ACI Worldwide Announces Expanded Fraud Analytics Capabilities Powered by Opera Solutions

Source: ACI Worldwide, Inc.

Alliance Enables Broader Access to Analytics Resources for Fraud Prevention and Detection

NEW YORK, June 10, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ACI Worldwide, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACIW), a leading international provider of electronic payments software and solutions, announced today that its customers can now access additional fraud models and professional services from Opera Solutions LLC, a firm that develops and deploys advanced predictive analytics. This alliance is a new element of the ACI Analytics initiative that facilitates a best-in-class portfolio of strategic fraud services and capabilities for ACI's customers, and gives them access to a vast array of analytics expertise. Opera Solutions is a world leader in applying advanced modeling techniques, machine learning and new technologies to very large datasets and thorny analytic problems. The company has more than 70 mathematicians, scientists, and statisticians in its three scientific and technical Centers of Excellence in San Diego, Shanghai and New Delhi. This alliance expands the risk management analytics offerings available to ACI's customers around the world. "This strategic alliance will complement ACI's extensive experience creating fraud prevention analytics by providing specialized support and industry expertise around areas such as credit risk and bust-out fraud that haven't formed part of ACI's core offering in the past," said Enrique Carrillo, vice president, strategic alliances for Opera Solutions. Louis Blatt, chief product officer at ACI Worldwide, said, "The increasing frequency and diversity of financial crime places new demands on organizations as they combat fraud, so the fraud prevention tools they use have to be as responsive and as accurate as possible. ACI's analytics gives our customers that edge, because it can produce more accurate predictions by more fully extracting signals and patterns from the detailed data about transactions, payments and other activities that are captured by ACI products." The models that result from ACI and Opera Solutions' combined service offering adaptively learn and use all available data to create powerful predictions with a minimum of false positives. This is accomplished by leveraging the full panoply of non-linear and multi-variable modeling methods that are adaptive, flexible, and able to learn, including Matrix Factorization, Restricted Boltzmann Machines (RBM), Neural Networks, K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Compression Neural Networks, Hidden Markov Models, and Clustering techniques. Together, ACI and Opera Solutions offer comprehensive solutions to help card issuers, merchants, acquirers, payment processors and financial institutions combat fraud schemes. The solutions work across the enterprise independent of channel and geography. They can be used by financial institutions to manage any channels they choose, from card transactions at an ATM or point of sale device, to phone, branch, internet banking or wire transactions, and enable users to immediately recognize and stop fraudulent behavior. For more information, please visit www.aciworldwide.com. About ACI Worldwide ACI Worldwide is a leading provider of software and services solutions to initiate, manage, secure and operate electronic payments for financial institutions, retailers and processors around the world. ACI offers a vision for the future of an integrated solution that can meet all their payment needs -- from a single service to a complete toolset. ACI products deliver payment processing, online banking, fraud prevention and detection, and back-office services, providing agility, reliability, manageability and scale to customers around the world. Visit ACI Worldwide atwww.aciworldwide.com. About Opera Solutions Opera Solutions (www.operasolutions.com) is a global firm that applies a unique combination of analytics, technology, large-scale data management, and industry/functional expertise to drive rapid profit growth, risk management, and operational improvements for clients around the world, with offices in New York, Jersey City, San Diego, London, Paris, Shanghai, and New Delhi. It serves organizations in a broad range of sectors, including financial services, marketing, capital markets, consumer goods, manufacturing, government, retailing, media, and hospitality. Visit Opera Solutions at www.operasolutions.com.CONTACT: ACI Worldwide, Inc. Catherine Eyres +44 (0) 1923 812741 Catherine.Eyres@aciworldwide.com

Barclaycard Contactless to Receive Consumer Awareness Boost

Barclaycard contactless is to receive a consumer awareness boost as EAT. and London-based Subway stores launch in-store marketing campaigns.

Northampton, UK (PRWEB) June 9, 2010 -- Barclaycard contactless is to receive a consumer awareness boost as EAT. and London branches of Subway both launch in-store marketing campaigns to highlight that customers can use contactless enabled debit and credit cards to make purchases of £15 and under.



The in-store ads and point-of-sale material have started appearing in EAT. with the aim of making the millions of contactless cardholders in the capital aware that they can make transactions quicker and easier. The marketing campaign and roll out of contactless in EAT. and Subway shops in London have been run in partnership with Barclaycard, the biggest provider of contactless debit and credit card (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/ ) payment terminals in the UK.



The campaign seeks to raise the profile of the contactless symbol, which is common to both the cards with the relevant technology and the retail outlets that are able to accept payment (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/business/accepting-payments/ ) by contactless.



Rene Batsford, head of IT at EAT. said of the campaign: "We see contactless as a major product differentiator - we can say to customers that choosing to pay contactless in EAT. will give you valuable lunchtime minutes to spend away from queues. But whilst we have the technology, thanks to Barclays and Barclaycard, we now feel we have to help inform customers how contactless (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/contactless/ ) works and some of the benefits that they can expect."



