The old LionCash+ is still accepted in campus laundry and vending machines, copiers and select stores.

Cindy Kellerman, ID+ office program manager, said the new system allows students to cancel their funds if they lose the card. With the old chip, all funds would be lost.

"The chip wasn't user friendly, and the technology wasn't as easy to use as anticipated," Kellerman said. "With the LionCash+, all the funds are embedded in the barcode, and a lot more can be done with the new technology."

She also said the number of participating merchants in the area has increased from 20 to 50 since LionCash+ began. Several local stores said it has been a positive change.

"It's been working rather well," said Phil Locke, assistant manager of Jimmy John's, 434 E. College Ave. "Sales are definitely up since [accepting LionCash+]."

Norm Brown, manager of the Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave, also said the new system has turned out well.

"The dollar volume of students using [LionCash+] to buy books was extremely high -- more than I expected," he said.

Students can transfer funds from their chip onto the current system at the ID+ office in the HUB-Robeson Center or go online to add funds and manage their account at www.idcard.psu.edu.

"The chip is slowly being phased out because LionCash+ is simply an all-around better system," Kellerman said.

LionCash+ will also hold funds for the Diners Club meal plan, designed for off-campus students who eat fewer than 12 meals a week in dining commons. Diners Club gives 10 percent off most purchases at à la carte eateries on campus and 20 percent off all-you-can-eat meals in the dining commons. LionCash+ will continue to use the same point system used as before.

Kellerman said Diners Club participants should now look for places that accept LionCash+, which will include all of the Housing and Food Services' eateries on campus.

Joel Weidner, Housing and Food Services associate director of information systems operations, said he has seen an increase in students participating in Diners Club.

"There has already been $1.7 million in deposits in the Diners Club account, which is up a lot more than Diners Club in the previous years," Weidner said.

The new ID+ cards will function as a PNC Bank debit card. Chad Feather, University Banking Center manager, said everything should run smoothly as long as students come into the bank to transfer their PIN to their new card. Kellerman said the system would simplify students' lives.

"The real benefit is the kids only have to carry one card around campus," she said.

www.idcard.psu.edu