Deluxe Corporation

Last updated

Deluxe Corporation
Company type Public
Industry Financial services
Founded1915;110 years ago (1915), in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Headquarters
801 South Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota
,
United States 55402
Number of locations
39 locations - corporate offices, distribution and fulfillment centers (2024)
Key people
Barry C. McCarthy (President and CEO)

Chip Zint (CFO)

Cheryl Mayberry McKissack (Chairwoman)
RevenueDecrease2.svg US$ 2.12 billion (2024)
Increase2.svg US$ 192.17 million (2024)
Increase2.svg US$ 53 million (2024)
Total assets Decrease2.svg US$ 2.83 billion (2024)
Total equity Decrease2.svg US$ 621 million (2024)
Number of employees
4,981 (2024)
Divisions
Website www.deluxe.com
Footnotes /references
[1]

Deluxe Corporation is an American company that provides payment processing, data services, checks and promotional products, and merchant services. It operates in four divisions: B2B payments, data, print, and merchant services. As of 2025, the company serves millions of small businesses and thousands of financial institutions, processing more than $2.8 trillion in payments annually. [2] While its legacy business centers on check printing and other printed products, payments and data services now generate more than 40% of the company’s revenue. [3]

Contents

Founded in 1915 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Deluxe relocated its headquarters to downtown Minneapolis in 2021. [4] The company operates facilities in the United States and Canada for production, fulfillment, and administrative functions. [5]

History

1915–1959

Deluxe Corporation was founded in 1915 as Deluxe Check Printers by William Roy (W.R.) Hotchkiss after obtaining a $300 personal loan. [6] Hotchkiss patented several printing innovations, including the Hotchkiss Imprinting Press (1925) and the Hotchkiss Lithograph Press (1928), as well as the first personal flat-pocket checkbook and holder. [7] For much of its early history, Deluxe operations focused exclusively on check printing, with business services added later. [8]

1960–1989

In 1965, Deluxe became a publicly traded company and adopted magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) technology for check printing. [9] By the 1980s, competition in the check printing industry increased, and demand for printed checks began to slow. [10] In 1988, the company simplified the name to Deluxe Corporation. [11]

1990–2010

The adoption of electronic payment systems in the 1990s reduced demand for printed checks, prompting Deluxe to diversify. The company began selling business forms, promotional products, and payroll services, and in the late 1990s and early 2000s acquired firms to expand transaction processing and software capabilities. [12]

In 2004, Deluxe acquired New England Business Services (NEBS), a small business products provider. [13] In 2008, Deluxe announced a strategic shift from primarily print products to a broader business services portfolio. [14] Acquisitions during this period included Hostopia (web hosting), Logo Mojo (logo design), PartnerUp (market intelligence), and MerchEngines (search engine marketing). [15]

2010–2015

Deluxe continued to diversify by acquiring many companies in areas including marketing, payroll, and digital services. [16] Purchases included online printing service PsPrint, marketing firm OrangeSoda, email marketing platform VerticalResponse (2014), [17] [18] [19] and transaction processor Wausau Financial Services (2014). [20] The company also began offering electronic check (eCheck) solutions. [21]

In 2015, Deluxe launched Small Business Revolution, a reality television series distributed on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, highlighting small business stories. [22]

2015–2020

During this period, Deluxe sought to balance its declining print business with growth in digital services. In December 2016, the company acquired First Manhattan Consulting Group—better known as FMCG Direct—for approximately $200 million. FMCG Direct offered data-driven marketing analytics and insights for financial institutions. The deal enhanced Deluxe’s data-driven marketing services and was integrated into its Financial Services segment. [23]

In 2019, the company secured a contract with Synchrony Financial, providing opportunities to sell lockbox processing, data-driven marketing, and treasury management services. [24] In 2020, CEO Barry McCarthy implemented a new organizational structure and management team, including the company’s first chief revenue officer. [25] The Small Business Revolution series gained recognition in 2021, including a Daytime Emmy Award nomination. [26]

While the company has accelerated its expansion into payments and data services under CEO Barry McCarthy, Deluxe’s check printing business remains a significant revenue source and one of the largest in the U.S. market. [27]

2021–2025

The company announced it would open a FinTech and Customer Innovation Center in Sandy Springs, Georgia, focusing on payment and cloud services. [28]

In April 2021, Deluxe acquired First American Payment Systems, a payment processing company, for $960 million, its largest acquisition at that time, doubling the revenue of its payments segment. [29]

