You can contact us by e-mail at info@eccho.org or by calling (214) 273-3200.

• March 4 , 2010 - The Last Check enlists as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization

February 25, 2010

Financial Regulators Release Updated Retail Payment Systems Booklet

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) today issued updated guidance for examiners, financial institutions, and technology service providers on the risks associated with retail payment systems. This Retail Payment Systems Booklet, which is part of the FFIEC Information Technology Examination Handbook series, is an update to the 2004 version that provided guidance on the risks and risk-management practices applicable to financial institutions’ retail payment systems activities, including checks, electronic payments related to credit cards and debit cards, and the automated clearing house (ACH). Appendices to this booklet include examination procedures and references to applicable laws, regulations, and guidance.

The revised booklet addresses changes in technology and provides guidance on the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act of 2004. This booklet also provides expanded guidance on merchant card processing and ACH activities. It provides a more in-depth discussion of the increased risks posed by these activities and some of the risk management tools that financial institutions can use to mitigate them. There is also a brief discussion on emerging technologies in retail payment systems. The booklet includes information on remotely created checks and electronically created payment orders, both of which are being used more frequently as payment devices. Lastly, the booklet addresses remote deposit capture and provides examination procedures for use in conjunction with the FFIEC guidance, Risk Management of Remote Deposit Capture (January 14, 2009).

The FFIEC IT Examination Handbook is produced by the Information Technology Subcommittee of the FFIEC’s Task Force on Supervision. The Information Technology Subcommittee promotes uniform and effective information technology-related policies and supervisory programs for financial institutions and their service providers. An electronic version of the Retail Payment Systems Booklet, as well as the entire FFIEC IT Examination Handbook Series, is available at http://www.ffiec.gov/ffiecinfobase/html_pages/it_01.html.

Media Contacts:

• February 23, 2010 - Mid-Atlantic Corporate Federal Credit Union becomes ECCHO's latest Sponsoring Organization
• January 25, 2010 - BB&T Finanacial, FSB joins as ECCHO's latest Affiliate Member
• January 21, 2010 - eDoc Innovations registers as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization
• January 1, 2010 - ECCHO welcomes Huntington National Bank as its latest Participating Member
• December 29, 2009 - California Credit Union League joins as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization
• December 21, 2009 - Citizens Bank Pennsylvania becomes ECCHO's latest Affiliate Member

November 17, 2009

Digital Checks as Electronic Payment Orders

This paper explores the potential for a new type of electronic payment order (EPO), in the form of an entirely digital check.

http://www.chicagofed.org/webpages/publications/policy_discussion_papers/2009/pdp_5.cfm

November 12, 2009

CheckImage Collaborative Introduces Enhancements to Interoperability Standards for Check Image File Formats

Dallas — November 12, 2009 — The CheckImage Collaborative today announced the creation of an enhanced Universal Companion Document (UCD) for X9.100-187-2008.  The UCD was developed by the CheckImage Collaborative’s Image Quality Work Group with input from a wide range of financial institutions as well as major image exchange providers. 

X9.100-187-2008 is the successor of DSTU X9.37-2003. This standard is interoperable with DSTU X9.37-2003 and will ultimately replace the DSTU as the base standard for image exchange within the US payments system.  The UCD will further enhance the flexibility and interoperability benefits of the X9.100-187-2008 standard.  Currently, each image provider is required to develop its own unique companion document to implement the standard for its service offerings.  By replacing this wide spectrum of differing documents, with one universal document, the UCD streamlines process and makes interoperability between various network providers significantly easier and more efficient.  Any unique functions a provider might offer are included in the UCD as exceptions.

Endpoint Exchange, SVPCO and Viewpointe have announced plans to implement the UCD by the end of 2010.  The Federal Reserve Banks have not yet established a production date for the UCD but plan to monitor customer test results and industry adoption to ensure all participants are prepared for live implementation.

A previous version of the UCD was released in 2008.  A key priority of the development process for the 2009 iteration of the UCD was ensuring a simple and efficient transition between the earlier and new versions.   No changes need to be made by organization that already programmed for the 2008 UCD.

For organizations that have not yet programmed for either version of the UCD, some programming may be required for interoperability with the various image exchange networks once those networks have implemented UCD for X9.100-187-2008.  The additional programming, if required, will provide for additional return codes, new fields to facilitate image exchange and validation of certain fields that may not have been previously validated.  A copy of the UCD is available at http://www.checkimagecentral.org/pdf/UCD%20X9%20100-187-2008%20Final.pdf

About CheckImage Collaborative

The CheckImage Collaborative is comprised of representatives from trade associations and financial organizations. The group was formed in early 2005 to identify and share information on check image clearing that will help financial institutions understand and successfully implement image exchange.

About Federal Reserve Financial Services

The Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, was founded by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. In addition to their role in monetary policy and banking supervision, each Federal Reserve Bank acts as a bank for banks and for the government.

The Federal Reserve Banks provide financial services to depository institutions including banks, credit unions, and savings and loans, much like those that banks provide for their customers. These services include collecting checks, electronically transferring funds, and distributing and receiving cash and coin. Additionally, the Federal Reserve acts as a fiscal agent or bank to the federal government by providing financial services to the United States Department of Treasury and by selling and redeeming government securities such as Savings Bonds and Treasury bills.

For more information, please visit Federal Reserve Financial Services.

About ECCHO

ECCHO (Electronic Check Clearing House Organization) is a not-for-profit national clearing house that provides image exchange rules for private sector exchanges. Membership in ECCHO is available to every financial institution and current membership totals more than 1,900 financial institutions ranging in size from community banks and credit unions to the largest banks in the country. Additional information regarding ECCHO is available at www.ECCHO.org.

Media Contact:

David Walker, President & CEO, 214-273-3201, dwalker@eccho.org

About The Clearing House and SVPCO Image Payments Network 

The Clearing House is a private-sector, global payments systems infrastructure that clears and settles more than 60 million payments for $1.6 trillion per day. The Clearing House serves more than 1.500 U.S. financial institutions and hundreds of international participants through its wire transfer (CHIPS), ACH (EPN) and check image exchange (SVPCO).  SVPCO (www.svpco.com) is a leading check image exchange that connects more than 10,000 endpoints and major exchanges through a unique network that's designed to route check images in the most direct and efficient way possible.   For more information, visit www.theclearinghouse.org.

About Endpoint Exchange 

Endpoint Exchange, an FIS company, is the country’s first electronic check-clearing network that enables U.S. financial institutions to clear their check-based transactions by exchanging check images between member institutions. Endpoint Exchange is a part of the FIS suite of image-capture solutions.  FIS delivers banking and payments technologies to more than 14,000 financial institutions and businesses in more than 90 countries worldwide.

About Viewpointe

Viewpointe® is a leading provider of multibank infrastructure solutions for customers ranging from credit unions to Fortune 100 financial institutions. With one of the largest national archives of check images and information, Viewpointe offers archive capabilities, end-to-end check image exchange clearing and settlement and Automated Clearing House association services. Bank Technology News annual ranking of the 25 most advanced people, companies and technologies in financial services. Since 2006, Viewpointe has been named to the prestigious FinTech 100, representing the best of the best in financial technology and service providers. For more information, please visit named Viewpointe one of the top innovators of 2008, at http://www.viewpointe.com/.

