Today In Payments Around The World: Blackhawk Network Rolls Out Canadian Virtual Prepaid Mastercard; Great Hill Backs UK’s BigChange

In today’s top payments news around the world, Blackhawk Network has launched its new virtual universal prepaid Mastercard for Canadian firms, while U.K.-based BigChange said that Great Hill Partners has invested over 75 million pounds (approximately $103 million) in the company. Plus, Seoul-based international automaker Kia is reportedly looking for partners to assemble the Apple electric car in Georgia.

Blackhawk Network Launches Canadian Virtual Prepaid Mastercard For Customer Rewards

Blackhawk Network, an international branded payments provider, has rolled out its new virtual universal prepaid Mastercard for Canadian companies. Businesses can issue the prepaid cards as a client reward option and customize them to include their brand logo in the delivery email. “For Canadian businesses that manage incentives programs, offering virtual rewards like our new virtual prepaid Mastercard can provide a strategic advantage,” Chris Jones, vice president of Digital Services and Incentives at Blackhawk Network, said in a press release.

Great Hill Invests In Mobile Workforce Platform BigChange

BigChange said that Great Hill Partners has invested more than 75 million pounds (approximately $103 million) in the firm so it can develop its mobile workforce system. The company’s technology encompasses tools for client invoicing, job scheduling, customer engagement, mobile workforce management and payments digitization. “Unlike niche players that focus on smaller customers and specific sub-verticals, [Founder] Martin [Port] and his accomplished team have built a flexible, all-in-one platform for field service professionals and operators,” Drew Loucks, partner at Great Hill Partners, said in a press release.

Kia Pursuing Partners To Make Apple Cars In Georgia

Kia is looking for partners to put the Apple electric car together in Georgia. Hyundai, Kia’s parent company, has reportedly been in talks with Apple regarding investing over $3 billion in an arrangement that would have Kia building cars under the Apple name in 2024 at the soonest. In the event Georgia is selected to put together Apple’s autonomous electric vehicles, it would bring new employment positions to the state and bolster tax revenue.

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