Julie Pottier, services purchasing manager at Subway, believes that the future is contactless: "Subway is proud to be involved with the first generation of contactless payments and pleased to be part of a payment revolution that is making life easier and quicker for consumers. Subway is sold on the innovation, and we now want to educate our customers that contactless exists, how it works and where they can use it."



Stuart Neal, head of UK payment acceptance, Barclaycard, said: "We are working with our retailers to champion contactless, helping raise consumer awareness of a step change in payment technology. With so many consumers already able to pay without the need to enter their PIN and more retailers discovering the benefits of adopting contactless payment, educating customers this year is going to be key, as the technology becomes more commonplace."



The news of the in-store contactless marketing drive follows the recent announcement that Barclaycard will be installing contactless payment terminals in Wembley Arena, following its sponsorship of the entertainment venue.



About Barclaycard

Barclaycard, part of Barclays Global Retail Banking division, is a leading global payment business which helps consumers, retailers and businesses to make and accept payments flexibly, and to access short-term credit when needed.  The company is one of the pioneers of new forms of payments and is at the forefront of developing viable contactless and mobile payment schemes for today and cutting edge forms of payment for the future. It also issues credit cards (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/cards/index.html ) and charge cards (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/business/making-payments/ ) to corporate customers and the UK Government. Barclaycard partners with a wide range of organisations across the globe to offer its customers or members payment options and credit.



In addition to the UK, Barclaycard operates in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle and Far East.



Key facts published in February 2010;

- number of UK customers: 10.4m

- number of International customers: 10.8m

- number of retailer/merchant relationships: 87,000



For more information on contactless please contact:

David Cross

Barclaycard Press Office

Barclaycard

1234 Pavilion Drive

Northampton

NN4 7SG

01604 251229

www.barclaycard.co.uk

###









Other Releases by this Member

• Barclaycard Reduces Rate on Barclaycard Simplicity 2010-06-05


• Barclaycard Wins at the 2010 Cards International Awards 2010-05-28


• Barclaycard Retail Card Spending Index Shows April Spending was Flat 2010-05-26


• Barclaycard Announces Major New Partnership with Wembley Arena 2010-05-20


• Barclaycard Figures Show Increase in Easter credit and Debit Card Spending 2010-04-18

Barclaycard Contactless to Receive Consumer Awareness Boost

Barclaycard contactless is to receive a consumer awareness boost as EAT. and London-based Subway stores launch in-store marketing campaigns.

Northampton, UK (PRWEB) June 9, 2010 -- Barclaycard contactless is to receive a consumer awareness boost as EAT. and London branches of Subway both launch in-store marketing campaigns to highlight that customers can use contactless enabled debit and credit cards to make purchases of £15 and under.



The in-store ads and point-of-sale material have started appearing in EAT. with the aim of making the millions of contactless cardholders in the capital aware that they can make transactions quicker and easier. The marketing campaign and roll out of contactless in EAT. and Subway shops in London have been run in partnership with Barclaycard, the biggest provider of contactless debit and credit card (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/ ) payment terminals in the UK.



The campaign seeks to raise the profile of the contactless symbol, which is common to both the cards with the relevant technology and the retail outlets that are able to accept payment (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/business/accepting-payments/ ) by contactless.



Rene Batsford, head of IT at EAT. said of the campaign: "We see contactless as a major product differentiator - we can say to customers that choosing to pay contactless in EAT. will give you valuable lunchtime minutes to spend away from queues. But whilst we have the technology, thanks to Barclays and Barclaycard, we now feel we have to help inform customers how contactless (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/contactless/ ) works and some of the benefits that they can expect."



Julie Pottier, services purchasing manager at Subway, believes that the future is contactless: "Subway is proud to be involved with the first generation of contactless payments and pleased to be part of a payment revolution that is making life easier and quicker for consumers. Subway is sold on the innovation, and we now want to educate our customers that contactless exists, how it works and where they can use it."



Stuart Neal, head of UK payment acceptance, Barclaycard, said: "We are working with our retailers to champion contactless, helping raise consumer awareness of a step change in payment technology. With so many consumers already able to pay without the need to enter their PIN and more retailers discovering the benefits of adopting contactless payment, educating customers this year is going to be key, as the technology becomes more commonplace."



The news of the in-store contactless marketing drive follows the recent announcement that Barclaycard will be installing contactless payment terminals in Wembley Arena, following its sponsorship of the entertainment venue.



About Barclaycard

Barclaycard, part of Barclays Global Retail Banking division, is a leading global payment business which helps consumers, retailers and businesses to make and accept payments flexibly, and to access short-term credit when needed.  The company is one of the pioneers of new forms of payments and is at the forefront of developing viable contactless and mobile payment schemes for today and cutting edge forms of payment for the future. It also issues credit cards (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/cards/index.html ) and charge cards (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/business/making-payments/ ) to corporate customers and the UK Government. Barclaycard partners with a wide range of organisations across the globe to offer its customers or members payment options and credit.



