May 12, 2011, 12:12pm

The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) today announced that six leading payments companies have agreed to take part in and support the Certified Payments Professional program launched by ETA in February.

Representatives of MasterCard Worldwide, Visa Inc., First Data Corporation, National Processing Company/Fifth-Third Processing, COCARD Marketing Group and Merchant Warehouse appeared on stage with ETA CEO Carla Balakgie during ETA’s Annual Meeting & Expo to announce their commitment to the certification program.

“It’s gratifying to know that these organizations – all of them leaders in our industry – have looked at the CPP program and have decided to support it publicly,” Balakgie said. “They recognize that a successful certification program will benefit their companies, the industry, and certainly those who earn the CPP credential.”

Taking part in the announcement were Steve Carnevale, Sr. Vice President/Group Head Market Development, MasterCard Worldwide, Sameer Govil, Head of Acceptance Solutions, Visa, Inc., Kim Fitzsimmons, Sr. Vice President-First Data Services, First Data Corp., Henry Helgeson, CEO, Merchant Warehouse, Rick Pylant, Chairman and President, COCARD Marketing Group, and Stephanie Lusher, Sr. Vice President of Sales, NPC/Fifth Third Processing.

The Certified Payments Professional Program is the payments industry’s first professional certification program. It is focused on the knowledge and skills required for those involved in the sales and distribution of electronic payments-related products and services to merchants and businesses.

For more about the program, visit www.electran.org/CPP.

About ETA

The Electronic Transactions Association is an international trade association representing more than 500 companies who offer electronic transaction processing products and services.