• November 4 , 2009 - Nexity Bank becomes ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• October 29, 2009 – ECCHO reaches 2,220 Members 

September 30, 2009

VIEWPOINTE USERS GROUP RECOMMENDS ADOPTION OF UCD CHECK IMAGE FILE STANDARD
Compliance timeline calls for full adoption by end of 3Q10

NEW YORK — September 30, 2009 —Viewpointe®, a leading provider of check image exchange and archive services, announced today that Viewpointe’s User Group (VPUG) has voted to recommend adoption of the Universal Companion Document (UCD) for X9.100-187-2008 as well as a timeline for compliance with the UCD. This UCD was published in 2009 by the CheckImage Collaborative as a uniform industry approach for populating and validating check image files.

“This is an important next step in the process of reducing the inconsistent application of the standard for the exchange of check images,” said Glenn Wheeler, president, Viewpointe Clearing Settlement and Associations Services (VPCS&AS). “By adopting this common file structure, financial institutions could potentially manage only one file type when exchanging images with multiple UCD-compliant image exchange networks.”

The Viewpointe Users Group, comprised of representatives from across the Viewpointe archive and exchange customer base, recommended the approval of UCD adoption on September 15, 2009. Upon approval of the VPCS&AS Operating Committee, VPUG anticipates the following timeline for UCD compliance:
• Viewpointe clearing customers will have the option to exchange UCD-compliant files starting March 29, 2010.
• Viewpointe customers will be required to support sending and receiving UCD-compliant files on September 27, 2010.
• Viewpointe partners that prefer to exchange with each other without the format will be permitted to do so on an exception basis provided there is a written agreement in place.

“The recommended adoption of the UCD by the Viewpointe Users Group demonstrates a strong commitment to increase industry interoperability for image exchange participants,” said Steve Cree, vice president, Sterling Savings Bank and VPUG chairman. “With the majority of checks moving in image-based exchanges, the need to further refine the current standard is underscored.”

One of the biggest obstacles to true interoperability has been the adoption of a standard check image file format. The UCD establishes a consistent approach for all industry participants to use when processing check image files in an effort to address those ongoing interoperability issues.

“This move is great for the industry,” said David Walker, President and CEO, ECCHO. “By reducing the inconsistencies in the exchange of check images, we are advancing an efficient check payment system.”

The CheckImage Collaborative, initiated by ECCHO and the Retail Payments Office (RPO) of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, is comprised of representatives of trade and financial
organizations throughout the U.S. A copy of the UCD is available through at the CheckImage Collaborative at http://www.checkimagecentral.org/ucd/

“Viewpointe has been committed to interoperability and is supportive of our user group’s move to adopt this standard,” said corporate spokesperson Diane Scott, president, Viewpointe Emerging Business. “By reinforcing greater uniformity and efficiency, we are maximizing the value of the check payment system while moving one step closer to full check electronification.”

ABOUT VIEWPOINTE
Viewpointe® is a leading provider of multibank infrastructure solutions for customers ranging from credit unions to Fortune 100 financial institutions. With one of the largest national archives of check images and information, Viewpointe offers archive capabilities, end-to-end check image exchange clearing and settlement and Automated Clearing House association services. Bank Technology News named Viewpointe one of the top innovators of 2008, an annual ranking of the 25 most advanced people, companies and technologies in financial services. Since 2006, Viewpointe has been named to the prestigious FinTech 100, representing the best of the best in financial technology and service providers. For more information, please visit http://www.viewpointe.com/.

Media Contacts:
Paul Kelash Weber Shandwick
952-346-6253
pkelash@webershandwick.com

David Boxum
Weber Shandwick
952-346-6147
dboxum@webershandwick.com

• August 31 , 2009 – FRB Services Announcement on Collection of State of California Registered Warrants  http://www.frbservices.org/files/communications/pdf/check/083109_ca_warrants.pdf
• August 31 , 2009 - California State Registered Warrants

California Registered Warrants will be redeemed beginning September 4, 2009.  The  Validation and Redemption 07-07-09 document below will be helpful.  A supplemental advisory was prepared by Ted Kitada, Senior Company Counsel, for Wells Fargo Bank, NA that should also be helpful in answering outstanding concerns.

• August 24, 2009 - Wells Fargo Bank National Association enlists as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• August 14, 2009 - New England Automated Clearing House (NEACH) registers as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• August 7 , 2009 -First Citizens Bank (NC) becomes ECCHO's newest Participating Member.
• August 4 , 2009 - Branch Banking and Trust Company becomes ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• July 9, 2009 - California State Registered Warrants

Documents

• Presentation on California State Warrants – “Show Me the Money” (pdf)
• Validation and Redemption Process 07-07-09 (pdf)
• FRB, OCC and Regulatory Communications from 1992 (pdf)
• Sample Registered Warrant (pdf)

Links

• State of California Controller’s Website  http://www.sco.ca.gov/eo_news_registeredwarrants.html

• FRB Services Announcement dated July 2, 2009  http://www.frbservices.org/files/communications/pdf/check/070209_cali_warrants.pdf

• Federal Reserve Board of Governors Press Release dated July 2, 2009  http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/bcreg/20090702b.htm

• FDIC Interagency Statement dated July 8, 2009 http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2009/fil09041.html

• SEC Staff Statement on California IOUs dated July 8, 2009http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2009/2009-154.htm

• California State Treasurer  http://www.treasurer.ca.gov/warrants/index.asp

• June 22, 2009 - M&T Bank National Association joins as an ECCHO Affiliate Member.
• June 15, 2009 - City Holding Company enlists as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• June 8, 2009 - Treasury Strategies, Inc. becomes ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• May 18, 2009 - Digital Check Corp registers as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.

May 14, 2009

THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS SELECT VIEWPOINTE FOR THEIR CHECK IMAGE ARCHIVE
Viewpointe’s state-of-the-art technology chosen to help the Federal Reserve Banks
continue offering customers efficient, high-quality payments services

NEW YORK — May 14, 2009 —Viewpointe®, a leading provider of check image exchange and archive services, announced today that the Federal Reserve Banks have signed an agreement to store their check images with Viewpointe.
As a Viewpointe archive user, the Federal Reserve Banks are the latest to join several of the nation’s largest institutions in having access to one of the most robust common archives in the industry. The Reserve Banks’ archive currently contains nearly 10 billion check images and serves more than 1,000 financial institution customers. Their check image volume will substantially increase Viewpointe’s current archive volume of more than 127.8 billion images stored, solidifying it as a truly national, trusted archive.

“The decision to move the storage of check images to Viewpointe is consistent with other efforts in recent years to reduce our check infrastructure costs and maintain long-term viability,” said Fred Herr, Senior Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. “This move allows us to offer our customers state-of-the-art storage technology, reliability and resiliency.”

Viewpointe worked closely with the Reserve Banks to develop a plan that would benefit the Reserve Banks and offer a transparent transition to their customers. Moving the storage of images in the FedImage® archive to Viewpointe will be seamless to customers and will take place over the next 18 months.

