CTL Wins Processing Contract for Trade Bank of Iraq

April 30, 2005

Trade Bank of Iraq&39;s suite of products will include a Visa Classic Card targeted for travel and entertainment usage and a Visa Electron salary card. Following the launch of its card portfolio, the bank will immediately deploy 10 Automatic Teller Machines in Baghdad. This constitutes the initial stages of the bank&39;s long term strategy to introduce modern, mass financial delivery systems into Iraq.

Since its inception in 2003, the Trade Bank of Iraq has succeeded in modernizing Iraq&39;s trading financial systems beyond all expectations - it has issued a remarkable 1482 Letters of Credit to over 64 countries to date. It became a principal member of Visa in 2004, and has consistently demonstrated its strong commitment towards the reconstruction of Iraq, through a continued development of its financial services and infrastructure.

Badawi Al Naqeeb, Deputy General Manager of Trade Bank of Iraq, said "CTL was selected as the ideal processing partner by Trade Bank of Iraq. It assisted TBI in coordinating with various parties to launch our card product in record time, utilizing its good offices with the payment systems. Furthermore, we were impressed by its unique ability to adapt and perform successfully under challenging conditions, guaranteeing operational excellence amidst Iraq&39;s existing harsh conditions."

Donna Halpin, Head of Processing Services at CTL, said "Card Tech Limited fully supports the reconstruction and development of Iraq&39;s financial systems". She continued to say "We are delighted that we have been selected as the processor for the Trade Bank of Iraq&39;s card issuing and acquiring business. This is testament to our convincing successful track-record in the cards industry, and our expanding processing service."

About Card Tech Limited

More than 170 banks from 70 countries use CTL solutions.

Our software and processing service includes card issuance, merchant acquiring, authorisation, message switching, encryption key and PIN management, e-commerce and fraud management, addressing every aspect of the card management business cycle. They are developed and supported by a dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists.

We have an exceptional record of delivering payment association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every implementation with a 24x7 global support service.

Contact:

Malek Mroueh

Sales Manager

+44 20 7761 7800

malek.mroueh@ctl.com

http://www.ctl.com

Airport Delays May Increase Risk of Crime According to The Safe Traveler

St. Petersburg, FL March 5, 2007

With increasing levels of traffic, delays are a fact of modern air travel. In fact in 2006, 22.6% of all flights were delayed and 1.7% were cancelled. That equates to nearly one quarter of all flights experiencing some type of delay according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics website: http://www.transtats.bts.gov.

Most airport delays are of a short duration. However the recent winter storms across much of the United States pointed out that for some, delays and cancellations can lead to significant travel disruptions. From Colorado to New England, tempers flared and frustrations grew as weary passengers dealt with cancelled flights and adjusted travel plans caused by the February storms. The most fortunate were able to return home or find accommodations at area hotels. The less fortunate were forced to deal with extended stays in the airport terminals.

Travelers experiencing delays can also unfortunately find themselves dealing with the fact they are victims of crime, despite the relative safety of airports, according to the travel safety website, http://www.SafeTraveler.com.

The confusion, fatigue and desperation caused by airport delays, particularly extended delays, can create an opportunity for criminals to prey on stranded passengers. Harried passengers may let their normal defenses lapse, increasing their vulnerability to petty crimes such as pickpocketing. Credit card thieves may find the confusion provides an advantage as travelers reserve hotels, cars, etc. over the telephone. Unscrupulous drivers and hotel operators may price gouge.

And it&39;s not just "professional" criminals that can cause problems. A bag left unattended or with valuables exposed can create a tempting "crime of opportunity." Without proper precautions, victims of delays can easily become victims of crime.

Avoid Becoming a Victim

Fortunately the same common-sense steps you should take when normally traveling can help protect you from crime during a delay. The challenge is not letting the frustrations or fatigue caused by the delay lower your defenses. Here are a few tips from The Safe Traveler&39;s website, http://www.SafeTraveler.com that can help keep you from becoming a victim of crime.

1. Don&39;t assume that because you are in an airport you are safe from petty crime. The steps taken to ensure safe air travel can help ensure your overall safety but they are not focused on preventing petty crime such as pickpocketing or credit card theft.