Under McCarthy’s leadership, Deluxe payments and data revenue grew significantly, from about 17% of total revenue in 2020 to more than 40% in 2025, while print continued to contribute roughly $700 million annually. [30] The company’s “North Star” strategic initiative, launched in 2023, aimed to focus resources on high-growth segments, improve cash flow, and reduce debt. [31]

In August 2025, Deluxe acquired CheckMatch from J.P. Morgan’s Kinexys unit to expand its Deluxe Payment Network, which digitizes paper check delivery and integrates lockbox services. [32] McCarthy has stated that the Deluxe strategy is to continue growing in payments and data while maintaining its check printing operations as a profitable legacy business. [33]

Company acquisitions

YearCompanyBusinessNotes
1994 T/Maker Computer software Acquired in 1994. [34] The software product lines were later sold to Broderbund.
2004 NEBS (New England Business Services)Small Business products, stationery Acquired for approximately $587 million. [35]
2008Aplus.net, Hostopia Web hosting Acquired to expand online services. [36]
2008VerticalResponse Email marketing Expanded Deluxe’s digital marketing offerings [37]
2014Wausau Financial ServicesTransaction processingAcquired to expand payments processing capabilities. [38]
2016180fusion Digital marketing Purchase price undisclosed. [39]
2016Liquid Web (assets)/RDM Corporation Web hosting and payment processing Purchased specific assets from Liquid Web; RDM provided banking software. [40]
2018MyCorporation, LogoMix, First Data (assets)Incorporation services, logo design, merchant services Part of expansion into business formation and branding services. [41]
2021First American Payment SystemsPayment processingAcquired for $960 million, doubling payments segment revenue. [42]
2025CheckMatch (from J.P. Morgan’s Kinexys unit)Digital lockbox, check digitizationIntegrated into Deluxe Payment Network to expand B2B payments capabilities. [43]

Corporate overview

Deluxe Corporation is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DLX. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota [44] the company operates four primary business divisions: B2B payments, data, print, and merchant services. [45]

Through its payments platforms, Deluxe processes more than $2.8 trillion in annual transactions for clients that include small businesses, large enterprises, financial institutions, and government agencies. [46] The print division continues to produce checks, business forms, and other printed products for consumers and organizations. [47]

As of 2025, Deluxe remains one of the largest commercial check printers in the United States by volume, even as payments and data solutions account for a growing share of its revenue. [48] For check printing, customers cite Deluxe’s national scale, security features, and long-standing relationships with banks and businesses [49] while its integrated payments and data solutions appeal to businesses seeking to consolidate services with a single provider. [50]

Competitive overview

Deluxe competes in multiple sectors, including payment processing, business services, and check printing. In the check printing market, historical competitors have included the John H. Harland Company, described by The New York Times in 2000 as the second-largest printer of checks in the United States, [51] as well as in-house printing operations at retailers such as Walmart.