“We’re proud that the Reserve Banks made this decision to trust us with this important function,” said Lou Buglioli, Viewpointe chairman and CEO. “It speaks to our proven track record for the highest standards related to customer requirements, risk management and data security.”

Organizations are strategically responding to cost challenges in this difficult economic
environment. For many of the nation’s leading financial institutions, Viewpointe has become the national trusted archive, containing billions of sensitive e-documents. By choosing a solution such as Viewpointe’s, financial institutions can share infrastructure costs and store and retrieve valuable payments data in a reliable and secure way.

“The Reserve Banks’ decision is consistent with how organizations are strategically responding to cost challenges in this difficult economic environment,” said Diane Scott, president, Viewpointe Emerging Business. “With its shared infrastructure, the Viewpointe archive allows the Reserve Banks to share fixed costs among multiple financial institutions instead of singlehandedly absorbing the total cost of archiving.”

ABOUT VIEWPOINTE
Viewpointe® is a leading provider of multibank infrastructure solutions for customers ranging from credit unions to Fortune 100 financial institutions. With one of the largest national archives of check images and information, Viewpointe offers archive capabilities, end-to-end check image exchange clearing and settlement and Automated Clearing House association services. Bank Technology News named Viewpointe one of the top innovators of 2008, an annual ranking of the 25 most advanced people, companies and technologies in financial services. Since 2006, Viewpointe has been named to the prestigious FinTech 100, representing the best of the best in financial technology and service providers. For more information, please visit http://www.viewpointe.com/.

ABOUT THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS
The Federal Reserve Banks offer a full range of financial services including FedCash®, Check including FedForward®, FedReturn® and FedReceipt®, FedImage® Services, FedACH®, Fedwire ® Funds Service, Fedwire Securities Service and National Settlement Service. In addition, the Federal Reserve Banks offer services designed to support the use of Financial Services, including Account Management Information
and Service Charge Information. Complete product and service information can be found at FRBservices.org.

Media Contacts:
For Viewpointe:
Paul Kelash
Weber Shandwick
952-346-6253
pkelash@webershandwick.com

David Boxum
Weber Shandwick
952-346-6147
dboxum@webershandwick.com

For the Federal Reserve Banks:
David Fettig
612-204-5274
david.fettig@mpls.frb.org

• April 22, 2009 - Fifth Third Bank joins as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• April 16, 2009 - ECCHO welcomes FISC Solutions as its newest Sponsoring Organization.
• April 10, 2009 - Community Bankers Bank registers as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• March 25, 2009 - TD Banknorth enlists as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization
• March 13, 2009 - NACHA- The Electronic Payments Association enlists as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• March 13, 2009 - Saffici Payment Consulting joins ECCHO as the newest Sponsoring Organization.
• March 3, 2009 - National City Bank becomes ECCHO's newest Affiliate Member.
• February 12, 2009 - First National Bank (Omaha) registers ECCHO as the newest Sponsoring Organization.
• February 9, 2009 - Corporate Central Credit Union joins ECCHO as the newest Sponsoring Organization.
• January 21, 2009 - ECCHO welcomes Pertech Resources, Inc. as its newest Sponsoring Organization.
• January 21, 2009 - Southwest Bank St Louis enlists as an ECCHO Affiliate Member.
• January 21, 2009 - M&I Bank Mayville becomes ECCHO's newest Affiliate Member.
• January 21, 2009 - M&I Bank FSB joins as an ECCHO Affiliate Member.
• January 21, 2009 - Wachovia Corporation registers as an ECCHO Affiliate Member.
• January 21, 2009 - Chase Bank USA, NA; Newark, DE becomes ECCHO's newest Affiliate Member.
• January 21, 2009 - JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA; Dearborn, MI becomes ECCHO's newest Affiliate Member.
• January 21, 2009 - JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA; Columbus, OH joins as an ECCHO Affiliate Member.
• December 17 , 2008 - Unisys Payment Systems enlists as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• December 10 , 2008 - ECCHO welcomes EastPay, Inc. as its newest Sponsoring Organization.
• December 3 , 2008 - M&T Bank (Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company) registers as an ECCHO Participating Member.
• November 24 , 2008 - Eastern Bank joins ECCHO as the newest Sponsoring Organization.
• November 24, 2008 - Synergent becomes ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• November 7, 2008 - RP Solution enlists as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• November 5, 2008 - SWACHA registers as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.

• October 22, 2008 - ECCHO welcomes Hancock Bank as its newest Sponsoring Organization.
• September 30, 2008 - TIB The Independent Bankersbank becomes ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• September 22, 2008 - Sterling Savings Bank joins ECCHO as the newest Sponsoring Organization.
• August 20 , 2008 - Catch 21, Inc. registers as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.

• July 30, 2008 - Abound Resources, Inc. enlists as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• July 21, 2008 - ECCHO welcomes Trustmark Bank as its newest Sponsoring Organization.
• July 7, 2008 - Quad City Bank & Trust becomes ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• June 11, 2008 - ECCHO welcomes Bankers' Bank of the West as its newest Sponsoring Organization.