2. Minimize the valuables you bring when traveling. Do you really need all the gadgets The fewer you bring, the lighter your travel and the fewer opportunities for problems.

3. Protect your personal property. Keep bags, purses and wallets closed and with you at all times. If you&39;re tired and need to nap, try using the bag as a pillow or keep your arm around it.

4. When using the restroom, keep bags and luggage in your line-of-sight.

5. If you&39;re shopping or eating in a food court, avoid leaving items unattended, even to get-up and throw something away. If you must, keep the item in your line-of-sight.

6. If leaving the airport always use authorized transportation. If possible confirm rates prior to leaving.

7. Never leave personal items with others if you&39;re going outside. While it may be a hassle to go back through the security screening, don&39;t ask a stranger (even if they&39;re from your same hometown or traveling to the same destination) to watch your bag.

8. If possible, store your items in an airport rental locker.

9. Use care when entering credit card information over a phone. Don&39;t flash the card. Cover your hands if entering the numbers on the key pad or speak quietly if reading them aloud.

10. Keep your items in view when passing through security screening.

11. Try to use well-known hotels and confirm rates. Supply and demand may be factors in pricing (as well as making last minute reservations) but you should not expect to pay exorbitant rates just because you are stuck in a city due to a storm.

There may be little you can do to prevent being a victim of an airport delay but common sense and a few simple steps can help keep a frustrating situation from becoming a bad travel experience. Being a safe traveler means being a smart traveler.

The Safe Traveler provides travel safety information, travel tips, advisories, current travel updates, plus cultural and destination information on over 200 countries and thousands of locations. For more information visit http://www.SafeTraveler.com or contact:

John Holchin

The Safe Traveler

2100 Blossom Way South

St. Petersburg, FL 33712

Telephone: (713) 818-4576

Get 1 Percent Cash Back with the CSI MasterCard Virtual Card

Bonita Springs, FL November 14, 2008

CSI MasterCard Corporate Fleet Card announces a 1% Cash Back Rebate on all non-fuel purchases made with the CSI MasterCard&174; Virtual Card to all customers who apply before December 31, 2008. Recognizing the current economic climate has fleet businesses of all sizes needing every advantage possible to minimize fuel cost. CSI MasterCard wants to do their part to help keep everyone on the road and moving forward.

The CSI MasterCard Virtual Card is a convenient and secure way to make one-time payments, such as an emergency or internet purchase. This single-use credit card number is issued upon request without a plastic card. Simply using the online administrator, CSI users can authorize a secure unscheduled purchase with the same spending controls, efficiency and data tracking as card-present transactions. Authorization parameters can be set in any combination to include a specific user, merchant type, dollar amount and number of transactions within a pre-determined period of time up to four months. Once activated, the number can be used universally at millions of locations worldwide.

"With over twenty years in the fleet fuel expense management industry, we understand how hard today&39;s economy is hitting our customers," explained Keith Stone, CSI President. "By offering the 1% back on all non-fuel Virtual Card expenditures, we are hoping to not only give back, but introduce a most efficient and secure payment feature."

Besides single-use opportunities, many CSI MasterCard Corporate Fleet Card customers are finding that by authorizing the Virtual Card for recurring monthly payments is a very secure and efficient method to making their payments.

"By identifying specific monthly payments with a Virtual Card, both bookkeeping and security are greatly enhanced," Stone said. "Add the 1% Cash Back and this is an opportunity of which every fleet business should take advantage."

The CSI MasterCard Virtual Card is but one more reason CSI is considered one of the most innovative leaders in the expense management industry. Other features include saving up to 15% or more on their fuel expenses, access to the CSI Discount Network with more than 25,000 current vendors offering at-the-pump discounts, as well as the CSI Low-Price locator which utilizes tens of thousands daily transactions to report the prices of stations across the country.

"Of course, what really sets us apart are our superior card controls." Stone added. "With CSI, fleet managers control everything from limiting the day and time a card may be used to monitoring spending online in real-time and can make necessary adjustments to spending amount limits and types of transactions."

To apply for and learn more about the CSI MasterCard&174; Corporate Debit Card, visit http://www.csi-gascard.com.

