State Turns to AmSouth to Make Child-Support More Convenient.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- When the State of Alabama wanted to make paying court-ordered child support less expensive, more efficient, and easier for parents, it turned to AmSouth Bank (NYSE:ASO) and its Spectrum Card, a Visa-branded payroll card that works like a debit card.

Beginning on June 1st 2005, twenty thousand parents who receive child support payments through the Alabama Central Disbursement Division (ACDD) will have the option of receiving the payments on AmSouth's Spectrum Card rather than by direct deposit or paper check.

"The Spectrum Card will allow the recipients access to their funds without the hassle or fees associated with cashing their checks. We are looking for ways to reduce the cost of printing checks, and up until now, our only option was regular Direct Deposit. So we're very excited about working with AmSouth to offer this option, along with the convenience it offers the customer," said Joe Bruner, Assistant Manager at the ACDD.

"AmSouth is pleased to partner with the state of Alabama to provide child support check recipients with this new service. Now, with the Spectrum Card, they will no longer have to wait for their checks to arrive by mail, where they could be lost or stolen. In addition, they can now enjoy the freedom and convenience that comes with carrying a Visa card product," explains David Clarke, Vice President and Product Manager, Commercial Card Services, at AmSouth.

The state loads payments onto the card and cardholders will be able to use their cards anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Cardholders can make a free ATM cash withdrawal after each payment at any AmSouth or Allpoint ATM. With 32,000 AllPoint network ATMs nationwide -- the country's largest surcharge-free ATM network -- as well as AmSouth's 1,240 ATMs across the Southeast, Spectrum cardholders will have easy access to ATMs where they can withdraw cash. In addition, cardholders can get cash back at no charge when they make purchases at the 1.2 million locations such as grocery stores and other points of sale where Visa debit cards are accepted.

The Spectrum Card provides the cardholder a safer option than cashing their child support check, as well as a monthly record of their transactions both online and via a paper statement, and is convenient and widely accepted. The card will also provide security and convenience for parents who don't have a checking account.

About AmSouth

AmSouth is a regional bank holding company with $50 billion in assets, more than 685 branch banking offices and 1,240 ATMs. AmSouth operates in Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia. AmSouth is a leader among regional banks in the Southeast in several key business segments, including consumer and commercial banking, small business banking, mortgage lending, equipment leasing, annuity and mutual fund sales, and trust and investment management services. AmSouth also offers a complete line of banking products and services at its web site, www.amsouth.com.