In addition to the UK, Barclaycard operates in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle and Far East.



Key facts published in February 2010;

- number of UK customers: 10.4m

- number of International customers: 10.8m

- number of retailer/merchant relationships: 87,000



For more information on contactless please contact:

David Cross

Barclaycard Press Office

Barclaycard

1234 Pavilion Drive

Northampton

NN4 7SG

01604 251229

www.barclaycard.co.uk

###









Other Releases by this Member

• Barclaycard Reduces Rate on Barclaycard Simplicity 2010-06-05


• Barclaycard Wins at the 2010 Cards International Awards 2010-05-28


• Barclaycard Retail Card Spending Index Shows April Spending was Flat 2010-05-26


• Barclaycard Announces Major New Partnership with Wembley Arena 2010-05-20


• Barclaycard Figures Show Increase in Easter credit and Debit Card Spending 2010-04-18

U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc.(USBSI) Takes Proactive Action to Help Merchants Meet PCI Compliance Requirements

To promote the security of the credit and debit card data, Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover® Network and JCB® established the Payment Card Industry Council to oversee the Payment Card Industry - Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS). U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. (USBSI) is helping merchants understand the need for PCI while providing professional consultancy service to assist merchants with validating PCI-DSS compliance.

City of Industry, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 2010 -- To promote the security of the credit and debit card data being presented into the payment systems, the five major card brands – Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover® Network and JCB® – established the Payment Card Industry Council to oversee the Payment Card Industry - Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS). Merchants accepting debit or credit cards are required to become PCI compliant within varied timeframes determined by the volume of card transactions processed annually. Adhering to PCI requirements can help protect merchants’ against data breaches and preserve their reputations while providing customers with additional data protection.

U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. helps merchants meet PCI Compliance requirements.

As a top-ranked merchant service provider of credit card processing, U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. (USBSI) is proactively assisting merchants with understanding the need for PCI while providing professional consultancy service to assist merchants with validating PCI-DSS compliance. USBSI, in cooperation with Elavon and Trustwave, Elavon’s Authorized Scanning Vendor (ASV), provides a PCI compliance service geared towards level 4 merchants’ needs that includes access to a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) – a required component for validating PCI compliance. USBSI has built a dedicated “PCI Service Team” to assist merchants with this process, and is conducting PCI notifications in a number of languages such as, Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.

Because PCI compliance rules vary according to processors, USBSI suggests each merchant contact its own processor to determine what is applicable, or contact USBSI at 1-888-888-8USA (8872) any time for inquiry. USBSI offers additional services which can be viewed on our website (www.usbsi.com) or just call 1-888-888-8USA (8872).



About PCI

All card processing merchants are categorized into four (4) levels based on the Visa transaction volume during the past twelve (12) months: Level 1 are Merchants who process more than 6 million transactions per year; Level 2 are Merchants who process between 1 million and 6 million transactions per year; Level 3 are Merchants who process between 20,000 and 1 million e-commerce transactions per year; Level 4 are Merchants who process up to 1 million transactions or up to 20,000 e-commerce transactions per year. Level 4 merchants must complete a PCI-DSS Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). PCI-DSS compliance varies by merchant based on their transaction volume.



For a full sample of a Self-Assessment Questionnaire, please see the “PCI SAQ B” portion at http://www.usbsi.com/Index.php/pci-compliance



About U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. (USBSI): U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. (USBSI) is a leading nationwide Elavon Payment Partner and registered MSP/ISO of U.S. Bank Minneapolis, MN. USBSI offers competitive rates and superb customer service that is unparalleled in the credit card processing industry. USBSI’s 24-7, in-house, and multilingual customer service and technical support are focused on moving merchants’ businesses forward, one swipe at a time. For more information about U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc., please visit www.usbsi.com.



Contact Person:

Anne Yang   

Tel:888.888.8USA (8872) Ext. 8706   

Email:anne(dot)yang(at)usbsi(dot)com



# # #

U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc.(USBSI) Takes Proactive Action to Help Merchants Meet PCI Compliance Requirements

To promote the security of the credit and debit card data, Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover® Network and JCB® established the Payment Card Industry Council to oversee the Payment Card Industry - Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS). U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. (USBSI) is helping merchants understand the need for PCI while providing professional consultancy service to assist merchants with validating PCI-DSS compliance.

City of Industry, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 2010 -- To promote the security of the credit and debit card data being presented into the payment systems, the five major card brands – Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover® Network and JCB® – established the Payment Card Industry Council to oversee the Payment Card Industry - Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS). Merchants accepting debit or credit cards are required to become PCI compliant within varied timeframes determined by the volume of card transactions processed annually. Adhering to PCI requirements can help protect merchants’ against data breaches and preserve their reputations while providing customers with additional data protection.