• May 9, 2008 - Bankers' Bank enlists as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• May 5, 2008 - VSoft Corporation becomes a Sponsoring Organization of ECCHO.
• May 2 , 2008 - MoneyGram International joins as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• April 22, 2008 - ECCHO welcomes Solutran, Inc. as its newest Sponsoring Organization.
• April 15, 2008 - Panini North America becomes ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization .
• March 31, 2008 - ECCHO welcomes Key Bank, National Association as its newest Sponsoring Organization.
• March 31 , 2008 - Systar, Inc. becomes a Sponsoring Organization of ECCHO.
• March 21, 2008 - The Mid-Atlantic Payments Association (MACHA) enlists as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• March 21 , 2008 - CONIX Systems, Inc. registers as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• March 17, 2008 - ECCHO welcomes Georgia Automatic Clearing House Association (GACHA) as its newest Sponsoring Organization.
• March 3, 2008 - JPMorgan Chase enrolls as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• March 1, 2008 - Fifth Third Bank joins as ECCHO's first Participating Member.
• January 30, 2008 - Remote Deposit Capture, LLC becomes a Sponsoring Organization of ECCHO.
• January 14, 2008 - Volunteer Corporate Credit Union enlists as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• January 7, 2008 - Affirmative Technologies, Inc. registers as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• January 7, 2008 - ECCHO welcomes Data Support Systems, Inc. as its newest Sponsoring Organization.
• January 7, 2008 - Software Earnings, Inc. enrolls as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• December 12, 2007 - UniPro Systems, Ltd. registers as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• December 10, 2007 - ECCHO welcomes Minnesota Item Processing Corporation  as its newest Sponsoring Organization.
• November 27, 2007 - Premier Check Printing enrolls as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• November 16, 2007 - Alabama Banker's Bank, N.A. becomes a Sponsoring Organization of ECCHO.
• November 16, 2007 - ECCHO welcomes Payments Information Circle, LLC as its newest Sponsoring Organization.
• October 10, 2007 - EPSON America enrolls as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• September 13, 2007  - Symcor enlists as a Sponsoring Organization of ECCHO.
• August 6, 2007 - Diversified Check Solutions, LLC. signs up as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• August 3, 2007 - Arkansas Bankers' Bank becomes a Sponsoring Organization of ECCHO.
• July 30, 2007 - Southwest Corporate Federal Credit Union registers as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• July 30, 2007 - All My Papers (a California Corporation) registers as a Sponsoring Organization.
• July 3, 2007 - Checkmation - a division Datanet Solutions, Inc. becomes ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• June 27, 2007 - First National Bankers Bank (Louisiana) and Mississippi National Bankers Bank enroll as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organizations.
• June 20, 2007 - ProfitStars, A Jack Henry Company signs up as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• April 9, 2007 - i_TECH Corporation registers as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• March 27, 2007 - Avalon International, Inc. registers as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• March 15, 2007 - RDM Coporation becomes a Sponsoring Organization of ECCHO.
• March 1, 2007 - Independent Bankers Bank (IL) enrolls as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• February 22, 2007 - Upper Midwest Automated Clearing House Association (UMACHA) joins ECCHO as a Sponsoring Organization.
• February 21, 2007 - ECCHO welcomes Cole Taylor Bank as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• February 16, 2007 - Aperta, Inc. signs up as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• February 1, 2007 - US Dataworks, Inc. becomes a Sponsoring Organization of ECCHO.
• January 8, 2007 - The Bankers Bank (GA) registers as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• January 8, 2007 - Fidelity Integrated Financial Solutions enlists as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization
• January 3, 2007 - The Bankers Bank Kentucky enrolls as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization
• January 1, 2007 - Citizens Bank RI becomes ECCHO's newest Full Member.
• December 14, 2006 - Alabama Automated Clearing House Association (ALACHA) registers as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization
• December 7, 2006 - ECCHO welcomes Goldleaf Financial Solutions as a Sponsoring Organization.
• November 27, 2006 - Bankers' Bank Northeast signs up as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• November 3, 2006 - Bank of America enlists as a Sponsoring Organization
• October 26, 2006 - Comerica Incorporated registers as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization
• October 24, 2006 - Atlantic Central Bankers Bank becomes a Sponsoring Organization.
• October 13, 2006 - Bankers' Bank of Kansas, N.A. joins as a Sponsoring Organization
• October 10, 2006 - Integrated Bank Technology, Inc. enrolls as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization
• October 4, 2006 - LaSalle Bank, N.A. registers as a Sponsoring Organization
• September 21, 2006 - Omni-Soft, Inc. signs as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• August 21, 2006 - ECCHO welcomes The Bankers Bank as a Sponsoring Organization
• August 18, 2006 - WAUSAU registers as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization
• August 16, 2006 - The Check Image Strategies Group enlists as a Sponsoring Organization
• August 15, 2006 - U.S. Bank, N.A. registers as a Sponsoring Organization.
• August 13, 2006 - Rosetta Technologies signs as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization.
• August 10, 2006 - International Consulting, Inc. becomes a Sponsoring Organization.
• August 8, 2006 - Integrated Payment Systems joins as a Sponsoring Organization.
• August 2, 2006 - Myriad Systems, Inc. enrolls as ECCHO's newest Sponsoring Organization
• July 10, 2006 - Great Lakes Bankers Bank registers as a Sponsoring Organization.
• July 7, 2006 - Wachovia Corporation enrolls as a Sponsoring Organization.
• July 6, 2006 - ECCHO hires Stephanie Morrow as Office Coordinator.  ECCHO is excited about this new addition to their office team.  Stephanie brings to ECCHO 8 years human resources, accounting, events and general office experience.  Stephanie's primary focus is on administration of the Dallas office including A/R, A/P and vendor relations.  You may reach her at 214-273-3210 or smorrow@eccho.org. 
• July 3, 2006 - Data Management Products enrolls as a Sponsoring Organization.
• June 30, 2006 - ECCHO hires Ellen Heffner as Director of Product Management.  ECCHO is pleased to announce the addition of another key employee.  Ellen adds to ECCHO's experience base more then twenty years in Product Management through previous positions across the banking industry including past positions with Bank of America’s predecessor organizations and most recently, in group management and operations roles within Carreker Corporation.  Ellen's initial and primary focus will be to provide educational support for the expanding ECCHO membership base working with and through the Sponsoring Organizations to provide information on ECCHO rules and membership opportunities to Sponsored Members. Ellen can be reached at 214-273-3211 or eheffner@eccho.org.
• June 20 , 2006 - Pacific Coast Bankers' Bank signs on as a Sponsoring Organization.
• May 29, 2006 - Nebraska Bankers' Bank, NA becomes a Sponsoring Organization.
• May 26, 2006 - Midwest Independent Bank signs up as a Sponsoring Organization.
• May 11, 2006 - LendingTools.com joins as a Sponsoring Organization.
• May 1, 2006 - Bearing Point has become a Sponsoring Organization.
• April 11, 2006 - LaSalle Bank, Chicago Joins ECCHO as a Full Member.
• March 28, 2006 - C&A Associates, Inc. enlists as a Sponsoring Organization.
• March 15, 2006 - United Bankers' Bank joins up as a Sponsoring Organization.
• February 13, 2006 - Inovium Corporation registers as a Sponsoring Organization.
• January 20, 2006 - The Bank of New York Joins ECCHO as a Full Member.
• January 1, 2006 - National City Signs as ECCHO's newest Full Member.
• December 20, 2005 - Independent Bankers' Bank of Florida registers as a Sponsoring Organization.
• November 29, 2005 - WACHA enrolls as a Sponsoring Organization.
• October 17, 2006 - iStream Imaging signs on as a Sponsoring Organization.
• October 3, 2005 - BancorpSouth Joins ECCHO.  Welcome to BancorpSouth,our newest Full Member. 
• August 29, 2005 - Frost Bank becomes a Sponsoring Organization.
• August 25, 2005 - Open Solutions signs up as a Sponsoring Organization.
• August 8, 2005 - Compass Bank joins as an ECCHO Sponsored Member through Viewpointe and as such has obtained coverage under the ECCHO Rules.
• July 24, 2005 - ECCHO hires Scott Miller as Director of Business Development.  ECCHO is pleased to announce the addition of another key employee.  Scott adds to ECCHO's experience base more then twenty years experience in bank operations and marketing through his previous positions with the Helena Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.  Scott's initial and primary focus will be the expansion of ECCHO's membership base to many institutions of all sizes.  Contact email smiller@eccho.org or telephone 406-457-5487. 
• June 21, 2005 - Image Exchange to Adopt ECCHO Rule Set
• June 8, 2005 - COCHA joins as an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization.
• June 1, 2005 - MPX enlists as a Sponsoring Organization.
• May 2, 2005 - ECCHO's Comment Letter regarding Proposed Amendments To Regulation CC
• April 27, 2005 - Solutran supports ECCHO as the national provider of electronic check presentment (ECP) and image exchange rules.
• April 12, 2005 – The National Clearing House Association (NCHA) has become an ECCHO Sponsoring Organization. Signed on March 31, 2005.
• March/April 2005 -"Don't Count Out the Check " By Clint Swift . Article in BAI's Banking Strategies Magazine . ECCHO's David Walker, a leader in check electronification, argues that the banking industry should use imaging technology to capitalize on the strengths of the paper check and extend its life as a bank-centric payment system.
• March 23, 2005 - Endpoint Selects ECCHO Rules. Metavante Corporation today announced that The Endpoint Exchange Network has endorsed and will adopt the check image exchange rules established by ECCHO.
• March 11, 2005 - U.S. Central Credit Union Joins ECCHO.  Welcome to U.S. Central our newest Full Member and our first credit union.  As a Full Member, U.S. Central adds a new dimension to the ECCHO membership and the Board of Directors.  
• March 2, 2005 - World Savings Bank Joins ECCHO. World Savings, sponsored by Wespay, is ECCHO’s first Sponsored Member and our first savings bank member.  Welcome to World Savings and congratulations to Wespay.
• December 7, 2004 - M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank (M&I), an affiliate of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (NYSE: MI), today announced that it has joined the Electronic Check Clearing House Organization (ECCHO). Paul T. Danola, Metavante Corporation senior executive vice president and group executive of its Financial Services Group, will represent M&I on the ECCHO board of directors. Metavante is the financial technology subsidiary of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation.
• December 7, 2004 - Wespay enlists as a Sponsoring Organization.
• January 30, 2004 - Southern Financial Exchange joins as a Sponsoring Organization.
• December 28, 2003- ECCHO Hires Elizabeth Westbrook as Office Manager and Meeting Planner (becomes Director, Member Services in August 2006).  Elizabeth brings over 20 years experience in Project Management, Office Management, Customer Service, Event planning, and Accounting to the ECCHO team.  Elizabeth can be reached at 214-273-3203 or ewestbrook@eccho.org.
• June 11, 2002 - Sterling Commerce endorses ECCHO initiatives.to standardize ECP and Image Exchagne
• December 11, 2000 - ECCHO Hires Walker and Meyerson
• February 24, 1999 - Any Bank can Afford ECCHO Membership: Membership Cost as Little as $100 per Year
• January 6, 1999 - BITS endorses ECCHO as the private-sector national-level rules making body for ECP and SVPCo as the coordination point for multi-lateral ECP for the banking industry: Move towards electronification of checks means cost effective, efficient payments
• November 13, 1998 - Banks Create Common ECP Rules Through Agreement Between SVPCo & ECCHO: Demonstrates Solid Support for ECP Through Common Rules
• April 16, 1998 - Fleet Expands ECCHO Presence to become Full Member
• April 15, 1998 - ECCHO Appoints New Executive Director

