ATLANTA --  NDC eCommerce, a transaction processor and electronic payments company, will begun operating under its new name, Global Payments Inc., beginning this month and operate as a subsidiary of National Data Corporation until it spins.

Earlier this year, NDC announced plans to spin off the eCommerce business unit as a separate, publicly traded company. The spin is expected to be final in early 2001.

Paul Garcia, CEO of NDC eCommerce, will also serve as CEO of Global Payments Inc.

Because NDC used the name Global Payment Systems for its indirect merchant acquiring business, "it will be familiar to many of our existing and potential customers," Garcia said.

And, Garcia added, "The name 'Global' is so applicable for today's Internet-enabled, world-based economy, and the word 'Payments' is at the heart of what we provide our merchant, financial institution, corporate, government and ISO customers."

The company also announced that the symbol GPN has been reserved by the New York Stock Exchange and that its new Web site address will be www.globalpaymentsinc.com.