Contact:
Kimberly Knight
TSYS Corporate Communications
706-644-1218

Equifax And Total System Services, Inc. Team Up To Combat Bankruptcy

Atlanta, August 14, 1997 -- Equifax and Total System Services, Inc.(TSYS) (NYSE: "TSS") today announced a unique alliance to combat bankruptcy by integrating Equifax's premier bankruptcy management tool into the TSYS data processing services delivery platform THE TOTAL SYSTEM(r). The alliance includes TSYS' endorsement of Equifax's Bankruptcy Navigator_ and gives TSYS customers direct access to this total bankruptcy solution. It also broadens Equifax's reach to serve a new group of financial services clients.

Thomas F. Chapman, Equifax president and chief operating officer, said, "This is another win-win alliance. It puts the most effective bankruptcy management tool available in the hands of TSYS customers at a time when it's needed most. By integrating Navigator into the TSYS platform, we enable customers to enjoy rapid and convenient implementation of the Bankruptcy Navigator solution."

Equifax's Bankruptcy Navigator is a comprehensive, total bankruptcy solution including planning, account acquisition, account management and recovery/collections operations. It directly addresses customers' bankruptcy issues across the entire credit account life cycle and offers a systematic approach to managing consumer credit delinquency and bankruptcy. The system, driven by the most powerful bankruptcy prediction model in the industry, features a benchmark portfolio review, monthly updates and economic predictions out to 24 months for up to 231 statistical areas comprising the entire United States. All this is tailored to the specific markets and characteristics of the customer's portfolio. Initial customer reaction to the alliance and the capabilities of Bankruptcy Navigator has been very positive.

The Bankruptcy Navigator Index will be integrated within THE TOTAL SYSTEM with automatic updating capability. With the automation, the score seamlessly feeds into TSYS' General Cardholder and TS2(r) Systems. Utilizing the Bankruptcy Navigator Index within the Delinquency Manager System, clients will be able to enhance decisioning strategies, queuing, account review and statement inserting capabilities. Because of the uniqueness of the alignment with Equifax, TSYS recognizes the Bankruptcy Navigator Index as the solution of choice.

Philip W. Tomlinson, president, TSYS, said, "This alliance with Equifax reiterates our commitment to our clients to provide the latest in technology to help them combat delinquency and bankruptcy. At a time when the industry is experiencing record levels of bankruptcies and delinquencies, our clients need tools like the Bankruptcy Navigator to help them remain competitive. Because of Equifax's great reputation for providing vital information to financial institutions and the strengths of the TSYS General Cardholder and TS2 processing systems, TSYS feels confident in the future success of the Bankruptcy Navigator product," Tomlinson said.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ga., TSYS is one of the world's largest credit, debit, commercial and private-label card processing companies, serving card-issuing institutions throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico, representing more than 88 million cardholder accounts. TSYS provides a comprehensive on-line system of data processing services marketed as THE TOTAL SYSTEM. In 1996, TSYS formed a joint venture with Visa(r) U.S.A. to create Vital Processing Services L.L.C., a leading full service merchant services provider. TSYS' 1996 revenues totaled $311.6 million; the company is an 80.7 percent owned subsidiary of Synovus Financial Corp(r) (NYSE: SNV), a $8.9 billion asset, multi-financial services company that also includes 34 affiliates in four Southeastern states, a full-service brokerage firm, a comprehensive trust services provider and a mortgage services company. TSYS' Internet address is www.totalsystem.com.

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, telecommunications, 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.