Answers, etc. Teams With KeyBank and TSYS Prepaid to launch Zoomcard Prepaid MasterCard Card
1/27/2005
Source: Answers, Etc.

NY, NY, January 27, 2005 – TSYS Prepaidsm, a wholly owned subsidiary of TSYS (NYSE: TSS) and a leading provider of prepaid card solutions, today announced that Answers, etc. will use its platform to power the Zoomcard Prepaid MasterCardâ Card, available at participating independent financial service centers, such as neighborhood banks, and grocery, check cashing and convenience stores nationwide. The Zoomcard, issued by KeyBank, is accepted at over 900,000 ATMs and more than 24 million merchant locations worldwide.

The Zoomcard offers all of the convenience, security and purchasing flexibility of a prepaid MasterCard, and is particularly attractive to non-banked consumers, or those who do not or choose not to hold traditional banking relationships.

“By offering the Zoomcard Prepaid MasterCard merchants can better serve and cater to their non-banked customers,” states President Scott Merritt . “Zoomcard drives enhanced customer loyalty and creates a proven recurring revenue stream”

Interfacing real-time with the TSYS Prepaid processing center, the Zoomcard program is fully integrated into Answers’ potent PowerCheck32ä point-of-sale software. Sales, inventory control, loading, and reloading are all embedded and tracked from the point of sale all the way to the general ledger. A stand-alone system will also be introduced for non-PowerCheck customers.

TSYS Prepaid provides a dynamic, data-driven processing platform that integrates comprehensive administration and reporting tools, sophisticated real-time card loading and communications technologies, and leading compliance and risk management systems, as well as other unique capabilities that are vital to processing for the prepaid market.

"Answers, etc. is a true market innovator and a recognized leader in software development for the financial services industry,” said Jonathan Weiner, President and COO of TSYS Prepaid. “We look forward to the strategic partnership and supplying our proven technology and industry expertise.”

“We are very excited to offer such a flexible, secure solution to the market,” said Merritt. “This partnership with TSYS Prepaid reinforces our standing as a leader in Payday Advance and Check Cashing software today.”

About Answers, etc:

Answers, etc. is dedicated to the demands of the financial services industry. Since 1989 Answers has developed check cashing and payday advance software tailored to the needs of various financial service providers including check cashing stores, payday lenders, banks, grocery stores and convenience stores. Today with over 4000 teller stations currently in place across the US and Canada , Answers has become a leader in this competitive market. Answers has grown to be among the largest suppliers of Check Cashing systems in North America .

Answers’ PowerCheck software serves as a point of sale for processing check cashing, payday advances, lottery tickets, phone cards, stamps, etc. while our hardware provides the robust multi-user network environment needed to run financial service centers seamlessly. With a well-trained and dedicated staff of Technicians and Programmers, Answers is geared toward total customer support to allow business owners to focus on growth of their operations.

Answers, etc. is headquartered in Ft. Worth , TX .

About TSYS Prepaid:

TSYS Prepaid, a wholly owned subsidiary of TSYS (NYSE: TSS), is a leading provider of prepaid card solutions that utilize the Visa®, MasterCard®, EFT and ATM networks. These solutions are powered by a flexible proprietary processing platform specifically designed for the prepaid market.

TSYS Prepaid's solutions have been utilized by Fortune 500 companies, small- and medium-size enterprises and leading financial institutions, and have proven to be highly effective for numerous applications, including healthcare administration, payroll processing, claims processing, gift cards, corporate incentives, consumer promotions, teen payments and unbanked solutions.

TSYS Prepaid offers expert solution deployment services, from facilitating sponsoring bank and payment network approvals, to transaction processing and program management. TSYS Prepaid provides turnkey solutions complete with online, real-time administration and reporting and other unique system features vital to the prepaid market.

TSYS Prepaid is headquartered in New York City .

About KeyBank:

Cleveland-based KeyCorp is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $88 billion. Key companies provide investment management, retail and commercial banking, consumer finance, and investment banking products and services to individuals and companies throughout the United States and, for certain businesses, internationally.