CheckFree Corp Acquisitions and Growth

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CheckFree Corp made its first acquisition in 1998, purchasing online banking provider, Bank of America's e-bill service, for $100 million.

This marked a significant milestone in the company's growth, expanding its offerings and increasing its market presence.

In 2000, CheckFree Corp acquired eBillme, an online payment service, further solidifying its position in the digital payments space.

CheckFree Corp continued to grow and expand its services, becoming a leading provider of online banking and bill payment solutions.

Related reading: Checkfree

Company History

CheckFree Corp was founded in 1981 by Gary Clabo and Bill Conley in Ohio.

The company's early focus was on providing electronic payment and bill presentment services to financial institutions.

CheckFree's first product, the CheckFree Service, was launched in 1981.

In the early 1990s, the company began to expand its services to include online bill payment and presentment.

CheckFree's online bill payment service was launched in 1995, allowing customers to pay their bills electronically.

The company's revenue grew significantly in the late 1990s, reaching $100 million in 1999.

CheckFree was acquired by Intuit in 2000 for $1.3 billion.

Key Developments

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Fiserv's acquisition of CheckFree Corp had a significant impact on its earnings. Fiserv's earnings nearly tripled to $329 million in the first quarter, largely due to the acquisition.

Fiserv's revenue grew 39% to $1.31 billion, beating the average Wall Street estimate. Adjusted earnings of 78 cents a share also exceeded expectations.

The acquisition was a major contributor to Fiserv's success, with Jeffery Yabuki, Fiserv's president and chief executive, stating that the company has transformed to have a larger propensity for payments.

Blue Gill Technologies Acquisition 2000

In 2000, Blue Gill Technologies Acquisition marked a significant milestone in the company's history. This acquisition brought new resources and expertise to the table, enabling Blue Gill to expand its product offerings and reach new markets.

The acquisition provided Blue Gill with a significant boost in research and development capabilities. This allowed the company to innovate and improve its existing products, making them more competitive in the industry.

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As a result of the acquisition, Blue Gill's revenue saw a substantial increase. This growth enabled the company to invest in new technologies and hire more staff, further solidifying its position in the market.

The acquisition also brought about a change in leadership, with a new CEO at the helm. This change brought fresh perspectives and a new direction for the company, which helped to drive growth and innovation.

With the acquisition in place, Blue Gill was able to expand its global presence. The company established new offices and partnerships, allowing it to tap into new markets and customer bases.

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Fiserv Jump Primarily Fueled

Fiserv's earnings nearly tripled to $329 million in the first quarter, largely due to its acquisition of CheckFree Corp.

This significant increase in earnings was also reflected in revenue, which grew 39% to $1.31 billion.

The acquisition of CheckFree Corp played a major role in Fiserv's success, with the company's president and CEO, Jeffery Yabuki, attributing the gains to "transforming our company to have a much larger propensity for payments".

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Fiserv's acquisition of CheckFree Corp contributed significantly to its success, with the company's earnings nearly tripling in the first quarter.

Here are some key statistics that demonstrate the impact of the acquisition:

  • Fiserv's earnings nearly tripled to $329 million
  • Revenue grew 39% to $1.31 billion

The acquisition of CheckFree Corp also led to Fiserv's president and CEO, Jeffery Yabuki, stating that the company has a "much larger propensity for payments".

Overview and Features

CheckFree Small Business offers a comprehensive electronic bill payment service for small business clients, allowing them to save time and focus on growing their businesses.

This solution is designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing online banking experience, providing a fully brandable user interface that ensures a smooth experience for your customers.

By offering a service like CheckFree Small Business, your financial institution can benefit from increased revenue streams and cross-sell opportunities, as well as a competitive advantage and growth of customer base.

Small business owners seek financial solutions that simplify their lives, and CheckFree Small Business delivers with features like e-bills, faster payment capabilities, bill reminders, and email alerts.

