What is the LionCash+ Program?

LionCash+ is an online, prepaid flexible spending account accessed by the Penn State id+ card.  Funds deposited into LionCash+ accounts can be used to purchase goods or services at participating on- and off-campus locations.  LionCash+ funds are also accepted in on-campus laundry, vending, and copying machines.

As a convenience to Penn State faculty, staff, students, and affiliates, LionCash+ accounts are established for all Penn State id+ cardholders at the time of card issuance.  Cardholders simply activate the account by making an initial deposit.

Each time the card is used, the system will check to make sure the balance in the account is sufficient to cover the purchase price. The amount of the sale will be deducted from the account, and the new balance will be displayed at the reader or printed on the receipt.


What are the benefits of LionCash+ to cardholders? 

1. Deposits can be made online – family and friends can also make deposits online and include a personalized message to the cardholder.
2. It's easy to manage the account online – check balances, view transaction history, or report a lost or stolen id+ card.
3. Active accounts remain open and carry forward from semester to semester and from year to year.
4. It's safer and more convenient than carrying cash – even if the id+ card is lost or stolen, the funds will be protected if the card is reported, and the funds are immediately available when a replacement id+ card is issued.
5. Offers the convenience of a one-card solution – the id+ card is also used to access residence halls, banking program, library privileges, fitness memberships, Newspaper Readership Program, and other University resources.
   

What are the benefits of LionCash+ to merchants?

1. Marketing Opportunities – LionCash+ provides a new outlet for your company's marketing efforts.
2. Competitive Edge – LionCash+ funds may only be spent at participating locations.
3. Security – the Penn State id+ card is used to process sales, which adds a measure of security over non-photo credit/debit card sales.
4. Less Cash Handling – merchants will recognize a decrease in the amount of cash that they handle.
5. Fast Settlement of Sales – merchants may elect to receive daily, weekly, or monthly settlements.
6. Automated Sales Reporting – LionCash+ offers merchants an electronic daily sales report, e-mailed the morning after every business day.

How is LionCash+ marketed to faculty, staff, and students?

1. One-on-one interactions with first-year students and parents during First-Year Testing, Counseling, & Advising Program (FTCAP) orientation sessions held throughout the summer months.
2. Collegian advertising
3. Parent newsletter, Campus Life Today
4. Campus TV, Channel 21
5. Penn State id+ website
6. Various printed brochures, posters, and other materials
7. Promotional events and programs
   

Where is LionCash+ accepted?

Cardholders can use LionCash+ funds at many on- and off-campus locations, including:

1. A wide range of participating off-campus merchants, including restaurants, bookstores, computer stores, grocery stores, fitness facilities, florists, clothing/apparel stores, and other retail stores
2. On-campus food service locations
3. On-campus laundry facilities
4. Select on-campus vending and copier machines

For a complete listing of participating merchants, click here.

Can LionCash+ be accepted for telephone orders and off-site deliveries?

LionCash+ accounts can be debited for telephone orders by entering the card number manually into the terminal.  There are inherent risks associated with this type of transaction, and, in the case of a dispute, the burden of proof lies with the merchant.  To minimize the risk of fraud, we recommend that a copy of the receipt go out with the delivery.  The delivery person should visually inspect the id+ card and obtain the cardholder's signature for authorization.

Can tips be charged to LionCash+ accounts?

Yes.  Tips to servers can easily be charged to a cardholder's LionCash+ account.

Are there any restrictions on the types of goods and services that can be purchased with LionCash+?

LionCash+ cannot be used for the purchase of packaged alcohol, illicit drug paraphernalia, or for card-to-cash exchange (i.e. merchants may not accept LionCash+ in exchange for cash).  Businesses where more than 50% of gross sales are from alcohol are not eligible to participate in the LionCash+ program.

How much does it cost to participate in the Program?

In exchange for services (operation of card program, account management, advertising, marketing, etc.) each merchant pays a flat 3% service charge on all net LionCash+ sales (purchase minus refunds).  There are no other annual, maintenance, or "per transaction" fees associated with the program.  If you don't process any LionCash+ sales, you don't pay any fees.

Merchants are required to purchase and maintain their own terminals.

How will I be paid for LionCash+ sales?

The University will reimburse you for net sales processed via LionCash+ (less the 3% service charge) on each University business day via an ACH electronic payment directly into the bank account designated on the application.  In most cases, the funds will be deposited within 48 hours.  A settlement statement will be e-mailed for the funds deposited.  Merchants also have the option to select either weekly or monthly settlements instead of daily.

Error resolution will be handled by Auxiliary and Business Services Accounting Operations.

What equipment is required to accept LionCash+?

There are two terminals supported by the LionCash+ network:

OPTION 1:  Verifone Vx570 (analog dial tone or IP network):

Transaction processing time is approximately 2-5 seconds
Total cost for reader with integrated printer and Blackboard TS software is $745.18
(reader w/ built-in printer, software, and shipping is $703.00 plus $42.18 sales tax; price subject to change)
Recommended terminal for most businesses

Blackboard TS software is only available through Blackboard Inc; therefore, reader with software must be purchased through the id+ Office.

Requirements for Network (IP) Setup Only¹:

1. Assign a static IP address for each reader that will be on the merchant network.  NAT translation is supported, but a static external IP address is required - DHCP is not acceptable.
2. Provide a live Ethernet network jack for terminal on merchant network.
3. Configure merchant firewall for reader to communicate properly with Penn State hosts for processing transactions.

OPTION 2:  Blackboard AT300 Activity Reader (IP network required):

Transaction processing time approximately 2-5 seconds
Total cost for reader and Blackboard TS software is $1,774.44
(reader, software, and shipping is $1674.00 plus $100.44 sales tax; price subject to change)

Blackboard TS software is only available through Blackboard Inc; therefore, reader with software must be purchased through the id+ Office.

Requirements¹:

1. Assign a static IP address for each reader that will be on the merchant network².  NAT translation is supported, but a static external IP address is required - DHCP is not acceptable.
2. Provide a live Ethernet network jack for terminal on merchant network.
3. Open hole in merchant firewall for reader to communicate properly with Penn State hosts for processing transactions.

Optional Printer:
Instead of purchasing a separate receipt printer for the AT3000, we recommend that the merchant prints a duplicate receipt from their own point-of-sale system, and have the customer sign the receipt for verification.  If the card number is required for processing tips, the vendor must record the number, or, if possible, capture the number via their own point-of-sale system to print on the receipt³.

If a receipt printer is desired, we have identified and tested an Ithaca iTherm 280 thermal receipt printer that works with the AT3000.  The printer retails for approximately $279 and must be obtained by the merchant.  The receipt printed with the iTherm is somewhat limited, and cannot be programmed to print the full card number, a tip line, signature line, or detailed merchant information.  The receipt does have a time/date stamp, the amount of the purchase, and the balance in the LionCash+ account after the purchase.  If tips need to be processed at a time after the card has been returned to the cardholder, the card number must be captured by some other means³.