U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. helps merchants meet PCI Compliance requirements.

As a top-ranked merchant service provider of credit card processing, U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. (USBSI) is proactively assisting merchants with understanding the need for PCI while providing professional consultancy service to assist merchants with validating PCI-DSS compliance. USBSI, in cooperation with Elavon and Trustwave, Elavon’s Authorized Scanning Vendor (ASV), provides a PCI compliance service geared towards level 4 merchants’ needs that includes access to a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) – a required component for validating PCI compliance. USBSI has built a dedicated “PCI Service Team” to assist merchants with this process, and is conducting PCI notifications in a number of languages such as, Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.

Because PCI compliance rules vary according to processors, USBSI suggests each merchant contact its own processor to determine what is applicable, or contact USBSI at 1-888-888-8USA (8872) any time for inquiry. USBSI offers additional services which can be viewed on our website (www.usbsi.com) or just call 1-888-888-8USA (8872).



About PCI

All card processing merchants are categorized into four (4) levels based on the Visa transaction volume during the past twelve (12) months: Level 1 are Merchants who process more than 6 million transactions per year; Level 2 are Merchants who process between 1 million and 6 million transactions per year; Level 3 are Merchants who process between 20,000 and 1 million e-commerce transactions per year; Level 4 are Merchants who process up to 1 million transactions or up to 20,000 e-commerce transactions per year. Level 4 merchants must complete a PCI-DSS Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). PCI-DSS compliance varies by merchant based on their transaction volume.



For a full sample of a Self-Assessment Questionnaire, please see the “PCI SAQ B” portion at http://www.usbsi.com/Index.php/pci-compliance



About U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. (USBSI): U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. (USBSI) is a leading nationwide Elavon Payment Partner and registered MSP/ISO of U.S. Bank Minneapolis, MN. USBSI offers competitive rates and superb customer service that is unparalleled in the credit card processing industry. USBSI’s 24-7, in-house, and multilingual customer service and technical support are focused on moving merchants’ businesses forward, one swipe at a time. For more information about U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc., please visit www.usbsi.com.



Contact Person:

Anne Yang   

Tel:888.888.8USA (8872) Ext. 8706   

Email:anne(dot)yang(at)usbsi(dot)com



# # #

MoneyGram International Forges Region-Wide Alliance with Citi Central America

All Citi locations in five countries to offer MoneyGram money transfer services

SAN SALVADOR & MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MoneyGram International (NYSE:MGI), a leading global money transfer company, and Citi (NYSE:C), the global leader in financial services, today announced an agreement to expand MoneyGram’s money transfer services to all Citi locations in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

“Expanding our relationship with MoneyGram will provide Central Americans in the region and their family and friends with affordable, reliable and convenient money transfer services. This agreement reflects our commitment to offer all Central Americans a wide range of products and financial services.”

“This important agreement extends MoneyGram’s presence in Citi’s network across Central America,” said Dan O’Malley, MoneyGram International executive vice president for the Americas. “MoneyGram’s growth in Central America is a vital part of our global expansion plans, and adding hundreds of agent locations across Central America with a premier partner like Citi is a significant step in establishing a foundation for future growth.”

In 2009, Central America received nearly $11.6 billion in remittances according to the Inter-American Development Bank. Central America is highly dependent on these funds as the IADB estimated it accounts for nearly 17 percent of the region’s gross domestic product.

Constantino Gotsis, cluster head for Central America and Regional Consumer Bank head for the Andean and Central America regions for Citi, said: "Expanding our relationship with MoneyGram will provide Central Americans in the region and their family and friends with affordable, reliable and convenient money transfer services. This agreement reflects our commitment to offer all Central Americans a wide range of products and financial services."

John Warner-Gutiérrez, vice president of Latin America for MoneyGram, said, “We’re pleased to grow our network with Citi in Central America and look forward to opportunities to expand MoneyGram services to Citi branches across other Latin America countries. All locations in Citi’s Central America network are being added in phases, providing our consumers with more choices for convenient access to MoneyGram’s fast, reliable money transfer services.”

Citi has grown extensively in the region since 2007 when it acquired Grupo Cuscatlan and Grupo Financiero Uno. Both institutions had provided MoneyGram money transfer services for 15-years in El Salvador and Honduras.

MoneyGram began its global money transfer services in Central America more than 15 years ago. The company has expanded in the region and today has a leading network comprised of financial institutions and retailers.

About MoneyGram International

MoneyGram International offers more control and more choices for people separated from friends and family by distance or those with limited bank relationships to meet their financial needs. A leading global payment services company, MoneyGram International helps consumers to pay bills quickly and safely send money around the world with funds arriving in as little as 10 minutes. Its network is comprised of, nearly 28,000 agent locations in Latin America and the Caribbean and 200,000 globally in 190 countries and territories. To learn more about money transfer at an agent location or online, visit www.moneygram.com.