June 21 , 2005

Image Exchange to Adopt ECCHO Rule Set

Birmingham, AL (June 21, 2005)   Image Exchange LLC (www.imageexchange.net) today announced that they have adopted the check image exchange rules established by industry-leader Electronic Check Clearing House Organization (ECCHO).

ECCHO has been actively involved in the development of rules using electronics to facilitate a more efficient check payment system.  Existing paper check law includes large volumes of statutory, regulatory and case law to govern the exchange of paper checks.  There is however no law to govern the exchange of check images.  Without ECCHO’s rules, institutions exchanging images would assume an indeterminate amount of risk.  ECCHO’s rules address this deficiency in check law by providing a common, multilateral agreement among the members.

Image Exchange’s agreement with ECCHO ensures that when its customers exchange check images through Image Exchange’s iXchange system they will be covered by clearinghouse rules that are the accepted industry standard.

“Everyday it is increasingly apparent that many banks are making commitments to exchanging check images,” said David Walker, president of ECCHO.  “Banks can see the strategic value of image-based check truncation and are moving forward.  ECCHO is very pleased to be working with Image Exchange to bring additional value to its customers.” 

“The process of exchanging electronic check images is an ever-evolving one,” said Russell Lloyd, vice president of Image Exchange.  “By partnering with such a respected and established organization as ECCHO, Image Exchange members will have access to proven, well-planned exchange guidelines that not only facilitate the exchange process itself, but pave the way for broader acceptance and expansion of the exchange of images across the United States.”  

About ECCHO

ECCHO is a not-for-profit national clearinghouse that is owned by its member banks.  Formed in 1990, its primary objective is to fill the legal void created by mixing paper checks with electronics such as in the exchange of check images.  ECCHO has also been recognized and is supported by many organizations as the national provider or ECP and image exchange rules.  Membership in ECCHO is available to every depository financial institution.  Current members hold deposits of approximately $2.9 trillion.  Additional information on ECCHO can be found at www.eccho.org.

About Image Exchange                                                                                                  

Image Exchange LLC provides methods for electronic check clearing through its iXchange solution, which contains features for forward, return, adjustments, and settlement tracking. It is an affiliate company of Brasfield Technology, LLC.  Brasfield Technology, LLC develops cutting-edge technology for the financial services marketplace.   Current solutions include Internet banking, telephone banking, digital surveillance, information systems security and more. Brasfield Data Services, LLC is also an affiliate company of Brasfield Technology.   Its goal is to provide community banks with quality data processing services and world-class customer service.   Image Centre LLC, another Brasfield affiliate, provides a browser-based, outsourced, check and document imaging solution.  For more information on Image Exchange or its other affiliates, please visit www.imageexchange.net or www.brasfieldtech.com  or contact Karly Field at 205.408.6900 or kfield@brasfieldtech.com .

For Immediate Release

For More Information Contact:

Russell Lloyd                               

Image Exchange LLC                                                                                       

205.981.4253                                                                

rlloyd@brasfieldtech.com

April 12, 2005

NCHA Signs Sponsorship Agreement with ECCHO for Rules Coverage

Dallas, TX – April 12, 2005 –Industry Moves One Step Closer to National Use of Standardized Image Exchange Rules for the Private Sector. The National Clearing House (NCHA), the country’s largest check clearing association, today announces it signed a sponsoring organization agreement with the Electronic Check Clearing House Organization (ECCHO) to provide its members ECCHO image exchange rules coverage.  This agreement comes at a time when more and more NCHA members are ready for image exchange and have the greatest desire for comprehensive rules coverage and standardization to maximize network participation and expand trading relationships across networks in support of network interoperability.

NCHA is currently settling image exchange transactions initiated by its members through various networks, including Endpoint Exchange, SVPCo and Viewpointe.  Multiple rule sets and bilateral agreements are involved.  The availability of ECCHO rules to all members will bring greater efficiency to the process and eliminate any rules barrier to participation in any network or across networks.

“The objective of Sponsoring Organizations is to provide a single set of image exchange rules to every institution across the U.S. while supporting the existing relationships between those institutions and their primary service providers such as clearinghouses,” said David Walker, ECCHO President and CEO.  “NCHA members that wish to be covered by the ECCHO image exchange rules will continue to be members of NCHA.  The complementary provisions of NCHA’s settlement services and ECCHO’s image exchange rules will greatly facilitate the transition to more efficient, image-based check collection and return processes.”