References

  1. "US SEC: Form 10-K Deluxe Corporation". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  2. "Deluxe Selects Metro Atlanta for New FinTech Innovation Center and Offices, Will Create Over 700 Jobs | Governor Brian P. Kemp Office of the Governor". gov.georgia.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  3. "February 21, 2025 - 10-K: Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d) | Deluxe Corporation (DLX)". Deluxe Corporation. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  4. Gilyard, Burl (September 14, 2020). "Deluxe Corp. Moving HQ to Downtown Minneapolis". Twin Cities Business. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  5. Gilyard, Burl (September 14, 2020). "Deluxe Corp. Moving HQ to Downtown Minneapolis". Twin Cities Business. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  6. "Deluxe Corporation Celebrates A Century | Lenexa Chamber of Commerce" . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  7. "History of Deluxe Corporation". FundingUniverse. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  8. "History of Deluxe Corporation". FundingUniverse. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  9. "History of Deluxe Corporation". FundingUniverse. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  10. "Recent Payment Trends in the United States". Federal Reserve Bulletin. 2008.
  11. "Deluxe Corporation (DLX)".
  12. "Deluxe Corporation (DLX)".
  13. "Press Release issued by Deluxe Corporation on May 17, 2004". www.sec.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  14. "Deluxe Corporation Annual Report" (PDF). 2008.
  15. "Deluxe Corporation Annual Report" (PDF). 2008.
  16. "Deluxe Corporation Annual Report" (PDF). 2008.
  17. support@themightymo.com (December 16, 2014). "Deluxe Acquires PSPrint". Cherry Tree & Associates. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  18. "Deluxe Corporation Acquires OrangeSoda". June 5, 2012.
  19. McGee, Matt (July 26, 2013). "Deluxe Buys Vertical Response For $27 Million". MarTech. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  20. Ramstad, Evan (October 24, 2014). "Deluxe net falls on charge, buys Wausau Financial". www.startribune.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  21. Lucas, Peter. "Deluxe Hitches Its eCheck Business to QuickBooks Online And Its 2 Million Users". Digital Transactions. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  22. "Deluxe Corp. Spotlighting 100 Small Businesses With Web Series". Twin Cities Business. February 8, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  23. "Document". www.sec.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  24. Dreyfuss, Joel (March 28, 2020). "The century-old company that invented the checkbook may be a key coronavirus economic player". CNBC. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  25. Dreyfuss, Joel (March 28, 2020). "The century-old company that invented the checkbook may be a key coronavirus economic player". CNBC. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  26. "Deluxe Reality Series, Small Business Revolution, Receives Second Television Emmy Nomination". Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  27. Kennedy, Patrick (July 22, 2025). "Deluxe is increasingly being recognized as a digital payments company as it becomes less dependent on printing checks". www.startribune.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  28. Murchison, Adrianne. "Deluxe moving hundreds of workers into existing Sandy Springs office tower". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN   1539-7459 . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  29. "Deluxe Completes Acquisition of First American Payment Systems".
  30. "Deluxe pivots to digital and data | Payments Dive". www.paymentsdive.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  31. Kennedy, Patrick (February 5, 2024). "Shifting a company's focus is hard. Ask Minneapolis-based Deluxe". www.startribune.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  32. PYMNTS (August 6, 2025). "Deluxe Snaps Up CheckMatch from Kinexys by J.P. Morgan to Scale Payments Network". PYMNTS.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  33. Kennedy, Patrick (July 22, 2025). "Deluxe is increasingly being recognized as a digital payments company as it becomes less dependent on printing checks". www.startribune.com. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  34. "Deluxe Corporation SEC Filing" (PDF). June 1995.
  35. "February 21, 2025 - 10-K: Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d) | Deluxe Corporation (DLX)". Deluxe Corporation. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  36. "Deluxe Corporation Annual Report" (PDF). 2008.
  37. McGee, Matt (July 26, 2013). "Deluxe Buys Vertical Response For $27 Million". MarTech. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  38. Ramstad, Evan (October 24, 2014). "Deluxe net falls on charge, buys Wausau Financial". www.startribune.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  39. "Deluxe Corporation SEC Filing" (PDF). July 2017.
  40. "Deluxe Corporation SEC Filing" (PDF). July 2017.
  41. IQ, S&P Capital (January 24, 2019). "Deluxe Corporation acquired MyCorporation Business Services, Inc. | MarketScreener". www.marketscreener.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  42. "Deluxe Completes Acquisition of First American Payment Systems". June 2021.
  43. PYMNTS (August 6, 2025). "Deluxe Snaps Up CheckMatch from Kinexys by J.P. Morgan to Scale Payments Network". PYMNTS.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  44. Gilyard, Burl (September 14, 2020). "Deluxe Corp. Moving HQ to Downtown Minneapolis". Twin Cities Business. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  45. "February 21, 2025 - 10-K: Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d) | Deluxe Corporation (DLX)". Deluxe Corporation. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  46. "Deluxe Selects Metro Atlanta for New FinTech Innovation Center and Offices, Will Create Over 700 Jobs | Governor Brian P. Kemp Office of the Governor". gov.georgia.gov. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  47. "February 21, 2025 - 10-K: Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d) | Deluxe Corporation (DLX)". Deluxe Corporation. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  48. Kennedy, Patrick (July 22, 2025). "Deluxe is increasingly being recognized as a digital payments company as it becomes less dependent on printing checks". www.startribune.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  49. Kennedy, Patrick (July 22, 2025). "Deluxe is increasingly being recognized as a digital payments company as it becomes less dependent on printing checks". www.startribune.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  50. "Deluxe pivots to digital and data | Payments Dive". www.paymentsdive.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  51. "COMPANY NEWS; HARLAND, CHECK PRINTER, TO BUY SOFTWARE MAKER (Published 2000)". July 18, 2000. Retrieved August 14, 2025.