About Citi

Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.

Contacts

MoneyGram International

Jody Hinkle, 952-591-3839

jhinkle@moneygram.com

or

Citi

Latin America – Anthony Ingham, 1-305-347-1400

or

El Salvador – Astrid Palomares, 503-2212-3658

or

Guatemala – Crista Kepfer, 502-2379-1000 ext. 8313

or

Honduras – Bianka Lagunes, 504-216-0044

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100609005106/en/MoneyGram-International-Forges-Region-Wide-Alliance-Citi-Central

MoneyGram International Forges Region-Wide Alliance with Citi Central America

All Citi locations in five countries to offer MoneyGram money transfer services

SAN SALVADOR & MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MoneyGram International (NYSE:MGI), a leading global money transfer company, and Citi (NYSE:C), the global leader in financial services, today announced an agreement to expand MoneyGram’s money transfer services to all Citi locations in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

“Expanding our relationship with MoneyGram will provide Central Americans in the region and their family and friends with affordable, reliable and convenient money transfer services. This agreement reflects our commitment to offer all Central Americans a wide range of products and financial services.”

“This important agreement extends MoneyGram’s presence in Citi’s network across Central America,” said Dan O’Malley, MoneyGram International executive vice president for the Americas. “MoneyGram’s growth in Central America is a vital part of our global expansion plans, and adding hundreds of agent locations across Central America with a premier partner like Citi is a significant step in establishing a foundation for future growth.”

In 2009, Central America received nearly $11.6 billion in remittances according to the Inter-American Development Bank. Central America is highly dependent on these funds as the IADB estimated it accounts for nearly 17 percent of the region’s gross domestic product.

Constantino Gotsis, cluster head for Central America and Regional Consumer Bank head for the Andean and Central America regions for Citi, said: "Expanding our relationship with MoneyGram will provide Central Americans in the region and their family and friends with affordable, reliable and convenient money transfer services. This agreement reflects our commitment to offer all Central Americans a wide range of products and financial services."

John Warner-Gutiérrez, vice president of Latin America for MoneyGram, said, “We’re pleased to grow our network with Citi in Central America and look forward to opportunities to expand MoneyGram services to Citi branches across other Latin America countries. All locations in Citi’s Central America network are being added in phases, providing our consumers with more choices for convenient access to MoneyGram’s fast, reliable money transfer services.”

Citi has grown extensively in the region since 2007 when it acquired Grupo Cuscatlan and Grupo Financiero Uno. Both institutions had provided MoneyGram money transfer services for 15-years in El Salvador and Honduras.

MoneyGram began its global money transfer services in Central America more than 15 years ago. The company has expanded in the region and today has a leading network comprised of financial institutions and retailers.

About MoneyGram International

MoneyGram International offers more control and more choices for people separated from friends and family by distance or those with limited bank relationships to meet their financial needs. A leading global payment services company, MoneyGram International helps consumers to pay bills quickly and safely send money around the world with funds arriving in as little as 10 minutes. Its network is comprised of, nearly 28,000 agent locations in Latin America and the Caribbean and 200,000 globally in 190 countries and territories. To learn more about money transfer at an agent location or online, visit www.moneygram.com.

About Citi

Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.

Contacts

MoneyGram International

Jody Hinkle, 952-591-3839

jhinkle@moneygram.com

or

Citi

Latin America – Anthony Ingham, 1-305-347-1400

or

El Salvador – Astrid Palomares, 503-2212-3658

or

Guatemala – Crista Kepfer, 502-2379-1000 ext. 8313

or

Honduras – Bianka Lagunes, 504-216-0044

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100609005106/en/MoneyGram-International-Forges-Region-Wide-Alliance-Citi-Central

MoneyGram International Reaches 200,000th Agent Milestone

Signs first retail agent in France signaling new opportunities for growth; Celebrates with Bank of China, Citi and other key agents around the world

MINNEAPOLIS & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MoneyGram International (NYSE:MGI), a leading global payment services company, announced today that it has successfully expanded its global network to 200,000 agent locations. This significant milestone was reached with the addition of SRD MP and its partner Bimedia, a value-added services provider for tobacco and news retailers throughout France, which will bring MoneyGram money transfer services to 2,500 tobacco shops across the country. SRD MP, which has signed a five-year contract, will serve as a super-agent and will sign additional retail agents across the country.

“MoneyGram is very pleased to add such an established and well-known institution as Citi to our agent roster in Central America. It is significant for both our companies as it accelerates growth throughout the entire region.”

This strategically important partnership — MoneyGram’s first in France with a non-bank agent — will create a new channel for distribution, enable key retail network growth opportunities, and dramatically expand MoneyGram’s presence in France. The relationship is a positive example of the European Union's Payment Services Directive (PSD) instituted in 2009, which allows for retailers and other non-bank organizations to provide payment services that were previously offered only by financial institutions in the EU.