Alan Lee, S.V.P., U.S. Bank and NCHA Chairman of the Board, said, “NCHA is committed to providing an excellent mix of services to its members and customers.  The execution of this agreement with ECCHO provides comprehensive image rules that will minimize the risk of applying technology to enhance the check payments system.  This is a great step forward for both organizations.”

“ECCHO and NCHA have a long standing relationship related to our common membership and settling Electronic Check Presentment (ECP) transactions covered by ECCHO ECP rules,” said Fred Redeker, NCHA President and CEO.  “We are pleased to expand the relationship in this capacity to help the industry move forward with image exchange under national standards and a goal of image exchange network interoperability.  The ECCHO image exchange rules provide a structured and comprehensive processing environment for the exchange of check images addressing issues not currently addressed by check law.”

About The National Clearing House  The National Clearing House is a member-owned and member-driven national association of financial institutions.  It is the single largest settler of check volume cleared in the United States, settling over 6.6 billion items annually representing over 55% of all checks estimated to be cleared in the private sector.  NCHA provides check clearing, settlement and related services to over 550 check processing sites of its 274 members and members of seventeen Associated Clearing Houses across the country.  Membership ranges from 17 of the 20 largest banks to hundreds of regional and community banks and credit unions.  NCHA supports industry standards and continues to expand services through valuable partners and alliance in its commitment to promote image exchange and help the entire industry manage the transition.  Visit NCHA on the Web at www.thencha.com.

 About ECCHO   ECCHO is a not-for-profit national clearinghouse that is owned by its member banks.  Formed in 1990, its primary objective is to fill the legal void created by mixing paper checks with electronics such as in the exchange of check images.  ECCHO has also been recognized and is supported by many organizations as the national provider of ECP and image exchange rules.  During 2004, ECCHO member banks used ECP in the exchange of approximately 2.5 billion transactions totaling $4.0 trillion.  Every depositary institution is eligible to membership in ECCHO.   Current members hold deposits and approximately $3.2 trillion.  Additional information about ECCHO can be found at www.eccho.org.

For more information about ECCHO, its check electronification vision or membership in ECCHO, please contact David Walker at (866) 440-4709. Also visit ECCHO's web site at www.eccho.org for additional educational information.

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About ECCHO
ECCHO is a not-for-profit national clearinghouse that is owned by its member banks. Formed in 1990, its primary objective is to fill the legal void created by mixing paper checks with electronics such as in the exchange of check images. ECCHO has also been recognized and is supported by many organizations as the national provider of ECP and image exchange rules. Membership in ECCHO is available to every depository financial institution. Current members hold deposits of approximately $2.9 trillion. Additional information about ECCHO can be found at www.eccho.org.

About the Endpoint Exchange Network
The Endpoint Exchange Network enables U.S. financial institutions to clear their check-based transactions by allowing for the exchange of check images between member institutions. The Endpoint Exchange Network is the country's first electronic check-clearing network that capitalizes on existing imaging infrastructure and settlement relationships, with the interoperability to connect to every endpoint in the nation. CheckClear LLC, a Metavante company, operates the Endpoint Exchange Network, www.endpointexchange.com.

About Metavante
Metavante Corporation is a leading provider of image-based check processing and distributed image-capture solutions through its companies, which include the Endpoint Exchange Network, Advanced Financial Solutions (AFS), and VECTORsgi. Metavante delivers banking and payment technologies to financial services firms and businesses worldwide. Metavante products and services drive account processing for deposit, loan and trust systems, image-based and conventional check processing, electronic funds transfer, and electronic presentment and payment. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Metavante (www.metavante.com) is wholly owned by Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (NYSE: MI).

For Further Information Contact:

The Endpoint Exchange Network
Sam Kim
678-533-4861
sam.kim@metavante.com

ECCHO (Electronic Check Clearing House Organization)
David Walker
214-273-3200
dwalker@eccho.org

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December 7, 2004

M&I Marshall& Ilsley Bank Joins Electronic Check Clearing House Organization  

December 7, 2004 - Chip Swearngan Metavante Corporation, 414-357-3688 PAUL T. DANOLA JOINS ECCHO BOARD - MILWAUKEE

December 7, 2004 – M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank (M&I), an affiliate of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (NYSE: MI), today announced that it has joined the Electronic Check Clearing House Organization (ECCHO), a 14-year-old, non-profit national clearinghouse with the primary objective of supporting the use of technology to enhance the check payment system. Paul T. Danola, Metavante Corporation senior executive vice president and group executive of its Financial Services Group, will represent M&I on the ECCHO board of directors. Metavante is the financial technology subsidiary of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation.

“As a participant in two national check image exchange networks and a provider of related technologies to financial institutions, through our ECCHO membership we look forward to driving adoption of common rule sets and procedures among exchanges,“ said Danola. “An ‘open and interoperable’ environment among exchanges will be a catalyst for financial institutions to realize reductions in check processing costs and an expanded capability to serve customer needs.”

“ECCHO is very pleased with M&I Bank’s decision to join ECCHO,” said David Walker, ECCHO President. “With the passage of Check 21, a key legal constraint has been eliminated freeing a popular legal instrument, the check, to use technology to support its evolution. M&I’s investment in technology companies such as Metavante, VECTORsgi, and Advanced Financial Solutions supports the transition to a more efficient payment system. The use of technology in conjunction with a single set of image exchange rules accelerates the achievement of significant value for all financial institutions.”

Metavante Corporation delivers banking and payment technologies to financial services firms and businesses worldwide. Metavante products and services drive account processing for deposit, loan and trust systems, image-based and conventional check processing, electronic funds transfer, and electronic presentment and payment Headquartered in Milwaukee, Metavante (www.metavante.com) is wholly owned by Marshall & Ilsley Corporation.

ECCHO is a not-for-profit national clearinghouse that is owned by its member banks. Formed in 1990, its primary objective is to fill the legal void created by mixing paper checks with electronics such as in the exchange of check images. ECCHO has also been recognized and is supported by many organizations as the national provider of ECP and image exchange rules. Membership in ECCHO is available to every depository financial institution. Current members hold deposits of approximately $2.9 trillion. Additional information about ECCHO can be found at www.eccho.org.

Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (NYSE: MI) is a diversified financial services corporation headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., with $39.0 billion in assets. Founded in 1847, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank has the largest banking presence in Wisconsin with 196 offices throughout the state. In addition, M&I has 34 locations throughout Arizona; 11 offices in metropolitan Minneapolis/St. Paul, and one location in Duluth. Minn.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and Naples and Bonita Springs, Fla. M&I's Southwest Bank affiliate has six offices in the St. Louis area, and one office in Belleville, Ill. M&I also provides trust and investment management, equipment leasing, mortgage banking, asset-based lending, financial planning, investments and insurance services from offices throughout the country and on the Internet (http://www.mibank.com or http://www.micorp.com). M&I's customer-based approach, internal growth and strategic acquisitions have made M&I a nationally recognized leader in the financial services industry.

For more information about ECCHO, its check electronification vision or membership in ECCHO, please contact David Walker at (866) 440-4709. Also visit ECCHO's web site at www.eccho.org for additional educational information.

