Ritz Camera Centers to Expand Acceptance of MasterCard PayPass to Over 1200 Locations; Ritz Camera Centers and Boater's World Marine Centers to roll out PayPass

Business Wire, April 25, 2005

PURCHASE, N.Y. -- MasterCard International and Ritz Camera Centers today announced the expansion of MasterCard(R) PayPass(TM) acceptance to each of the more than 1,100 Ritz Camera Centers and 114 Boater's World Marine Centers. Both Ritz Camera and Boater's World participated in the MasterCard PayPass contactless payment market trial in Orlando, FL in 2003.

"As customers seek to make shopping faster and more convenient, Ritz Camera and Boater's World want to provide the best service possible. MasterCard PayPass offers our customers the quality and ease they've come to expect from Ritz Camera, Boater's World and MasterCard," said David Ritz, Chairman and CEO of Ritz Camera Centers.

"We're thrilled to expand our relationship nationally with Ritz Camera. The market trial in Orlando provided invaluable insight on the impact MasterCard PayPass has on how consumers pay for purchases as well as concrete benefits retailers enjoy from streamlined transactions," said Fred P. Gore, senior vice president, North America Acceptance, MasterCard International. "We're pleased that Ritz Camera and Boater's World have been added to the list of other category leaders that now offer MasterCard PayPass as a payment option to their customers," he added.

MasterCard PayPass cardholders simply tap their PayPass-enabled MasterCard card on a specially equipped terminal that utilizes a radio frequency (RF) chip to complete the transaction. Payment is completed quickly and easily without the hassle of swiping a card, fumbling for cash, or signing a receipt. Moments after the cardholder taps their PayPass-enabled MasterCard card, account details are communicated to the terminal then processes through the MasterCard network for clearing and settlement.

For more information about MasterCard PayPass, visit www.paypass.com.

About Ritz Camera Centers, Inc.

Ritz Camera Centers, headquartered in Beltsville, MD, is the largest retail camera and photo chain in the United States with approximately 1,200 locations in 45 states and the District of Columbia. The Ritz Camera Centers chain of stores includes Ritz Camera, Wolf Camera, Kits Camera, Inkley's and The Camera Shop. All stores have Big Print Central Departments offering both traditional and digital prints "in minutes." Ritz Camera Centers, Inc.'s website, http://www.ritzpix.com, offers customers a one-hour printing and in-store pick-up service. Ritz Camera Centers, Inc. also owns and operates Boater's World Marine Centers, a leading marine specialty retail chain with 114 stores nationwide.

About MasterCard International

MasterCard International is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a broad variety of innovative services in support of our global members' credit, deposit access, electronic cash, business-to-business and related payment programs. MasterCard International manages a family of well-known, widely accepted payment cards brands including MasterCard(R), Maestro(R) and Cirrus(R) and serves financial institutions, consumers and businesses in over 210 countries and territories. The MasterCard award-winning Priceless(R) advertising campaign is now seen in 96 countries and in 48 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope. For more information go to www.mastercardinternational.com.