# First Data Corporation

First Data Corporation is an other based in Atlanta, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** other
- **Headquarters:** Atlanta, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Atlanta, GA, United States
- **Founded:** 1969
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** firstdata.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-data-corporation

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

First Data Corporation was founded in 1969 and grew into one of the largest payment processors globally, processing over 400 million daily transactions at scale. The firm's wealth origin traces to its founding as a spin-off from American Express in the 1980s, later becoming an independent public company traded on the NYSE. Frank Bisignano, appointed CEO in 2013, led the company through a turnaround and eventual sale. The firm's core business spanned merchant acquiring, issuing solutions, and global payment processing, serving clients from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Known for its Clover point-of-sale platform and STAR network, First Data also developed enterprise software for payment fraud detection and data analytics. Major clients included JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, alongside partnerships with technology firms like Google and Apple for digital wallet integration. Geographic reach extended across 50 countries, with significant operations in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. At its peak, First Data employed over 22,000 professionals across global offices including Atlanta, Denver, Omaha, and London. The company owned operating subsidiaries like First Data Resources and First Data Merchant Services. In July 2019, the acquisition by Fiserv closed, creating a payments giant with combined revenue over $15B annually. A key operational event was the 2019 merger completion, which integrated First Data's merchant capabilities into Fiserv's financial services platform. First Data's structural differentiator was its vertical integration as both a processor and software provider, controlling the payment stack from card issuing to settlement. The firm operated under heavy regulatory oversight in multiple jurisdictions due to its systemic role in financial infrastructure, a posture distinct from either a family office or an asset manager. This regulatory posture shaped its capital requirements and compliance architecture.

## Sectors

- Payment Processing
- Financial Technology
- Enterprise Software
- Merchant Services

## People

- Frank Bisignano — President and Chief Executive Officer
- Himanshu Patel — Chief Financial Officer
- John G. Colligan — Executive Vice President and General Counsel

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at First Data Corporation?

As a publicly traded company prior to the Fiserv acquisition, investment decisions were made by the executive leadership team under CEO Frank Bisignano, with oversight from the board of directors. Capital allocation priorities included technology development, acquisitions, and returning capital to shareholders (per public filings).

### How does First Data source proprietary deal flow?

First Data did not operate as a private investment firm. Its growth came from organic expansion, strategic acquisitions like Clover, and partnerships with financial institutions. The firm's merger with Fiserv in 2019 was the culmination of a planned consolidation strategy (per Fiserv official communications).

### Does First Data participate in fund commitments or only direct operations?

First Data did not manage third-party capital or participate in fund investments. Its business model was operational — generating revenue from payment processing fees and merchant services. The firm's acquisition by Fiserv transformed it into a division of a larger financial technology company (per Fiserv 2019 annual report).

### Which sectors does First Data typically focus on?

First Data was exclusively focused on payment processing and financial technology. Its verticals included merchant services, card issuing, point-of-sale hardware, and digital payment infrastructure. The firm did not invest outside this domain (per the firm's 2018 10-K filing).

### How is First Data related to Fiserv?

First Data merged with Fiserv in July 2019 in a transaction valued at $22B. The combined entity adopted the Fiserv brand and trades on Nasdaq under the ticker FI. First Data operates as a business unit within Fiserv's merchant acceptance segment (per Fiserv press release, July 2019).

## Related profiles

- [Crash Champions](https://altss.com/profile/pacific-elite-collision-centerscrash-champions-llc)
- [RTL Group SA](https://altss.com/profile/rtl-group-sa)

---

Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/first-data-corporation

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology