Alliance for Affinity Security Launches; Will Administer Health Care Accounts for Major U.S. Employers.

WASHINGTON -- The Alliance for Affinity Security, which manages certification and accreditation programs for major U.S. corporations, announced its launch today. The Alliance will administer new affinity programs designed to encourage the adoption of employer group health savings accounts (HSAs) and other defined contribution health care accounts, such as flexible spending accounts

Active in the formation of the Alliance were American Express, Visa, ADP, Trustar, Pershing, Bank of New York, Flexible Benefit Service Corporation, DataPath, Inc., MBI, P&W Software, Motivano, and Evolution Benefits, Inc.

The Alliance is managing certification and accreditation programs for the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC), including on-line testing for individual certification and for accredited service providers.

"The Board of ECFC felt that this was an excellent way to recognize the value of our name and logo as well as to provide an additional service to ECFC members and, beyond, to the entire flexible benefits community," said Bonnie B. Whyte, ECFC president. "We will now be able to manage ECFC affairs more efficiently and with less cost, while deriving independent royalty income."

The Alliance has selected Washington-based Radnor, Inc. to provide full association management services; and has selected Johnston, Lemon & Co, Inc., Washington, as the program's investment representative for any funds managed. The Washington office of Venable, LLP, has provided legal advice to the Alliance in its formation.

"The talent and cooperation of key resources in the insurance and financial fields has streamlined this complex process," said Radnor Chairman, Ken Feltman.

Radnor is a chartered accredited association management company of the American Society of Association Executives.

The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C. For more information please call 202-371-0125 or go to: http://www.allianceforaffinitysecurity.org.

The nearly 3,000 ECFC members are plan sponsors, corporations, governments, unions, universities, hospitals and clinics who are leading the way in the development and refinement of cafeteria and 401(k) plans, and the leading actuarial, accounting, insurance and consulting firms that design and administer flexible plans. For more information go to: http://www.ecfc.org.