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June 11, 2002

Sterling Commerce Endorses ECCHO Initiatives

To Standardize ECP and Image Exchange

Addison, Texas – June 11, 2002 – Sterling Commerce’s Banking Systems Division, a subsidiary of SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) and a worldwide leading provider of banking transaction applications, has announced its support for the standardization of electronic check presentment (ECP) and image exchange rules.  As a result, it is endorsing efforts undertaken by the Electronic Check Clearing House Organization (ECCHO) to support and provide ECP and image exchange rules in the United States.

              “Because of their expertise and reach, ECCHO is certainly the logical organization to establish these much-needed standards,” said William Hymes, President of Sterling Commerce’s Banking Systems Division.  “We at Sterling Commerce pledge our full support to ECCHO as they spearhead development of these rules.”

              ECCHO is a not-for-profit national clearinghouse that is owned by its member banks.  Formed in 1990, its primary objective is the development and promotion of ECP.  ECCHO also has been endorsed by the Banking Industry Technology Secretariat (BITS) as the national provider of ECP rules.

              “It’s very gratifying to gain the endorsement of Sterling Commerce,” said David Walker, President of ECCHO.  “As a major provider of transaction processing solutions, Sterling Commerce’s participation can only help to solidify our position as the ‘de facto’ standards-setter for ECP and image exchange rules.”

Sterling Commerce endorses ECCHO initiatives/add one

Sterling Commerce’s VECTOR Solutions are completely image-enabled and include the industry’s premier check image capture software.  For example, Sterling Commerce’s Check Management Solution is a common capture platform for all check image processing requirements.  Banks using this solution can perform local or remote prime pass image capture on a variety of hardware platforms; can capture incoming return item images; and image capture and encode the outgoing bank-of-first-deposit items. The VECTOR Check Management Solution also includes an image archive interface, allowing the archiving of images within minutes of capture for viewing via Internet services or enterprise intranet-based applications.

              Similarly, Sterling Commerce’s VECTOR ECP Solution is totally image-ready, allowing banks to send and receive image cash letters, as well as view images of an item during ECP reconcilement.

“The VECTOR ECP Solution is the leading ECP solution for the largest U.S. banking institutions,” said Sydney Smith Hicks, vice president, Operations and Business Development, Sterling Commerce Banking Systems Division, and an early board member of ECCHO.  “More than 45 percent of today’s ECP items presented through the nation’s primary exchange channel are originated by VECTOR.  With image-presentment, the solution becomes even more powerful.”

The ECP Solution also is designed to help facilitate the transition to image exchange.  In fact, an interface with the company’s VECTOR Exceptions Solution allows banks to receive and process a file, identify exception items, and process exceptions via image, without paper being exchanged.

              “The movement to ECP and image exchange is an evolutionary process, but without standardization, the process is very slow and needlessly expensive,” Hymes said.  “We’ve seen that in the past when ACH was just getting off the ground, and again when EDI was introduced.  With these past lessons in mind, it’s clear that now is the time for the industry to adopt standards for ECP and image exchange rules, early enough to facilitate broader acceptance of image exchange.  That way, banks can realize the cost-reduction benefits associated with image processing over paper handling much more quickly.”

Sterling Commerce’s Banking Systems Division Advances/add two

ECCHO is a not-for-profit national clearinghouse that is owned by its member banks.  Formed in 1990, its primary objective is the development and promotion of electronic check presentment (ECP).  ECCHO member bank’s holding companies hold deposits of approximately $2.1 trillion.  Membership in ECCHO is available to all depository financial institutions regardless of size.  Currently ECCHO members include banks whose deposit size is less than $100 million and banks whose deposit size is greater than $350 billion.  ECCHO has also been endorsed by the Banking Industry Technology Secretariat (BITS) as the national provider of ECP rules and ECCHO has licensed the use of its rules to the Small Value Payments Company, L.L.C. (SVPCo).

Sterling Commerce is one of the world’s largest providers of business-to-business commerce solutions. For Global 5000 companies and their customers, suppliers and partners, Sterling Commerce software and services help maximize business performance and improve business metrics through integration of applications, external partner systems and people. With more than 30 years of experience serving tens of thousands of customers in a vast range of industries, Sterling Commerce is a recognized pioneer in business-to-business commerce through its longstanding expertise in EDI. The company’s Banking Systems Division provides financial transaction processing, currency control, reconciliation, and e-commerce solutions for financial institutions and their customers, around the world.  Today, as customers explore new ways to improve business performance via the Internet, Sterling Commerce continues to innovate its software and services to further the global adoption of e-commerce while offering its customers strategic solutions that leverage existing technology. For more information, visit www.sterlingcommerce.com.

SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com) is one of the world’s leading data, voice and Internet services providers. Through its world-class network and its subsidiaries’ trusted brands – SBC Southwestern Bell, SBC Ameritech, SBC Pacific Bell, SBC Nevada Bell, SBC SNET and Sterling Commerce – SBC companies provide a full range of voice, data, networking and e-business services, as well as directory advertising and publishing.  A Fortune 27 company, America’s leading provider of high-speed DSL Internet Access services, and one of the nation’s leading Internet Service Providers, SBC companies currently serve nearly 60 million access lines nationwide. In addition, SBC owns 60 percent of America’s second largest wireless company -- Cingular Wireless -- which serves more than 21 million wireless customers. Internationally, SBC has telecommunications investments in 28 countries.

All products or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

For more information about ECCHO, its check electronification vision or membership in ECCHO, please contact David Walker at (866) 440-4709. Also visit ECCHO's web site at www.eccho.org for additional educational information.

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December 11, 2000
ECCHO Hires Walker and Meyerson

Dallas, TX, December 11, 2000 - Beginning April 2001, the Electronic Check Clearing House Organization (ECCHO) will enter a new era with its own employees and facilities in Dallas, Texas. During ECCHO's first ten years it has relied on the Carreker Corporation for its facilities, staffing and administration. "With the passage of time and the maturation of the organization, ECCHO has selected this as the time to stand on its own," said William Christensen, Chairman of ECCHO and Executive Vice President, Union Bank of California. The banking industry is moving rapidly to implement check electronification initiatives and ECCHO is providing leadership in the transition to electronic check payments

In 1989 Denny Carreker, Chairman and CEO, Carreker Corporation, lead the initiative that culminated in the creation of ECCHO in 1990. During the first eight years, he served as ECCHO's Executive Director and provided the leadership and vision for the new check electronification initiative know as electronic check presentment (ECP). "Without Denny's early leadership, ECCHO would not have been formed nor would it have been successful", according to John Spencer, Secretary/Treasurer, ECCHO and Executive Vice President, Frost Bank.

ECCHO member banks currently are exchanging approximately 1.5 billion checks a year with a value of approximately $2.3 trillion through ECP processes. In addition to its ECP rules, ECCHO has adopted rules to support check truncation and, in conjunction with the Financial Services Technology Consortium, rules to support electronic checks and check image exchanges.

