Clarke American First in Industry to Implement IFX XML Standard

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Clarke American First in Industry to Implement IFX XML Standard

Anaheim, Calif

Anaheim, Calif., December 11, 2001 -- Clarke American, the fastest growing provider of checks and related products and services, deployed its first XML interface partner, WESCOM Credit Union, using the Interactive Financial Exchange (IFX) Forum's extensible markup language (XML) standard.

This solution, using the IFX XML standard, allows the institution to datastream directly to Clarke American's enterprise system via the Internet.

The IFX Forum, which administers the XML standard, is a non-profit organization charged with developing an open and interoperable specification on a robust XML framework for electronic business-to-business financial data exchange. Clarke American, who is a member of the IFX Forum and active in a special sub-committee, assisted in developing the most recent XML standard. In December of 2000, Clarke American wrote an initial tag to allow the transfer of data to add check order records. Since that time they have worked with IFX to develop 15 additional tags which will make the check ordering capability completely IFX compliant.

"The IFX standard is the first step toward open software systems for the financial services industry,'' said Christine Bryan, director of e-Commerce Technology at Clarke American. "Having open connectivity will enable both Clarke American's partners and its technology providers to communicate seamlessly. For the first time ever, our partners can completely customize the check ordering experience via the Internet by incorporating the data that is most important to facilitate ordering transactions. Service expectations vary from institution to institution. This new technical capability gives our partners the freedom to design the experience to meet their customers' needs.''

Use of XML also reduces the cost of duplication, both from a data entry and customer service standpoint, by allowing active updates from both the institution and Clarke American. If Clarke American receives a change of address request, that information can be confirmed and updated into both Clarke American's system and the institution's system simultaneously.

"Clarke American is proud to be the first check printing industry member of the IFX Forum,'' said Larry Patrick, vice president of Customer and Partner Integration of Clarke American. "The ability to exchange information seamlessly is crucial to doing business. Clarke American has put a high priority on driving the technical advances and standards that will shape the financial services industry, which is why we are involved in the IFX Forum.''

About Clarke American

Clarke American Checks, Inc. is one of the largest security check printers to the financial services industry in the United States. At unmatched rates of accuracy and rapid delivery, Clarke American produces more than 11 billion personal and business checks a year in a variety of formats for more than 4,500 banks, credit unions, and other financial services companies nationwide. Financial services companies also rely on Clarke American to deliver direct marketing, customer services, e-Commerce solutions, treasury management documents, letterchecks, and other financial accessories. The company has more than 3,500 associates and a national network of electronically linked production facilities and customer service centers throughout the country.

Clarke American is a recipient of the 2001 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the manufacturing category and has been honored by the Quality Texas Foundation as the sole recipient of the 2001 Texas Award for Performance Excellence. Fourteen state banking associations across the nation endorse Clarke American as their official check printer, and the company has been the nationally endorsed vendor for the Credit Union National Association for more than 25 years. Clarke American is a subsidiary of Novar plc of Weybridge, Surrey, England. For more information about Clarke American, visit www.clarkeamerican.com.

Contact: LaRhesa M. Pollock at 210/690-6498, larhesa_m_pollock@clarkeamerican.com, or Mary Heather Hanley, 678/781-7208

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