Paragon Application Systems and ACI Worldwide Sign Expanded Global Agreement.

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. -- ACI and Paragon Sign a Multifaceted Agreement to Distribute and Refer Paragon's ATM Simulation and Host Stress-Testing Tools Worldwide

Paragon Application Systems, a premier provider of ATM and EFT configuration, simulation, and testing software announced that it has signed a comprehensive reseller, referral, and internal use agreement with ACI Worldwide (ACI), a global provider of payment solutions to financial institutions. ACI will offer Paragon's ConfigBuilder and ATMulator to BASE24(R) and BASE24-es(TM) customers. Paragon tools allow customers to easily create ATM load images and conduct end-to-end testing of their interaction using a desktop "virtual test lab." In addition, ACI will recommend Paragon's FASTest for scripted QA and regression testing, and FASTress for system capacity testing.

This agreement is an extension of the long-standing relationship between the two companies. ACI has been a Paragon customer for more than 5 years, and Paragon tools are already installed in over two dozen ACI customer sites. Paragon also regularly participates in the ACI user groups such as ACE in the Americas and EBUG in EMEA.

ACI is recommending Paragon tools as a comprehensive solution for ATM configuration and testing. ACI customers can reduce time-to-market and increase profit potential with rapid configuration and testing of ATMs for MPEG support, audio for ADA compliance, triple-DES or EMV support. The suite is affordably priced and easily delivered "off-the-shelf" via the Internet to any of ACI's global customers.

ACI is expanding the use of the tools internally and incorporating them into ACI Development and Quality Assurance functions with the goal to enhance ACI testing efforts from initial development to customer delivery. Paragon tools allow ACI to easily emulate ATM functions from their desktop and gain efficiencies within the development and testing cycle.

"It is especially gratifying that ACI's recommendation is based on their technicians' and customers' own first hand experience with Paragon tools," says Kathryn Cameron, Paragon's marketing director. "Another strong selling point is the proven nature of our products, in use at over 150 financial institutions, including the largest ATM deployer in the US. Paragon customers manage more than 100,000 ATMs, giving Paragon the opportunity to have a positive impact in a variety of cutting-edge ATM initiatives."

"ACI Worldwide is pleased with this new agreement," said Bob Cronin, Vice President, Payment Systems, ACI Worldwide. "We determined that Paragon offered an unmatched breadth of products, ranging from ATM configuration and simulation tools to network test tools for over 40 ISO 8583 and non-ISO message formats. We have used Paragon internally for several years. We welcome the opportunity to present the WorkSmart ATM Suite as a configuration and testing complement to our BASE24 and BASE24-es products."

About ACI Worldwide

Every second of every day, consumers are initiating electronic payment transactions - getting cash at ATMs, using debit and credit cards to make purchases in stores and on the Internet, banking by phone and PC, paying bills online. Over 40 billion times a year, ACI software is used to process these transactions, powering the world's online payment systems. ACI was founded in 1975 and pioneered the development of applications and networking software for online transaction processing. Today over 500 customers in 76 countries use ACI supplied software. Visit ACI Worldwide on the Internet at www.aciworldwide.com.

About Paragon Application Systems

More than 150 financial institutions in over 25 countries use Paragon's productivity empowering software to improve quality and reduce time-to-market. From its founding in 1994, Paragon has dedicated its efforts to providing ATM and EFT professionals with tools to improve the reach and quality of their institution's transactions. The Paragon tools configure ATMs for graphics and audio, simulate ATMs including Triple DES (TDES) and fault testing, and perform regression testing for ATM and ISO 8583 transactions. Other Paragon offerings measure and test system capacity and performance, and provide Web-enabled QA and development testing to remote users worldwide. Paragon's broad customer base includes interchanges, such as NYCE, Star Systems (ConcordEFS), PROSA, Transacty Slovakia, a.s. and Shazam; processors, such as Genpass Technologies, Metavante, Total System Services and Fiserv, and banks, such as BB&T Corporation, Bank of Hawaii, and Citibank. Since 1998, Paragon has been a member of the Diebold Partner Information Xchange and an NCR Strategic Business Partner, and counts both Diebold and NCR among its customers. Paragon has been a member of the Interactive Financial eXchange (IFX) Forum since 2002 and the MasterCard Vendor Program (MVP) since 2003. Visit Paragon Application Systems at www.parappsys.com.