Headquartered in Omaha and locally owned and operated for over 34 years, American Payment Systems is the best solution provider for electronic payment/ transaction processing needs. American Payment Systems can design a merchant processing solution for any budget that meets all of your business’ requirements, as well as providing merchant training and support. Jim Barnes is the owner of American Payment Systems.
Tell us a little about your business. – American Payment Systems (APS) is a family owned and operated company that processes payments for merchants locally as well as nationwide, and we also help merchants with gift and loyalty cards, cash advances for capital, and all types of terminals and POS systems.
How did you get started in the business? – My wife, Terry, and I owned an investment and insurance brokerage for 25 years, starting in Springfield, Missouri and then moving the business to Omaha in 1982. We almost stumbled into the merchant processing business by accident when a friend from Des Moines told us about the industry in 1998.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – The hardest challenge I feel in our industry is overcoming the bad reputation it has been given due to processors and sales reps with poor values and unscrupulous processors who have taken advantage of merchants with smoke and mirrors over equipment and pricing for years.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Our greatest accomplishment in my opinion professionally has been the reputation we have built in attracting such great people to work with us, both in sales and administratively. Also, in treating our merchants like we would want to be treated with old fashioned family values and working hard to earn our merchant’s business every month.
Tell us a little about your family. – Terry and I have been married over 40 years and have three grown children; twins Stacy and Tracy, and our son who has also been in the family business since 2001 and is the President and owner of the PinPoint Card, a very successful mobile loyalty and rewards program started here in Omaha with over 65,000 happy PinPoint customers and over 95 merchant locations locally. We have been blessed with seven wonderful grandchildren from ages 18 to 7. Omaha has been such a great place for not only our family but to own a business here in a great state with great economics and industry.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – At age 25, when I decided to go into business for myself. We literally almost starved for several years, but it has been greatly worth the time and effort.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Work is only work if you’d rather be doing something else. However, whenever possible I do love golfing and spending time with family.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I was born and raised in a small country town in Missouri not far from the Arkansas border, and went to a high school with 99 in my graduating class. My father and I raised horses and showed in several horse shows.
What are you the most proud of? – Without a doubt, my children and grandchildren. Family is everything.
If you had a theme song, what would it be? – “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstong.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – Every restaurant that uses APS as their processor!
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – You can reach me at (402) 502-9985, via email at jbarnes@americanpayment.com, or visit www.americanpaymentsystems.com.