“We are delighted to be celebrating two important milestones, the opening of our 200,000^th agent location and the signing of our first retail agent in France,” said Pamela H. Patsley, MoneyGram chairman and chief executive officer. “This important agreement with SRD MP and Bimedia enables MoneyGram to capitalize on the opportunities created by the EU's PSD. Providing MoneyGram’s services through one of France’s largest retail networks demonstrates our continual commitment to serving our customers in the communities where they live and work.”

Patsley is in Paris today to announce the SRD MP and Bimedia agreement and to host a ribbon cutting ceremony at MoneyGram’s 200,000^th location.

“With more than 200 million people living outside their country of birth, MoneyGram understands that the ability to send money home to loved ones is crucial for our consumers,” said Patsley. “At every MoneyGram location whether a corner tobacco shop, a large retailer or a financial institution, MoneyGram provides convenient and reliable money transfer services to people across the globe.”

MoneyGram, which added nearly 20,000 agent locations throughout the world last year, is taking the opportunity to celebrate its 200,000^th location milestone with key agents in Central America and Asia as well. In an event in San Salvador today, MoneyGram and Citibank are announcing a new region-wide alliance that will bring MoneyGram’s money transfer services to Citi locations in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Dan O’Malley, executive vice president of Americas for MoneyGram who is in San Salvador for the Citi announcement said, “MoneyGram is very pleased to add such an established and well-known institution as Citi to our agent roster in Central America. It is significant for both our companies as it accelerates growth throughout the entire region.”

MoneyGram is also celebrating today in Beijing with Bank of China, its largest agent partner in Asia. In January, MoneyGram and Bank of China announced money transfer services will be rolled out in all 10,000 Bank of China branches, and today will begin rolling out services in the Jiangsu and soon in Zhejiang province. The bank already introduced services in its Beijing and Guangdong locations earlier this year.

"Our agreement with Bank of China triples our presence in the country. As China further grows and its communities and people become increasingly international, this relationship with Bank of China provides a vital service for Chinese people to help their families around the world," said Nigel Lee, MoneyGram executive vice president of Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions.

Furthermore, in celebration of opening of its 200,000^th agent location and in recognition of the events taking place in different regions across the world, MoneyGram is donating a total of $200,000 to non-profit organizations working in El Salvador, China and organizations working in Ivory Coast and Senegal, parts of Africa that rely on remittances from France. Among the agencies receiving funds are the Pan American Development Foundation in El Salvador, ChinaSource in China, Friends of Therese Haury in Ivory Coast, and Grameen Foundation for microfinance programs in Senegal. Each of these organizations aligns with MoneyGram's corporate giving platform by assisting residents of these countries through microfinance programs and essential education services.

About MoneyGram International, Inc.

MoneyGram International offers more control and more choices for people separated from family and friends by distance to meet their financial needs. A leading global provider of money transfer services, MoneyGram International helps consumers to safely send money around the world with funds arriving at available agent locations in as little as 10 minutes. Its global network is comprised of 200,000 agent locations in more than 190 countries and territories. MoneyGram’s convenient and reliable network includes retailers, international post offices and financial institutions. To learn more about money transfer at an agent location, please visit www.moneygram.com or connect with us on Facebook.

Contacts

MoneyGram International

Media Contact:

Lori Burzynski, 214-999-7509

lburzynski@moneygram.com

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100609005137/en/MoneyGram-International-Reaches-200000th-Agent-Milestone

MoneyGram International Reaches 200,000th Agent Milestone

Signs first retail agent in France signaling new opportunities for growth; Celebrates with Bank of China, Citi and other key agents around the world

MINNEAPOLIS & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MoneyGram International (NYSE:MGI), a leading global payment services company, announced today that it has successfully expanded its global network to 200,000 agent locations. This significant milestone was reached with the addition of SRD MP and its partner Bimedia, a value-added services provider for tobacco and news retailers throughout France, which will bring MoneyGram money transfer services to 2,500 tobacco shops across the country. SRD MP, which has signed a five-year contract, will serve as a super-agent and will sign additional retail agents across the country.

“MoneyGram is very pleased to add such an established and well-known institution as Citi to our agent roster in Central America. It is significant for both our companies as it accelerates growth throughout the entire region.”

This strategically important partnership — MoneyGram’s first in France with a non-bank agent — will create a new channel for distribution, enable key retail network growth opportunities, and dramatically expand MoneyGram’s presence in France. The relationship is a positive example of the European Union's Payment Services Directive (PSD) instituted in 2009, which allows for retailers and other non-bank organizations to provide payment services that were previously offered only by financial institutions in the EU.

