Innovative solution debuts in partnership with Antone’s Nightclub at the Austin Blues Festival
New programmable card-issuing platform transforms siloed gift programs into unified, brand-extending commerce ecosystems.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Usio, Inc. (Nasdaq: USIO), a leading a leading provider of integrated, cloud-based electronic payment and embedded financial solution, today announced the launch of its new Private-Label Gift Card platform. The platform allows businesses to offer branded gift cards that can be used across locations, point-of-sale (POS) systems and payment processors by leveraging traditional payment networks and enabling precise control over where the card can be used.
Usio debuted the platform in collaboration with the iconic Austin-based Antone’s Nightclub, a premier venue and co-host of the Austin Blues Festival. As a long-standing sponsor of the festival, Usio selected the event to showcase how its programmable, merchant-controlled technology solves the payment system fragmentation common in modern retail and entertainment commerce.
“Antone’s is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Austin blues scene and helped cement the city’s reputation as the ‘Live Music Capital of the World’,” said Houston Frost, Chief Product Officer of Usio. “They are the ideal partner to showcase the capabilities of the private-label gift card solution because they operate multiple disparate point-of-sale platforms including ticketing, food and beverage, and retail. Because these channels use multiple payment systems, Antone’s was unable to offer a single gift card that could be used for all products and services, an inherent limitation of traditional, platform-bound solutions. We’re proud to partner with Antone’s Nightclub to deliver a unified payment experience that keeps the brand front and center while giving consumers the convenience they expect.”
Usio’s Private-Label Gift Card leverages traditional payment networks and payments can be processed through any system that accepts major debit and credit card brands. Usio’s proprietary merchant control engine enables partners to restrict card purchases to specific merchant(s) and/or terminal(s), delivering a flexible, programmable gift card solution. This omnichannel platform functions across physical stores, online storefronts, and the gift cards can even be added to major mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. The platform is designed to serve a wide range of industries, including Hospitality & Entertainment, Fitness & Wellness, Education, Retail, Travel, and Digital Economies.
To learn more please visit https://usio.com/antones/.
About Usio, Inc.
Usio, Inc. (Nasdaq: USIO), a leading, cloud-based, integrated FinTech electronic payment solutions provider, offers a wide range of payment solutions to merchants, billers, banks, service bureaus, integrated software vendors and card issuers. The Company operates credit, debit/prepaid, and ACH payment processing platforms to deliver convenient, world-class payment solutions and services clients through its unique payment facilitation platform as a service. The company, through its Usio Output Solutions division, offers services relating to electronic bill presentment, document composition, document decomposition and printing and mailing services. The strength of the Company lies in its ability to provide tailored solutions for card issuance, payment acceptance, and bill payments as well as its unique technology in the card issuing sector.
Usio is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, and has offices in Austin, Texas. Websites: www.usio.com, www.payfacinabox.com, www.akimbocard.com and www.usiooutput.com. Find us on Facebook® and Twitter.
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Except for the historical information contained herein, this release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbors provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding management's intentions, beliefs, expectations, and strategies for the future, including statements regarding the Company’s operating and growth strategies. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "intend," "look forward," "anticipate," "schedule," and "expect," and similar expressions.
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Contact:
Investor Relations
Paul Manley, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
paul.manley@usio.com
612-834-1804
Media Relations
Jessica Starman
media@usio.com
