Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE: FI), a 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 global branded payments firm.
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.”
Brett Narlinger, Head of Global Commerce at Blackhawk Network, said:
“Access to convenient payment options makes people’s lives easier. 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.”
Brian Seemann, SVP of Biller Solutions at Fiserv, said:
“By partnering with BHN, we will be able to provide a much wider network of payment locations to cash-preferred consumers. 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.”