Peter Burns is Senior Payments Advisor to the CEO of Heartland Payments, Inc where he provides support and direction on payment policy issues, including industry efforts to defend against data breaches and related fraud. He also serves as an advisor to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling Services , and the advisory Board of the Boston Fed’s “Survey of Consumer Payment Choice”.

From 2000 to 2009 he served as Vice President and founding Director of the Payment Cards Center of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. He was responsible for the establishment of the Center and its continuing development as a recognized source of expertise and policy insight on issues related to consumer credit and payments. He continues to serve on the Center’s industry advisory council.

From 1996 to 2000 he was managing director of the Financial Institutions Center at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and continues to serve on its advisory board of directors. Mr. Burns has an extensive background in the financial services industry, having held a number of senior management positions during a 25-year career with CoreStates Financial Corporation and its predecessor, The Philadelphia National Bank.

Mr. Burns received an AB degree from Lehigh University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business.