Press Release

BANKSERV AND THOMSON FINANCIAL PUBLISHING ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE TO SUPPORT BANKSERV'S ELECTRONIC CHECK INTERNET BANKING SERVICE

April 10, 2000 – LOS ANGELES, CA -  BankServ and Thomson Financial Publishing (TFP) formed a strategic business alliance that supports one of BankServ's Internet banking products -- electronic checks cleared through the nation's automated clearinghouse (ACH) network. The companies announced the alliance today at the NACHA Payments 2000 conference.

To originate more accurate ACH payments, BankServ's Internet electronic check service now employs TFP's EPICWare™ filter to verify and modify, as appropriate, the American Bankers Association (ABA) routing and transit numbers and account structures.

"The administrative, nonfund-related errors have been one of the biggest barriers associated with using electronic checks for Internet transactions," said Glenn Gottfried, TFP's general manager. "EPICWare addresses these errors before they occur. BankServ's use of EPICWare in its Internet banking service ensures the delivery of the most cost-effective and innovative payments solutions to merchants and companies conducting business on the Internet."

Amy Goodson, vice president of BankServ, added, "BankServ understands the accuracy required in financial services and retailing. EPICWare fits well with BankServ's products and services, because it too was designed to provide a 'zero fault' standard, virtually eliminating the potential for human error in payment origination.

"The growth of eCommerce in recent years is significant," Goodson continued. "Internet-based payment options, however, have typically been limited to credit cards. BankServ's new electronic checks and wire transfer systems introduce a greater freedom for businesses on the Internet with a whole new range of payment options.

"BankServ offers a number of transaction processing services and software that enable financial institutions and every imaginable type of business to implement electronic payments flawlessly," Goodson said. "BankServ's Internet Payment Division draws on the company's strength as the nation's largest independent processor of electronic check conversion transactions, leveraging proven physical-world technologies and back-end processing."

About BankServ

San Francisco-based BankServ is one of the nation's leading providers of secure electronic and Internet funds-transfer and payments services for banks, financial institutions, retailers and online businesses. BankServ also offers a variety of electronic check conversion, domestic and international wire transfer, credit card processing and business-to-business bill presentment and invoicing services.

Founded in 1996 by cash management pioneer and company CEO David Kvederis, a former senior executive of Wells Fargo & Company, BankServ is the nation's largest independent provider of services to merchants who wish to convert checks into electronic funds transfers. The company's new Internet payments division offers payment applications for both business-to-business exchanges and business-to-consumer settlements, as well as funding and reporting services for businesses on the Internet. BankServ maintains offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Las Vegas, NV., and Lafayette, LA.

About Thomson Financial Publishing

Thomson Financial Publishing, a division of Thomson Financial Media, is a leading provider of financial institution information to the world. TFP maintains the most authoritative and comprehensive databases of financial institutions. These databases are leveraged to produce products that are used for accurately originating fund transfers to realize higher straight-through processing rates and to facilitate the repair of rejected transactions. Other TFP products ensure compliance with U.S. regulatory agencies, including the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, and aid in the detection of money laundering and check fraud. Additionally, TFP facilitates global interbank communication and marketing, providing the widest array of print publication and marketing services. As official routing number registrar for the American Bankers Association, TFP issues, retires and maintains a record of all U.S. routing numbers. For more information, visit Thomson Financial Publishing on the Internet at www.tfp.com or call 847.676.9600.

Thomson Financial Media is a division of Thomson Financial, a US$1.44 billion provider of information services and work solutions to the financial and corporate communities worldwide. Through the widest range of products and services in the industry, Thomson Financial helps clients in more than 70 countries make better decisions, be more productive and achieve superior results. Thomson Financial is part of The Thomson Corporation, a leading e-information and solutions business with annual revenues of more than US$6 billion. The corporation's common shares are listed on the Toronto and London stock exchanges. For more information on Thomson Financial, visit www.thomsonfinancial.com.

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