling Nation are currently working with more than 100 retailers, enabling consumers to choose from a variety of stores near them.

Bling Nation’s system also helps businesses to develop loyalty programs and offer customers instant rewards at the point of purchase.

Family Pet Hospital and Tiny Town Animal Clinic uses the platform to offer discounts and promotions that are helping increase the number of customers for large and small purchases.

“Bling Nation allows us to provide another option—mobile payment—to our customers and small business clients,” Mr. Bradley said. “In addition, we are able to position ourselves as an extremely progressive community bank that is leading the evolution of mobile payments in this region.

“The benefit for us is the opportunity to open new direct deposit accounts, or DDAs,” he said. “Bling Nation not only is a differentiator, but the service demonstrates the strong commitment to the local community and support for local businesses.

“The service helps local businesses increase sales through the development of loyalty programs and provides the relief of the high transactions fees the merchants pay using more traditional debit and credit products.”

Final Take
Dan Butcher, associate editor, Mobile Commerce Daily