Funds Transfer Alliance is a Registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Walnut Creek, CA.The tagline "registered ISO/MSP" signifies that the FTA is fully validated and registered with the major bankcard associations, and is in full compliance with all Visa USA and MasterCard International Rules and Regulations.

The data breech of corporate powerhouse TJX (a Massachusetts-based retailer that operates T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and other stores) in 2005 exposed 45.7 million credit card numbers to the world. This sign of dormant vulnerability spawned a worldwide audit of merchants and merchant services providers alike. With it came the birth of the PCI Security Standards Council Comprised of five equal partners, American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, Mastercard Worldwide, and Visa Inc.The Council was formed to develop, enhance, disseminate and assist with the implementation of security standards for payment account security while working to promote its broad industry adoption, and provide the tools needed for compliance with the standard.

Payment Card Industry/Data Security Standards (PCI/DSS) is a multifaceted security standard that includes requirements for security management, policies, procedures, network architecture, software design and other critical protective measures. Its effect is widespread, having raised the bar for encryption in new terminals, POS systems, and virtual/web environment gateways. Most recently, credit card terminal manufacturers such as Hypercom and Verifione have adopted an End-of-Life (EOL) classification that removes "out of compliance" machines from the marketplace while at the same time states that any machine with sub par compliance standards will no long be supported or warranted.

FTA's wholehearted participation in the application and enforcement of these standards acts to protect its client base from these threats. Moreover, it's commitment to the issuance of terminals and software that are ahead of the "criminal curve," stands to set a new precedent for what's expected out of the merchant services industry.