“We are delighted to be celebrating two important milestones, the opening of our 200,000^th agent location and the signing of our first retail agent in France,” said Pamela H. Patsley, MoneyGram chairman and chief executive officer. “This important agreement with SRD MP and Bimedia enables MoneyGram to capitalize on the opportunities created by the EU's PSD. Providing MoneyGram’s services through one of France’s largest retail networks demonstrates our continual commitment to serving our customers in the communities where they live and work.”

Patsley is in Paris today to announce the SRD MP and Bimedia agreement and to host a ribbon cutting ceremony at MoneyGram’s 200,000^th location.

“With more than 200 million people living outside their country of birth, MoneyGram understands that the ability to send money home to loved ones is crucial for our consumers,” said Patsley. “At every MoneyGram location whether a corner tobacco shop, a large retailer or a financial institution, MoneyGram provides convenient and reliable money transfer services to people across the globe.”

MoneyGram, which added nearly 20,000 agent locations throughout the world last year, is taking the opportunity to celebrate its 200,000^th location milestone with key agents in Central America and Asia as well. In an event in San Salvador today, MoneyGram and Citibank are announcing a new region-wide alliance that will bring MoneyGram’s money transfer services to Citi locations in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Dan O’Malley, executive vice president of Americas for MoneyGram who is in San Salvador for the Citi announcement said, “MoneyGram is very pleased to add such an established and well-known institution as Citi to our agent roster in Central America. It is significant for both our companies as it accelerates growth throughout the entire region.”

MoneyGram is also celebrating today in Beijing with Bank of China, its largest agent partner in Asia. In January, MoneyGram and Bank of China announced money transfer services will be rolled out in all 10,000 Bank of China branches, and today will begin rolling out services in the Jiangsu and soon in Zhejiang province. The bank already introduced services in its Beijing and Guangdong locations earlier this year.

"Our agreement with Bank of China triples our presence in the country. As China further grows and its communities and people become increasingly international, this relationship with Bank of China provides a vital service for Chinese people to help their families around the world," said Nigel Lee, MoneyGram executive vice president of Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions.

Furthermore, in celebration of opening of its 200,000^th agent location and in recognition of the events taking place in different regions across the world, MoneyGram is donating a total of $200,000 to non-profit organizations working in El Salvador, China and organizations working in Ivory Coast and Senegal, parts of Africa that rely on remittances from France. Among the agencies receiving funds are the Pan American Development Foundation in El Salvador, ChinaSource in China, Friends of Therese Haury in Ivory Coast, and Grameen Foundation for microfinance programs in Senegal. Each of these organizations aligns with MoneyGram's corporate giving platform by assisting residents of these countries through microfinance programs and essential education services.

About MoneyGram International, Inc.

MoneyGram International offers more control and more choices for people separated from family and friends by distance to meet their financial needs. A leading global provider of money transfer services, MoneyGram International helps consumers to safely send money around the world with funds arriving at available agent locations in as little as 10 minutes. Its global network is comprised of 200,000 agent locations in more than 190 countries and territories. MoneyGram’s convenient and reliable network includes retailers, international post offices and financial institutions. To learn more about money transfer at an agent location, please visit www.moneygram.com or connect with us on Facebook.

Contacts

MoneyGram International

Media Contact:

Lori Burzynski, 214-999-7509

lburzynski@moneygram.com

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100609005137/en/MoneyGram-International-Reaches-200000th-Agent-Milestone

Mobile Phone Adoption Steps Backward as 23 Million Cash-Strapped Consumers Drop Out

Image via Wikipedia

Javelin: Smartphones Buck the Trend and Adoption Soars, Boosting the Mobile Banking Populace

San Francisco, CA, June 8, 2010 – A new Javelin Strategy & Research report issued today – 2010 Mobile Banking Behaviors: Fewer Handsets in the U.S., yet Smartphone Growth Exceeds Expectations – finds that the economy sucker punched overall mobile phone adoption, which dropped sharply from 85% in 2009 to 74% in 2010. The 23 million consumers who cancelled their contracts apparently considered having a mobile phone a luxury; millions of other consumers had an opposite response as smartphone adoption soared seven percent from a year ago.

Android adoption, which still dwarfs that of the iPhone, is growing at an astronomical rate. “Android and iPhone owners by far are the biggest users of mobile banking. They are typically younger, on-the-go consumers who use smartphones as their primary tool for communication – including monitoring their bank accounts and making mobile payments,” said James Van Dyke, Javelin President and Founder. “While mobile banking stalled in 2010 as consumers expressed concerns about security and financial institutions focused their attention on the fallout from the economy, the increase in smartphone usage bodes well for the future of mobile banking.”

Financial institutions can look to how consumers use their mobile phones – text messaging, taking photos, emailing and browsing web pages – for clues to their mobile banking interests – receiving text-message alerts, remote deposit capture, mobile person-to-person (P2P) payments and transferring money between accounts.  