About CSI Enterprises, Inc
CSI Enterprises Inc. provides a specific line of controlled financial payment products including business fleet fueling/maintenance payment cards, a corporate virtual payment MasterCard&174; and card solutions for corporate purchasing, travel and entertainment spending. Today CSI and its products operate in all fifty states including Canada, Mexico and Caribbean with operating subsidiaries involved in municipal tax reclamation, venture capital and real estate development activities nationwide. Since 1988, CSI Enterprises Inc. was the first and largest U.S. organization to have a successful corporate asset management and payment network throughout the U.S. and Latin America. CSI MasterCard Corporate Fleet Card is issued by Regions&174; Bank. &8232;MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International, Incorporated.

New Worldwide Hostels Booking Engine Launched

August 18, 2006

search4travelwebsites.com has teamed up with hostelworld.com to launch its first ever hostel booking service to allow users to choose from over 10,000 hostels around the world. Backed by the leading hostel reservation company, travelers are now able to find a hostel to suit their both their needs and budget.

Paul Hopkins, Editor of http://www.hostels.search4travelwebsites.com and a regular user of hostels, said: "Staying in Hostels around the world is a great way to see some fantastic destinations on a budget. I am delighted that we are affiliated with hostelworld.com and for us to have access to the world’s largest hostel reservations engine. It gives our users much more choice with breadth and depth throughout the site.

Paul Hopkins also commented: “I have traveled to New York, Madrid; Ibiza&Thailand staying in some excellent locations, where hotels in a similar location would probably cost five times as much. It is also a place where you can meet other travelers from around the world and share stories and socialize with, this is especially good if you are traveler traveling on your own".

Paul’s top tips for those people looking to book and stay in a hostel;

Towels are generally provided at hostels or are for hire but many prefer to take their own

Rooms, come in a variety of sleeping arrangements, ranging from singles, doubles to mixed dormitories. Do you feel comfortable staying in a mixed dormitory Check when booking if you don&39;t.

Does the hostel have 24 hour access If you are a party person make sure that you have 24 hour access.

Is it a party environment, if you are looking for a something more reserved, check out others travelers comments or read the hostels website.

Does the hostel have lockers and a secure left luggage room It is essential that you lock your valuables away, such as; cameras, passports and credit cards / money.

Disabled access, many hostels are not able to cater for clients with a disability as they are in older buildings with many stairs etc, check out the hostels website or drop them an e-mail first.

Is the hostel in a safe location Some hostels are located in some areas where you may feel unsafe, read other traveler’s reviews and feedback on the area.

What time is check in As like a hotel, hostels have check-in and check-out times; if you are arriving early check you can leave your luggage somewhere.

Do the hostel staff speak English If you are an English speaker and not very good at the local language it is always good that the hostel staff speak English and as many hostels have an international clientele you will generally be ok but once again check the website.

Does the hostel have air conditioning or mosquito nets (where required). May seem silly but these are essential in the types of destinations where they are needed.

Global Cash Card Teams Up with TurboTax to Offer Free Online Tax Preparation

Irvine, CA (Vocus) January 20, 2010

Global Cash Card the proven specialist in paycard solutions, is proud to announce a new relationship with TurboTax&174;, the nation&39;s best-selling, No.1-rated tax preparation software from Intuit Inc. Global Cash Card will now offer the TurboTax&174; Federal Free Edition for 1040EZ and simple returns, and a 15% discount off TurboTax’s online products that include both federal and state e-filing.

“TurboTax is the easy way to get your biggest possible tax refund,said Dan Maurer, general manager of Intuit’s Consumer Group. “It does the hard work for you by automatically identifying the deductions and credits you can claim, showing you how much you’re saving every step of the way and making it easy to get answers to your questions. And of course, federal e-filing is included so customers can get their refund back fast, in as little as eight days.

Global Cash Card cardholders can now elect to have their tax refunds deposited directly to their prepaid MasterCard or Visa, which can be done in as few as eight days, a faster alternative to waiting for a paper check. The deposited funds are instantly available and can be accessed anywhere MasterCard or Visa are accepted and at over 1.5 million ATM’s worldwide.

