Access South, Inc. Announces New Card Division.

Business Editors

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 2004

Access South, Inc. announces new card division, Access Card Systems, Inc. (ACS), a provider of branded Stored-Value Card programs.

ACS specializes in branded Stored-Value card products and programs including ATM, Debit, Payroll, and Gift cards. ACS is a registered MasterCard Membership Service Provider (MSP) and has a business partnership with a MasterCard issuing bank member. ACS develops programs for affinity groups, advertising and marketing providers, direct-to-market distributors, and national retailers.

Access South develops unique value-added brand marketing strategies for major marketing and retail distribution partners. ACS will leverage the brand equity of these partners by offering Stored-Value programs to the partners' consumer clients, while at the same time providing the consumer with the reassurance that the products and services are being delivered through a trusted brand.

ACS will initially launch in the U.S. targeting the estimated 33 million households which may not or cannot use traditional banking services, 'the unbankable', and the $35 billion a year 'money transfer' business: those individuals or families in ethnic communities looking for an economical money transfer solution. The company also intends to expand internationally in late 2004.

"ACS is set to announce the launch of its first-to-market and premier card program later this month," said the programs inventor and marketing expert Larry Hunt. "ACS has developed a specific program targeted at the growing money transfer business and we are confident that the program will be widely embraced by those segments of the population who are regularly transferring money home to their families both domestically and internationally."

ACS cards are particularly useful for consumers who need an easy cash-moving alternative, or a safe way to provide instant cash access to a child at college, or a family member abroad. As the ACS brand gains recognition, the company intends to continue its development of other related card programs to assist the financially challenged and the ever growing populations in North America who require fair pricing for money transfer.