The 2010 Mobile Banking Behaviors report provides insight into who mobile bankers are and what they want and offers guidance to financial institutions on how to capitalize on this market. It also assesses the risks and rewards of creating applications for the mobile-banking friendly users of Google’s open Android platform and Apple’s closed iPhone platform.

Selected Key Report Findings – 2010 Mobile Banking Behaviors

• One in five of all U.S. adults now own a smartphone.

• Consumers cite a lack of perceived value, concern about security and cost among the biggest reasons they don’t use mobile banking.

• Mobile banking is done primarily through mobile Internet browsers.

• Only 18 of the top 40 U.S. banks offer mobile banking.

“Large numbers of consumers are switching financial institutions because they want mobile banking,” said Mark Schwanhausser, Senior Analyst, Multi-Channel Financial Services. “FIs need to focus their attention on this burgeoning market and develop a triple play approach of browser, text and application-based mobile banking offerings to maintain consumer loyalty and give consumers the ease-and-convenience options they want.”

Javelin’s 2010 Mobile Banking Behaviors report is based on data collected online between April 2009 and March 2010 from three random-sample panels totaling more than 10,990 consumers and includes online-banking data of all consumers.

About Javelin Strategy & Research 
Javelin provides superior direction on key facts and forces that materially determine the success of customer-facing financial services, payments and security initiatives. Our advantages are rigorous process, independent position and expert people. For more information about this or other Javelin reports, please visit www.javelinstrategy.com/research or contact Liz Travers at (925) 225-9100 ext. 31 or etravers@javelinstrategy.com.

Note: To arrange an interview with a research analyst and/or view available research (available to qualified members of the media), please contact Liz Travers at (925) 225-9100 ext. 31 or etravers@javelinstrategy.com.

Mobile Phone Adoption Steps Backward as 23 Million Cash-Strapped Consumers Drop Out

Image via Wikipedia

Javelin: Smartphones Buck the Trend and Adoption Soars, Boosting the Mobile Banking Populace

San Francisco, CA, June 8, 2010 – A new Javelin Strategy & Research report issued today – 2010 Mobile Banking Behaviors: Fewer Handsets in the U.S., yet Smartphone Growth Exceeds Expectations – finds that the economy sucker punched overall mobile phone adoption, which dropped sharply from 85% in 2009 to 74% in 2010. The 23 million consumers who cancelled their contracts apparently considered having a mobile phone a luxury; millions of other consumers had an opposite response as smartphone adoption soared seven percent from a year ago.

Android adoption, which still dwarfs that of the iPhone, is growing at an astronomical rate. “Android and iPhone owners by far are the biggest users of mobile banking. They are typically younger, on-the-go consumers who use smartphones as their primary tool for communication – including monitoring their bank accounts and making mobile payments,” said James Van Dyke, Javelin President and Founder. “While mobile banking stalled in 2010 as consumers expressed concerns about security and financial institutions focused their attention on the fallout from the economy, the increase in smartphone usage bodes well for the future of mobile banking.”

Financial institutions can look to how consumers use their mobile phones – text messaging, taking photos, emailing and browsing web pages – for clues to their mobile banking interests – receiving text-message alerts, remote deposit capture, mobile person-to-person (P2P) payments and transferring money between accounts.  

The 2010 Mobile Banking Behaviors report provides insight into who mobile bankers are and what they want and offers guidance to financial institutions on how to capitalize on this market. It also assesses the risks and rewards of creating applications for the mobile-banking friendly users of Google’s open Android platform and Apple’s closed iPhone platform.

Selected Key Report Findings – 2010 Mobile Banking Behaviors

• One in five of all U.S. adults now own a smartphone.

• Consumers cite a lack of perceived value, concern about security and cost among the biggest reasons they don’t use mobile banking.

• Mobile banking is done primarily through mobile Internet browsers.

• Only 18 of the top 40 U.S. banks offer mobile banking.

“Large numbers of consumers are switching financial institutions because they want mobile banking,” said Mark Schwanhausser, Senior Analyst, Multi-Channel Financial Services. “FIs need to focus their attention on this burgeoning market and develop a triple play approach of browser, text and application-based mobile banking offerings to maintain consumer loyalty and give consumers the ease-and-convenience options they want.”

Javelin’s 2010 Mobile Banking Behaviors report is based on data collected online between April 2009 and March 2010 from three random-sample panels totaling more than 10,990 consumers and includes online-banking data of all consumers.

About Javelin Strategy & Research 
Javelin provides superior direction on key facts and forces that materially determine the success of customer-facing financial services, payments and security initiatives. Our advantages are rigorous process, independent position and expert people. For more information about this or other Javelin reports, please visit www.javelinstrategy.com/research or contact Liz Travers at (925) 225-9100 ext. 31 or etravers@javelinstrategy.com.

Note: To arrange an interview with a research analyst and/or view available research (available to qualified members of the media), please contact Liz Travers at (925) 225-9100 ext. 31 or etravers@javelinstrategy.com.