“We are pleased that we can offer our customers the opportunity to e-file their return and get their refund quickly,said Joseph M. Purcell, Chief Operating Officer of Global Cash Card. “As a leader in the paycard industry, Global Cash Card continues to deliver solutions that address the needs of our customers. Partnering with TurboTax extends Global Cash Card’s technology leadership into the tax segment by simplifying a typically time-consuming process, making tax preparation convenient and easy for our cardholders.

Fore more information on the free and discounted products offered by Global Cash Card, click the TurboTax link on http://www.globalcashcard.com.

About Global Cash Card
Global Cash Cardis THE proven specialist in customized paycard solutions that are simple to implement and easy to use. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of World Processing, Ltd, a leader in electronic financial transaction technology. Global Cash Card is a direct processor that offers Debit MasterCard cards, Visa Prepaid cards and PIN-based ATM cards. The company develops and owns the proprietary software, which enables the products and services it offers.

The platform provides payroll cards, travel, gift, FSA, HSA, and many other types of applications. Global Cash Card also offers branded and customized programs. Global Cash Card’s cutting edge technology continues to improve, offering more value and greater flexibility to meet the particular requirements of its customers.

About Intuit Inc.
Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks&174;, Quicken&174; and TurboTax&174;, simplify small business management and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries&174; and Lacerte&174; are Intuit&39;s leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. The company’s financial institutions division, anchored by Digital Insight, provides on-demand banking services to help banks and credit unions serve businesses and consumers with innovative solutions.

Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $3.2 billion in its fiscal year 2009. The company has approximately 7,800 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at http://www.intuit.com.

Intuit, the Intuit logo and TurboTax, among others, are registered trademarks and/or registered service marks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

PR Contact
Tonya Kowalczyk
Global Cash Card
(888) 220-4477 ext. 286
tkowalczyk(at)globalcashcard(dot)com

U.S. Bankcards Services, Inc. (USBSI) Prepares U.S. Merchants for Chinese Tourist Boom with Partnership with China UnionPay

City of Industry, CA (Vocus) July 5, 2010

China has one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world today. This booming economic giant now has an increasing number of people with disposable income who are eager to purchase goods and services internationally. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the number of Chinese travelers for the purposes of leisure, holidays, and vacations have increased 4% between 2007 and 2008, while other purposes (professional, business, visiting relatives) have all decreased. In addition, each tourist from China spent an average of $6,000 USD per visit in 2006.* U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. is now formally cooperating with China UnionPay in the United States, and offers its merchants the option of accepting China UnionPay debit/credit cards. Join U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. now to take advantage of the growing Chinese tourist market, forecasted to reach 579,000 Chinese travelers to the U.S. by 2011, and 100 million travelers world-wide by 2020.

According to an MSNBC, increased disposable income, averaging $4,500 a year in major Chinese cities, has made travel a luxury, often viewed as a status symbol. Due to this rise in disposable income, American cities and businesses are gearing up to profit from this imminent tourist boom. Accepting CUP debit/credit cards is a great opportunity to increase revenue, as most Chinese tourists carry CUP cards instead of a considerable amount of cash. China UnionPay is the only association of China’s bankcard industry established with the approval of the People’s Bank of China. Headquartered in Shanghai and founded in March 2002, CUP has already issued more than 2 billion debit/credit cards**

U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. can help merchants accept CUP cards with minimal transaction fee and set-up costs. Transactions are processed securely and electronically at the point-of-sale and the amount is conveniently and directly deducted from the cardholder’s account and then deposited into the merchant account. In addition, there is no pre-set limit to the amount a cardholder can spend, other than what is available in his/her account. For a limited time, receive a free credit card terminal and start accepting CUP cards now! Just call U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc.’s Customer Service at 888-888-8USA and ask about CUP.

About U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. (USBSI)

U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. is a leading nationwide Elavon Payment Partner and registered MSP/ISO of U.S. Bank Minneapolis, MN. USBSI has competitive rates and exceptional customer service that is unparalleled in the transaction processing industry. U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. maintains a 24-7 and multilingual customer service and its technical support is focused on moving merchantsbusinesses forward, one swipe at a time. Press release produced by Cybertegic, Inc., an Internet marketing services agency that specializes in search engine optimization (SEO).

