ACH Direct Offers Easy Online Contribution Option with "Donate Now" for Religious and Charitable Websites.

ALLEN, Texas -- Donating to a religious or charitable organization is now much easier for today's rushed patrons with a simple online solution. ACH Direct, Inc., a leading technology provider of Automated Clearing House (ACH), electronic check, credit card and debit card transaction processing and risk management services, announced today that its "Donate Now" feature can easily be added to any religious or charitable organization's website to process one-time and recurring donations through an automatic bank withdrawal or credit card charge.

"Research shows that about 60 percent of Americans get their paychecks through direct deposit and half pay at least one bill electronically," said Jeff Thorness, president and CEO of ACH Direct. "Many philanthropists and religious leaders see electronic collections through their website as a next logical step."

The "Donate Now" is a feature of ACH Direct's new Secure Web Pay (SWP) product, which provides a simple and secure turnkey solution for organizations to add online giving capability to their website. The organization's webpage will feature a clickable "Donate Now" button that links to a page on ACH Direct's secure processing site that has been customized to reflect the organization's logo and preferred design. This simple online service provides a safe, seamless transaction process for the donor and an easy installation for the organization. ACH Direct personnel work in conjunction with the organization's staff to set up the "Donate Now" function and continue to provide ongoing support after installation.

"Few non-profits and churches have technology experts on staff or the resources to maintain a secure online giving environment," Thorness said. "This solution doesn't require sophisticated technological expertise to install or use, effectively reduces liability the large financial investment that maintaining a secure server would require. We help our customers with the setup, and by linking to our site for the transaction, we shoulder the bulk of any compliance responsibilities."

With just a few clicks of the mouse, contributors can make online donations in a fast, easy, secure environment. The "Donate Now" feature also makes future contributions faster and more convenient with account creation and recurring payments features options.

Some of the nation's largest charitable organizations report that online giving is growing by 50 percent or more every year. The ePhilanthropy Foundation cites exponential growth in Internet donations, from $250 million in 2000 to more than $4.5 billion in 2005.

"Even when out of town, people can still give regularly to their church or other nonprofit organization through recurring transactions," Thorness noted. "The convenience for today's high-speed society to donate via a website is undeniable."

Donations that are set up as recurring payments offer organizations the increased stability associated with a consistent stream of revenue. Experts believe that a one-time annual decision results in a more generous contribution, as opposed to periodic giving decisions based upon cash on hand.

Some religious leaders believe recurring "e-giving" provides peace of mind for their members, because they can count on a donation being made whether or not they are physically present. It is a convenient way for the faithful to continue to fulfill their spiritual commitment even when they are unable to attend worship services.

About ACH Direct, Inc.

ACH Direct is one of the fastest-growing privately held electronic funds transfer processors in the United States, with $6 billion in transactions processed in 2006. ACH Direct's customers benefit from a comprehensive suite of payments products and services, including ACH origination, check verification, identity verification, credit card and debit card processing. Dedicated to providing superior customer service and industry-leading technology, ACH Direct provides tools to help organizations of all sizes reduce transaction costs, mitigate risk and increase efficiencies. For more information, visit www.achdirect.com.

About PaymentsGateway[TM]

PaymentsGateway(TM) is a high-capacity modular payment processing platform designed for maximum flexibility and availability. Merchants using PaymentsGateway both simplify and enhance their current processing options. The proven third-generation design enables companies to process single or recurring electronic check (ACH), credit card and debit card transactions in either real-time or batch mode. Software developers and solution providers using PaymentsGateway can integrate a complete spectrum of cutting-edge payments technology through one common API interface.