Target Deploys edocs' Online Account Management Solution for Guest Card Holders; edocs Helps Manage Online Account Management and e-bill Payments for Target Customers.

Business/Technology Editors

NATICK, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2001

edocs, the leading provider of online account management and e-billing, today announced that Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) has deployed edocs, Inc., eaSuite(TM) to enable its millions of Target Guest Card holders to manage their accounts online at Target's Web site and online store, at www.target.com.

Target guests who make purchases either in Target stores or online with the company's Guest Card can now track spending, pay statements, and view their last six statements electronically. Customers will also be able to create direct payments from checking accounts, pay with electronic checks, and schedule e-mail reminders before payment due dates.

"Target has developed a brand that is fun and exciting," said Michael Salters, Senior Project Manager of Technology Services, Target. "Since our guest's experience online must match and support our overall brand, we needed online account management functionality to be part of a satisfying experience. edocs provides a solution that will establish a personalized relationship with guests similar to the attention they receive in a Target store."

Target's Solution

At the core of Target's online account management solution is edocs' eaDirect(TM) that transforms a guest's transactional account history via a personalized online, interactive communications vehicle. With eaDirect, Target cardholders have greater insight into their account status on a personalized display without having to use company call centers. While eaDirect handles user enrollment, authentication and e-bill presentment, the software can also provide dynamic messaging, advertising and promotions on statements.

Target is also using edocs' eaPay(TM) solution, which clears electronic and traditional payments with cardholders' banks and notifies users and billers of any transaction errors, such as insufficient funds in a cardholder's checking account. eaPay also allows customers to choose their preferred payment method, including standard checking, ACH, credit card or a leading payment processor. It also permits customers to initiate and track their online payments without leaving Target's Web site. Target will also have the ability to see payments not yet cleared by banks, thus increasing the efficiency of the cash management process.

"Target takes pride in the quality of the customer service offered through each individual customer touch point, and their endorsement of edocs' eaSuite confirms the importance of developing superior online customer service," said Jim Moran, Executive Vice President and Co-founder, edocs.

"Target is tapping into a market that has turned out to be the most successful implementation of electronic bill presentment and payment - i.e. credit card account management," said Avivah Litan, Vice President and Research Director, Gartner. "Consumers are rapidly adopting credit card account management applications that offer value they can't get with paper statements, such as daily data updates and responsive customer service. The success of these applications is testimony to the fact that e-billing is indeed 'a killer app' when content is compelling and consumers (and service providers) can save time and money."

About target.com:

Minneapolis-based target.com is the online business of Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT). Delivering today's best retail trends at affordable prices, target.com boasts thousands of unique and highly differentiated items, many of which are also available from Target Stores, the upscale discount retail division of Target Corporation. The target.com site has a broad assortment of gift ideas and products in a wide range of categories, including apparel, children's items, home decor, house wares, seasonal merchandise, sporting goods, and toys. In addition to online shopping, target.com offers guests the opportunity to purchase products from Target's highly successful registry programs (Club Wedd and Lullaby Club), apply for a Target Guest Card, access information on programs such as Take Charge of Education, find out "What's New" at Target Stores, locate the nearest Target store, and browse Target Stores' weekly circular.

About edocs:

edocs, Inc. provides enterprise-class online account management and e-billing software to Global 2000 companies. edocs' eaSuite(TM) maximizes customer relationships by enabling web-based billing, customer self-service and targeted marketing. edocs' products are used by some of the world's largest companies across a variety of verticals including telecommunications, banking, brokerage, mutual funds, credit card issuers, retailers, insurance, health care, and utility services. Customers include, Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM
FNM Free National Movement (Bahamas)
FNM Foot and Mouth ), American Express (NYSE: AXP), Saks (NYSE: SKS), Sprint (NYSE: FON, PCS), Telstra (ASX: TLS), FleetBoston Financial (NYSE:FBF), Franklin Templeton (NYSE: BEN), and Edison International (NYSE:EIX). The company's technology web-enables more than 60 million households and 20 million businesses for online account management and e-billing through its installed base.

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts edocs has offices in Europe and Asia. For more information on edocs, visit www.edocs.com.