Description:
U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. (USBSI) is formally cooperating with China UnionPay (CUP) in the U.S. Founded in March 2002, China UnionPay is the sole domestic bankcard organization in China, operating under the approval of the People’s Bank of China. The partnership allows U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. merchants the option of accepting CUP debit/credit cards. Join U.S. Bankcard Services, Inc. now to take advantage of the booming Chinese tourist market, forecasted to reach 579,000 Chinese travelers to the U.S. by 2011.

Source: * China UnionPay official website: http://www.chinaunionpay.com
** U.S. Department of Commerce

Barclays Launches Student Package for 2011

August 07, 2011

Barclays, awarded Best Student Account Provider in the Consumer Moneyfacts Awards 2011, launched its new student package for 2011 on Monday 11 July. Barclays Student Additions includes an interest-free overdraft facility of up to &163;2000, a free SMS alerts service to help students keep on top of their finances, and an exclusive mobile phone deal with Phones 4u giving &163;75 cashback on any monthly phone contract on top of any other promotion offered by the retailer.

Students opening a Barclays Student Additions account can apply for an interest-free overdraft of up to &163;2,000 for the duration of their time at university, regardless of their year of study, and a further &163;1000 at a rate of 8.9 per cent.

With research showing that over two thirds of students opt for online or mobile banking over branch and telephone banking, this year’s student offer is focused on mobile communications to help students manage their money closely through their university life.

For the second year running, Barclays has teamed up with Phones 4u to offer customers a range of exclusive mobile phone and tablet deals. Students opening or already holding a Barclays Student Additions account will be able to choose any monthly phone or monthly tablet deal (on any tariff or network) and get &163;75 cashback automatically on top of any other Phones4U offer, or &163;5 cashback on any Pay as You Go phone. They will also save 25 per cent on any accessories purchased with the retailer up until 30 June 2012. Students will be able to access the offer by calling 0800 294 6063 or through phones4u.co.uk/barclaysstudents.

To help students keep a close eye on their finances, the Barclays Student Additions account provides a free SMS service including near overdraft limit notifications and alerts for large debits and credits. Barclays also offers all current account customers free Kaspersky Internet and Mobile security technology to protect customersphones and computers.

Barclays mobile phone banking service (Barclays.mobi) allows customers to view balances, mini-statements, transfer funds between Barclays accounts and send payments to a third party. There are also useful tools such as finding the nearest branch or ATM and a currency conversion calculator.

Dan Wass, Current Accounts Director at Barclays, said "Students are now having to grapple with increased tuition fees as well as a tough economic environment so finances are more likely than ever to be their top priority. It is vital that students take control of their money throughout their university life and give themselves the best possible start. We have designed our student account with this in mind, providing a very competitive interest-free overdraft, free SMS text alerts and cashback on any phone from Phones 4u a combination that will help to boost their bank balance and keep track of their spending.

Other services for students include:

10 per cent discount on Barclays Travel Insurance and Barclays Student Possessions Insurance.

Ongoing access to a dedicated student telephony team who will be able to answer queries on student banking including managing their overdraft.

Online banking.

A branch within 1.5 miles of 94 per cent of the UK's top universities.

Contactless debit card contactless technology enables the card to make transactions of &163;15 or less by holding it up to a special reader, without the need to enter a PIN or insert the card into a terminal. The majority of student debit card transactions amount to &163;10 or less.

Barclays continues to offer a Graduate Additions bank account which has a range of benefits and features. For just &163;7 a month, graduates can apply for an interest-free overdraft of up to &163;3000 in the first year after graduation, alongside mobile phone insurance, RAC breakdown cover and cardholder protection.

For further information students can go to barclays.co.uk/students or visit any Barclays branch to open the Student Additions account. For further information, graduates can go to barclays.co.uk/graduates.

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail banking, ISAs, credit cards, savings accounts, corporate and investment banking and wealth management with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs nearly 147,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for 48 million customers and clients worldwide.

For further information about Barclays, please visit our website barclays.com.