Discover Expands its College Payment Solutions through Partnership with Phood’s Meal Delivery Program

Discover, a leading digital bank and payments company, will be supporting Phood’s new meal delivery program for college students by opening up access to merchants that run on the Discover network. This industry-first partnership will provide a mobile app that allows higher education students to easily sign-up, and load their meal plan and flex plan dollars for use on meal delivery services, such as DoorDash food, groceries and convenience items on demand, and at local restaurants that accept Discover.

Students will use a Phood Discover prepaid card loaded with their campus meal plan, as well as flex plan dollars that can be used for off-campus and delivery purchases, managed through an easy-to-use app. Both physical cards and digital cards will be available. The prepaid card will run on the Discover Global Network. This integrated prepaid payment solution looks to capture a share of U.S. contactless volume which increased more than 152% in the U.S. from 2019 to 2020.

“Discover’s latest step into simplifying payments on a college campus will provide increased food options for students,” said Jason Hanson, senior vice president of global business development at Discover. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, how we order and where we eat food has changed. As they return to campus, students may be excited to eat at restaurants that have been closed for a while or may prefer ordering food rather than sitting in a crowded cafeteria. This new program gives them options while not spending money beyond their existing meal plan.”

“Discover is investing their resources into Phood by providing their expertise in partnerships in the college space to make it easier for campuses to adapt to new channels of revenue and for Phood to reach new customers,” Alex Parmley, chief executive officer at Phood, commented. “We’re excited to be partnering with Discover to shape a new future for the campus industry, and power an entirely new campus experience both on-campus and off.”

Initially, the program will launch at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana and Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Throughout the school year, Phood and Discover will be looking to bring this first of its kind program to college students across the country.

“As students’ tastes and preferences continue to change, Phood will allow students endless possibilities to create variety in campus dining,” said Lucas D. Novotny, senior director of housing and auxiliary services. “Creighton University is looking forward to the partnership with Phood and the extended partnerships with known leaders like Discover and DoorDash, which provide the comfort of outstanding support expected from this innovative opportunity.”