Equifax, Harris Trust & Savings Bank Team as Market Partners

Atlanta, August 15, 1997 -- Equifax today announced a marketing alliance with Harris Trust & Savings Bank that will enable the financial institution to broaden its payment service options to retailers by providing Equifax check authorization, check guarantee and collection services to its merchants.

Harris Trust & Savings Bank, headquartered in Illinois, serves more than 30,000 retail outlets operated by some 25,000 merchants. It will offer Equifax retail collections and check guarantee and/or verification (Welcome Check(r)) services as part of the Equifax Market Partners_ program.

The deal contributes to the ongoing growth of Equifax Retail Solutions -- the largest check guarantee and verification service in the world.

"Our Market Partners program represents a win-win situation," said Tom Gordon, senior vice president and general manager of Equifax Retail Solutions. "Our partners gain the flexibility of providing a variety of Equifax services that add value to their retail customer relationships while helping retailers simplify their vendor relationships with total solutions from the same provider. At the same time, Equifax is expanding its customer base for its premiere transaction services."

"We view this partnership with Equifax as a way to offer our customers a more efficient solution to their transaction needs," said Jayne Handrahan, vice president, Harris Trust & Savings Bank.

The Market Partners program is a diversified line of Equifax solutions targeted to retail merchants, financial institutions and others. The products and services currently available through the program include check guarantee or verification (Welcome Check (r)); check management systems (PathWays(r)); on-line, point-of-sale credit pre-screening (Decision Power_-Retail); retail collections; point-of-sale systems (terminals, MICR readers and software), and card processing at the financial institution level.

Participating Market Partners have the flexibility to choose only those products and services that best fit their market strategy, increasing the appeal of the program. Those interested in learning more should contact Ron Cook, asst. vice president, Equifax Payment Services, 11601 Roosevelt Blvd., St. Petersburg, Fla., 33716, or 800-215-6280, Ext. 7-2623.

Equifax is a world leader in providing financial information and processing solutions, with global operations in consumer and commercial credit information services, payment services, software, modeling, analytics and consulting and direct-to-consumer services. The company serves many industries including banking, finance, retail, credit card, telecommunications and utilities and health care. Equifax was founded in 1899 in Atlanta and today has 10,000 employees around the world. It operates globally in 17 countries, with sales in 40 countries. Equifax (NYSE: EFX) revenues for the 12 months ended June 30, 1997, were just under $1.3 billion.