Mastercard Introduces Chip-Activated Digital WalletSolution.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BAI Retail Delivery Conference

MasterCard Booth no. 735

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 28, 2000

Trintech's "eIssuer" Enables MasterCard's Member Financial

Institutions To Offer Customers Secure Online

MasterCard International today announced the development of a chip-activated digital wallet solution with Trintech. Using Trintech's chip-enabled eIssuer, MasterCard's member financial institutions will be able to offer their customers a convenient way to conduct their online transactions using both a smart card digital ID and PIN number. The chip contains a digital ID number that authenticates the cardholder and then launches the digital form-filling wallet.

Recent studies indicate a growing consumer interest in using smart cards for electronic commerce transactions. According to a Greenfield Online consumer research study conducted by MasterCard in May 2000, 68 percent of online buyers indicated that they believed putting a computer chip on a credit card makes the card more "secure." An additional 59 percent stated they believed the computer chip makes the card more "valuable" to them.

"We are witnessing a strong upsurge of interest in chip technology. E-commerce and emerging technologies, such as mobile commerce, are motivating the financial services industry to explore smart cards as a portable means of authenticating online identities, while at the same time providing value added services to cardholders," said Carl Stefanelli, vice president, Global e-Business, MasterCard International. "MasterCard is prepared to support our members with turnkey solutions - such as chip-activated wallets - as they make plans to introduce smart card technology."

Digital payment platforms provide banks with a tool for gaining a consistent presence on a consumer's desktop. From the moment the consumer turns on his PC the bank's logo is present - providing the bank with tremendous branding power. This platform will also help an issuer establish its MasterCard account as the payment choice for mobile commerce.

"Consumers have struggled to find a convenient and secure payment solution for Internet shopping and MasterCard is tackling this issue head on," said John McGuire, CEO of Trintech. "Trintech worked closely with MasterCard to provide a secure payment infrastructure using Payware eIssuer that will expedite the transaction process, drastically reduce fraud levels, and lead to a more satisfactory payment experience for cardholders, merchants and issuing banks."

MasterCard also announced a service to enable its members to utilize the Trintech eIssuer platform hosted by MasterCard for issuer pilot programs.

About The Trintech Virtual Card Payment Solution

Trintech's PayWare eIssuer solution has been specifically designed to meet the major requirements of issuing banks: security, consumer convenience, branding and risk management. As a server-based virtual card distribution solution, PayWare eIssuer enables card issuers, telecom operators, service providers and private card label organizations to issue branded virtual payment cards (or ezCards) to their online customers. The issuing bank's brand is downloaded directly to the cardholder's desktop, giving the issuer unique brand visibility and flexibility. The cardholder's card account and address information is stored on the issuer's secure server and is accessed through their 'ezCard' that resides on their PC desktop. Having activated their ezCard account with the chip-enabled authorization, the consumer can auto-fill payment forms by dragging and dropping the ezCard onto the payment form. PayWare eIssuer meets security and branding requirements of issuers while at the same time providing a simple and convenient online payment tool for consumers.

As a global payments solutions provider, Trintech supports all major platforms, including MULTOS, JavaCard and Windows for Smart Cards from Microsoft, as well as emerging platform technology. By supporting all industry standards, Trintech continues to help foster an atmosphere of growth, flexibility and innovation for secure Internet payment. Additionally, Trintech is working to provide payment solutions for the emerging access channels to the Internet such as wireless devices and set top boxes.

About MasterCard International

MasterCard International has the most comprehensive portfolio of payment brands in the world. More than 1 billion MasterCard(R), Cirrus(R) and Maestro(R) logos are present on credit, charge and debit cards in circulation today. An association comprised of 22,000 member financial institutions, MasterCard serves consumers and businesses, both large and small, in 210 countries and territories. MasterCard is the leader in quality and innovation, offering a wide range of payment solutions in the virtual and traditional worlds. With more than 19.1 million acceptance locations, no card is accepted in more places and by more merchants than the MasterCard card. In 1999, gross dollar volume exceeded US$ 727 billion. MasterCard can be reached through its World Wide Web site at: www.mastercard.com.