Midwest Payment Systems Joins Equifax as Market Partner

St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 13, 1997 -- Midwest Payment Systems, the data processing subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and one of the nation's fastest growing retail credit card processors, has finalized a marketing alliance with Equifax and begun offering check authorization services to its customers.

MPS, a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank, serves more than 25,000 retail outlets across the nation and handles an annual volume of $22.5 billion in credit card sales. It now has joined the Equifax Market Partners(SM) program, offering a range of check authorizations and related services to retailers.

The Market Partners program is part of a major expansion underway at Equifax Check Services, which already is the largest check guarantee and verification company in the world.

"Our Market Partners program represents a win-win situation," said Tom Gordon, senior vice president and general manager of Equifax Check Services. "Our partners gain the flexibility of providing Equifax services that add value to their existing retail customer relationships. At the same time, Equifax is expanding its customer base for our premier transaction services."

Founded in 1858, Fifth Third Bank is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is one of 11 affiliate banks of Fifth Third Bancorp., which has $20.5 billion in assets and 412 full service banking centers throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Florida. Its Midwest Payment Systems is one of the leading national providers of Electronic Funds Transfer services and merchant processing and also operates the bank's Jeanie® ATM network and a growing point-of-sale business.

"We view this partnership with Equifax as a means of offering our customers a more efficient package solution," said Barry L. Boerstler, Senior Vice President., MPS. "Retailers are looking for total solutions that simplify the number of vendors on which they rely, and that's what we can do by adding Equifax Check Services."

The recently launched Market Partners program is a diversified line of Equifax services targeted to retail merchants, financial institutions and others. The products and services currently available through the program include check guarantee or verification (Welcome Check® ); check management systems (PathWays®); on-line, point-of-sale credit pre-screening (Decision Power(sm)-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 Check Services is part of Equifax Payment Services, a leading provider of check verification/guarantee and credit and debit card processing services around the world with operations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Australia and New Zealand. Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX), established in 1899 in Atlanta, today is the global leader in providing information solutions to the financial services and insurance industries. Revenues for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 1996, exceeded $1.8 billion.