WASHINGTON, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Electronic Payments Coalition issued the following statement in response to the proposed changes to Senator Dick Durbin's debit interchange amendment to financial reform:

"Senator Durbin has underscored his commitment to big box retailers and their bottom lines through his so-called compromise. The fact that he has to carve anyone out to provide 'protection' from his amendment gives some indication as to the damage this amendment will cause. Consumers will pay higher fees, lose rewards programs, and have limited choices for debit cards due to the disruption this amendment will bring to the economics of the debit card market. We will continue to fight to ensure that retailers do not succeed in their decade-long lobbying campaign to shift the cost of what they pay to accept cards onto the backs of consumers."

About Electronic Payments Coalition

The Electronic Payments Coalition is dedicated to protecting consumer value, choice, and competition in electronic payments systems. The coalition is a broad-based group of payment card networks, financial services companies, and financial services trade associations whose primary goal is to educate policy-makers, consumers, and the media about the value of electronic payments systems — including economic growth, convenience, speed, reliability, and security — and to ensure the continued growth of global commerce by promoting consumer choice and the stability of the vast payment networks that connect millions of consumers with millions of retailers each and every day.

SOURCE Electronic Payments Coalition