MasterCard International awards global transaction processing network contract to AT&T Solutions; Network will carry billions of dollars worth of credit and debit card transactions every day

Business Wire, April 9, 1996

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 1996--MasterCard International, Inc., one of the largest global payments services companies in the world, has awarded AT&T Solutions a multi-million dollar contract to design, build and support the management of a transaction processing network supporting its worldwide financial services business.

Under the agreement, AT&T Solutions will implement and operate a comprehensive information technology infrastructure that will support MasterCard's data networking needs in more than 30 countries. The agreement calls for AT&T Solutions to replace MasterCard's existing network with a virtual private network, enabling MasterCard to complete credit and debit card transactions anywhere in the world in the fastest, most reliable and most cost-effective way possible. MasterCard processes hundreds of credit and debit card transactions every second, and settles more than $500 million every day.

"The strength of the MasterCard brand mark lies in its pervasive acceptance for local and global use. That means that no matter where in the world MasterCard cardholders want to use their cards, we need to insure that each and every transaction works in a fast, secure and reliable fashion," said MasterCard's President of Global Operations and Technology, Jerry McElhatton. "AT&T Solutions clearly understood our business needs and was very innovative in demonstrating how they can help us manage our business today and in the future."

The contract calls for AT&T Solutions to support end-to-end networking management and to provide maintenance of customer premises equipment, as well as program and network engineering management. The contract also includes the use of AT&T's WorldSourcesm services and AT&T's global frame relay service. Networking management and support services will be delivered through a new $40 million state-of-the-art Global Client Support Center located in Durham, N.C. with virtual links to similar regional centers in Singapore and Amsterdam.

By selecting AT&T Solutions, MasterCard realizes operating efficiencies, gains access to world-class information technology and frees internal resources to better serve its own customers.

"The highly competitive financial services industry recognizes that networking solutions will drive success in the next century, and MasterCard is leading by example," said Rick Roscitt, AT&T Solutions' managing partner, worldwide outsourcing practice. "MasterCard is leveraging AT&T Solutions' vision and expertise in network-centric electronic commerce to provide a strong competitive advantage today, and to assure it maintains its market leadership in the future."

AT&T Solutions provides large global clients with the resources to create, build and manage innovative electronic commerce solutions. It incorporates best-in-class offerings from AT&T and other companies to deliver innovative business solutions, enabling clients to sustain competitive advantages and realize improvements in profitability.

MasterCard International, with headquarters in Purchase, New York, is a global payments company with one of the world's most recognized brands. It is dedicated to helping more than 22,000 financial institutions provide their customers with a variety of payment options. MasterCard can be reached through "Pointers," its Worldwide Web site, at http://www.mastercard.com.

CONTACT: AT&T Solutions

Ron Bravo

(908) 234-5257 (Office)

(201) 543-7881 (Home)

reb@attmail.com

or

Dorea Smith, MasterCard International

914-249-1421 (Office)

dorea_smith@mastercard.com