Alogent and DSS Partner to Provide Comprehensive Check 21 Solution; Joint Solution Accelerates Image Exchange by Converging `Day 2' into `Day 0'.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2003

Alogent Corp., a leading provider of payment transaction processing solutions for global financial institutions, remittance and payment processors, and Data Support Systems, Inc. (DSS), the premier provider of image-based Day 2 processing software, today announced the signing of a strategic alliance to develop and jointly market Sierra(R) T.R.I.P.S(TM). The integrated image exchange solution for exceptions and returns processing combines the benefits of early image capture, workflow automation, and returns processing to reduce cost and errors and to accelerate processing timelines.

"Check 21 has ushered in the era of check truncation and image exchange," said Brian Geisel, founder and CEO of Alogent Corporation. "The Achilles heel of image exchange, however, is the ability to process returns, and exceptions as early as possible using images. Our partnership leverages the core competencies of the two companies, combining Alogent's ability to capture and process transactions through image workflows at the earliest points of presentment with DSS' leadership in returns and exceptions processing to transform a paper based Day 2 process into Day 0 image exchange."

Returns, and exceptions processing has traditionally involved handling paper the day after the check is received at a processing center, thus the term Day 2. Sierra(R) T.R.I.P.S(TM) is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2004, and is the integration of DSS' T.R.I.P.S with Alogent's Sierra Xchange(R), unified payment gateway(TM). DSS T.R.I.P.S is the returns and exceptions processing product used by over 50 percent of the top 25 banks in the United States. Sierra Xchange is a suite of applications that can receive, validate, process, and send data and images, from both intra-bank and inter-bank points of presentment, to endpoints that include other banks, image exchange networks, image replacement document (IRD) creation services, and the automatic clearing house (ACH).

"The synergies inherent in this alliance bring significant benefits to our common customers," said Carl Bortol, president and founder of Data Support Systems. "Image returns and exceptions processing based on early image capture removes the encumbrance of geography. Work can be processed at any center, regardless of proximity to paper collection points. Image workflows greatly reduce cost and errors. Most importantly, the image-enablement of traditional Day 2 processes with images captured from branches, ATMs, and other banks, and the consequent collapse of timelines will be a huge catalyst in making the image exchange promise of Check 21 possible."

Sierra T.R.I.P.S will be marketed by both companies to the top 100 North American financial institutions.

About Alogent

Alogent is a financial services technology company with proven global success in providing payment processing solutions that enable banks, billers and outsource processors to reduce costs, accelerate timelines and improve quality in check and item processing.

Alogent's suite of Sierra solutions help banks adapt to Check 21, check truncation and paper-to-electronic transformation. They include solutions for deposit automation, image based centralized item processing, image exchange and the unique Straight Through Check Processing(TM).

Alogent products process over a billion transactions a year in the U.S., and the company provides the platform that processes 74 percent of all checks written in the UK. Alogent's solutions are being deployed to the largest deposit automation implementations in the world. Alogent brings proven credibility and leadership to help global customers address mission-critical challenges. For more information about Alogent's solutions, visit www.alogent.com.

For more information about Alogent in the USA, write 4005 Windward Plaza, Second Floor, Alpharetta, GA 30005; phone [phone]; toll free 888.333.6030; fax [phone] or email [e-mail]. For sales in the UK, phone [phone]; fax: [phone] or email [e-mail].

About Data Support Systems

Data Support Systems is the leading developer of image-based Day Two Processing software solutions, offering image-enhanced Day 2 applications in its T.R.I.P.S(TM)(Touchless Return Item Processing System) suite of products. DSS offers its flagship TRIPS Incoming, as well as TRIPS Track, Exceptions, Outgoing, ANS, Image Exchange Interface, and Image Archive Interface. DSS's customers include American Savings Bank, Hibernia Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of the West, Bank of New York, Bank One, Comerica Bank, National City, Fifth Third, Harris Bank, KeyBank, PNC Bank, USBank, Wachovia, M&I Bank, Banco Popular, Huntington National Bank, Bank of Oklahoma, Bankers Trust, Solutran, SouthTrust Bank, UMB Bank, First Hawaiian, United Commercial Bank, and FiServ/ Northern trust Chicago. DSS is a privately held corporation headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. More information about the company and its services is available at http://www.datasupport.com.