Payment processor Heartland Payment Systems and mobile payment network LevelUp have formed a partnership to create a national mobile payment solution.

After piloting its program in New York City, Boston, Louisville, Minneapolis and Madison, Wis., the partnership is now conducting a full-scale rollout of the system. LevelUp’s footprint will expand nationally more quickly with help from Heartland’s sales force bringing the system to more than 250,000 merchant locations across the country. Currently, LevelUp has one million users and 5,000 merchants on its network.

A nationwide survey reveals college students have an overwhelming preference to receive financial aid funds on a debit card over traditional check disbursements.

Heartland Campus Solution, a division of Heartland Payment Systems, surveyed more than 6,000 college students, questioning their preference regarding debit cards, and of that surveyed approximately 92% said they were in favor of receiving financial aid on debit cards over checks.