Clarke American-MICR Express Division Named 2001 Best Workplace in America by Master Printers of America.

Business Editors

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2002

Clarke American, a provider of checks and innovative products and services, announced that its MICR Express Division, located in Jeffersonville, Ind., was honored by the Master Printers of America (MPA) with a 2001 Best Workplace in America award.

MPA, a committee of the Printing Industries of America (PIA), established the program in 2000 to recognize graphic arts companies that provide their employees with outstanding human relations programs. Of the 95 companies recognized, Clarke American-MICR Express was one of only 32 named "Best of the Best."

Participants were judged in six major categories of human relations policies and practices: work environment and organizational structure, training and development, financial security, personal/work-life balance, recognition and awards, and health and well-being programs. Clarke American's dedication to helping associates balance their work and home lives through options that include flex-time and pre-tax spending accounts was recognized as being outstanding.

"We saw participating in the awards program as a good way to benchmark other graphic arts companies and to see where we stood against them," explained Mike Petrey, assistant vice president and general manager, Clarke American-MICR Express and Base Operations. "Being recognized as one of the `Best of the Best' is a true testament to Clarke American's passion for its associates' well-being."

While the awards program allows companies to compare "best practices," the MPA believes the most valuable aspect of being recognized as a Best Workplace award recipient is that it helps companies in recruiting and retaining qualified staff, two key concerns in today's changing economy.

About Clarke American Checks, Inc.

Clarke American Checks, Inc. is one of the largest security check printers to the financial services industry in the United States. At unmatched rates of accuracy and rapid delivery, Clarke American produces more than 11 billion personal and business checks a year in a variety of formats for more than 4,000 banks, credit unions, and other financial services companies nationwide. Financial services companies also rely on Clarke American to deliver direct marketing, customer services, e-Commerce solutions, treasury management documents, letterchecks, and other financial accessories. The company has more than 3,300 associates and a national network of electronically linked production facilities and customer service centers throughout the country.

Clarke American was honored by the U.S. Department of Commerce as a recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2001 in the category of manufacturing. The top honor a U.S. company can receive for quality management and quality achievement, the award promotes quality awareness and publicizes successful quality strategies. The Quality Texas Foundation also named the company as the sole recipient of the 2001 Texas Award for Performance Excellence. Fourteen state banking associations across the nation endorse Clarke American as their official check printer, and the company has been the nationally endorsed vendor for the Credit Union National Association for over 25 years. Clarke American is a subsidiary of Novar plc of Weybridge, Surrey, England. For more information about Clarke American, visit www.clarkeamerican.com.