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Some of the key features of CheckFree Small Business include:

  • One-stop bill pay dashboard
  • e-bills from hundreds of billers
  • Bill reminders and automatic payments
  • Quick-add feature for adding new billers
  • Multi-tiered authority levels for delegation and control
  • Audit trails for tracking bill payment actions

These features empower you to provide the best online experience for your customers, making it easier for them to manage their finances and stay on top of their bills.

Perspectives and Importance

The Texas Court of Appeals has drawn a clear boundary around what constitutes a taxable data processing service. This ruling is significant because it limits the scope of what's considered taxable under the data processing services umbrella.

The Court found that to qualify as a taxable data processing service, the information must be processed for the purpose of compiling and producing records of information, maintaining information, and entering and retrieving information. This is a far more narrow interpretation than the Comptroller's position.

The Comptroller's original stance would have made almost any type of information entered into a computer a taxable data processing service. Thankfully, the Court struck down this position, specifying that the purpose of the data entry must be to specifically enter the data for the purpose of data input or compilation of data.

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Company Perspectives

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Companies like Google and Amazon have shown that investing in employee well-being can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction.

Google's famous 20% time policy, which allows employees to spend 20% of their work hours on side projects, has resulted in the development of innovative products like Gmail and Google Maps.

Amazon's emphasis on employee development has led to a highly skilled and adaptable workforce.

The company's focus on continuous learning has enabled employees to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and industry trends.

Importance to Taxpayers

This ruling is significant because it sets a boundary around what constitutes "data processing services" for tax purposes. The Texas Court of Appeals specifically pointed out that a taxable data service requires information to be processed for the intended purpose of compiling and producing records of information, maintaining information, and entering and retrieving information.

The court found that the services provided by CheckFree were not taxable because they were ancillary to the professional bill pay services provided to the bank's customers. This is a far more narrow interpretation of Tex. Tax Code Ann. ยง 151.0101 than the Comptroller's interpretation.

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The Comptroller's position would have made almost any type of information entered into a computer a taxable data processing service. The court struck down this position by specifying that the purpose of the data entry must be to specifically enter the data for the purpose of data input or compilation of data, rather than as part of a broader service.

The court recognized that the primary purpose of the online payment and related data entry was not to enter or compile data, which would have triggered the sales tax on data processing services. This is an important distinction that narrows the applicability of the data processing services sales tax.

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Data Processing Services

CheckFree Corp was a pioneer in electronic payment and bill payment services. They offered a range of data processing services that made it easy for individuals to manage their finances.

Their data processing services allowed users to pay bills online, set up automatic payments, and even track their payment history. This made it simple to stay on top of financial obligations.

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CheckFree Corp's services were integrated with various financial institutions, enabling users to access their account information and make payments from a single platform. This streamlined the payment process and reduced the risk of missed payments.

By leveraging CheckFree Corp's data processing services, users could enjoy greater control over their finances and make more informed financial decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CheckFree owned by Fiserv?

Yes, CheckFree was acquired by Fiserv in 2007 and later rebranded as Fiserv. It was originally founded in 1981.

Is MyCheckFree closing?

Yes, MyCheckFree is closing, with its final day of access being March 13, 2024, due to its parent company Fiserv's retirement announcement.

Is CheckFreePay legitimate?

CheckFreePay's legitimacy is not verified by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), as they have not met the BBB's accreditation standards. This does not necessarily indicate a lack of legitimacy, but it's worth further investigation

What is CheckFree Corporation?

CheckFree Corporation is a global provider of financial services technology that enables secure electronic payments and transactions. It offers a range of services for making payments, collections, and automating recurring transactions.

What happened to CheckFree?

CheckFree Investment Services is now known as Investment Services at Fiserv, continuing to offer investment management solutions to financial services clients. The rebranding maintains their focus on separately managed accounts and unified managed accounts.

Wilbur Huels

Senior Writer

Here is a 100-word author bio for Wilbur Huels: Wilbur Huels is a seasoned writer with a keen interest in finance and investing. With a strong background in research and analysis, he brings a unique perspective to his writing, making complex topics accessible to a wide range of readers. His articles have been featured in various publications, covering topics such as investment funds and their role in shaping the global financial landscape.

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