ECCHO is a not-for-profit national clearinghouse that is owned by its member banks. Formed in 1990, its primary objective is the development and promotion of electronic check presentment (ECP). ECCHO member bank's holding companies hold deposits of approximately $1.7 trillion. Membership in ECCHO is available to all depository financial institutions regardless of size. Currently ECCHO members include banks whose deposit size is less than $100 million and banks whose deposit size is greater than $350 billion. ECCHO has also been endorsed by the Banking Industry Technology Secretariat (BITS) as the national provider of ECP rules and ECCHO has licensed the use of its rules to the Small Value Payments Company, L.L.C. (SVPCo).

For more information about ECCHO, its check electronification vision or membership in ECCHO, please contact David Walker at (866) 440-4709. Also visit ECCHO's web site at www.eccho.org for additional educational information.

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February 24, 1999
Any Bank can Afford ECCHO Membership: Membership Cost as Little as $100 per Year

(Dallas, Texas, February 24, 1999) -- At its regularly scheduled meeting in February, the ECCHO (Electronic Check Clearing House Organization) Board of Directors approved a new membership class allowing banks to join ECCHO for as little as $100 per year. Now any depository financial institution, as defined by the Federal Reserve Act, is eligible to join ECCHO and obtain the protections of ECCHO's rules. The ECCHO Board also selected the Independent Bankers Association of America (IBAA) as an approved sponsor of members under the new membership class.

The ECCHO Board of Directors created a new membership class called Sponsored Member with no initial fee. Other membership classes typically include a one-time initial fee and ongoing dues. While large and small Sponsored Members will pay ongoing dues at the same nominal rate, the actual amount they pay will vary with their deposit sizes. This will remove the financial barrier to membership for even the smallest banks. For example, at the current dues rate, a Sponsored Member with deposits of $2 billion would pay annual dues to ECCHO of $2,200 while a Sponsored Member with $91 million or less in deposits would pay only $100 (the minimum amount).

Banks joining ECCHO as Sponsored Members will work through a sponsoring organization such as the IBAA. For example, those banks that are members of the IBAA that elect to join ECCHO will continue their relationship with the IBAA while gaining ECCHO's rules coverage through their IBAA association.

Through this action, ECCHO took another important step toward the achievement of its vision. That vision includes: 1) working with other industry groups to promote the rapid acceptance and implementation of ECP, 2) providing value to banks through improved earnings on the order of $2-3 billion per year from short-term activities and 3) positioning the banking industry for significant long-term earnings improvement from check electronification.

ECCHO is a not-for-profit national clearinghouse that is owned by its member banks. Formed in 1990, its primary objective is the development and promotion of electronic check presentment (ECP). ECCHO member bank's holding companies hold deposits of approximately $2.4 trillion. ECCHO has also been endorsed by the Banking Industry Technology Secretariat (BITS) as the national provider of ECP rules.

For more information about ECCHO, its check electronification vision or membership in ECCHO, please contact David Walker at (866) 440-4709.

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January 6, 1999
BITS Endorses ECCHO as the Private-sector National-level Rules Making Body for ECP and SVPCo as the Coordination Point for Multi-Lateral ECP for the Banking Industry: Move towards electronification of checks means cost effective, efficient payments

(Washington, DC, January 6, 1999) -- The Banking Industry Technology Secretariat (BITS) today announced its endorsement of the work being done by the Electronic Check Clearing House Organization (ECCHO) and the Small Value Payments Company (SVPCo) to further the use of Electronic Check Presentment (ECP). This is the first in a series of announcements BITS will be making in the weeks ahead concerning its efforts to facilitate the development of open, interoperable, and rules-based electronic commerce and banking in a manner that benefits the banking industry and its customers.

According to Austin Adams, Executive Vice President of First Union, and Co-Chair of the BITS Industry Infrastructure Steering Committee, "BITS' endorsement of the work done by SVPCo and ECCHO represents a significant step forward for the banking industry. This type of collaboration is absolutely critical to our efforts to move the banking industry into the new world of more cost effective and efficient electronic payments -- a world where our customers and our shareholders will profit."

ECP is the forward presentment of check information (MICR line) captured at the collecting institution, and transmitted electronically to the paying institution, with paper to follow. ECP will provide significant savings for the industry in processing costs and will reduce the risk to banks from fraudulent items. BITS member banks are committed to implementing ECP as a first step toward the electronification of the check. BITS would like 50% of available checks processed with ECP by 2001.

The formation of SVPCo will aid significantly in achieving this goal. SVPCo was formed to facilitate the first standardized nationwide electronic exchange of checks. Until recently all ECP exchanges were done under bilateral agreements. Each additional bank that entered the process needed to make separate agreements with each exchange partner. SVPCo has developed the capability to do multilateral clearing and settlements for ECP.

ECCHO, which was formed in 1990, has been a champion for creating a national, standard set of rules for ECP. ECCHO, as a clearing house under the UCC, can modify certain aspects of the law. All parties with an interest in a check are bound by clearing house rules under which a transaction is exchanged. A standard set of rules will allow banks to exchange checks with institutions that belong to separate clearing houses. Earlier this year SVPCo agreed to adopt rules established by ECCHO further enabling the exchange of checks across clearing houses.

BITS recognizes that not all banks can participate in a clearing house and encourages ECCHO to work with the Federal Reserve and private sector organizations to facilitate a method by which all institutions can be covered by a standard set of rules.

The Independent Bankers Association of America (IBAA) is represented on the BITS Board of Directors. IBAA joins BITS in supporting the industry's move to an ECP environment; however, IBAA has not endorsed the ECCHO and SVPCo initiatives at this time, pending further review to determine the implications for small banks. In the meantime, IBAA is working on steps to implement ECP that are appropriate for small banks, assisted by BITS, ECCHO and The Federal Reserve.

The Banking Industry Technology Secretariat (BITS) was created to foster the growth and development of electronic banking and commerce in an open environment that will encourage greater choices in banking software, access devices, and the development of more efficient processing capabilities for the benefit of bank customers. BITS is a division of The Bankers Roundtable, an organization with a membership base of the largest 125 banks in the country.

The Small Value Payments Company L.L.C. (SVPCo) was formed in 1998 by twelve of the largest US banks to facilitate the first standardized nationwide multilateral electronic exchange of checks.

The Independent Bankers Association of America (IBAA) represents 5,500 independent community banks nationwide with more than 15,000 locations that hold nearly $375 billion in insured deposits, $445 billion in assets, and more than $240 billion in loans for consumers, small businesses and farms in communities they serve. Its consumer hotline is (888) 500-5338.

For more information, please contact :
BITS -- Catherine Allen, (202) 289-4322
ECCHO -- David Walker, (866) 440-4709
IBAA -- Viveca Ware, (202) 659-8111
SVPCo -- Hank Farrar, (212) 612-9300

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November 13, 1998
Banks Create Common ECP Rules Through Agreement Between SVPCo & ECCHO: Demonstrates Solid Support for ECP Through Common Rules

(New York and Dallas, November 13, 1998) The Boards of Directors of the Small Value Payments Company L.L.C. (SVPCo) and the Electronic Check Clearing House Organization (ECCHO) have agreed to share a common set of rules governing ECP nationwide. This agreement is the first time ECCHO has licensed its rules to another national organization and represents a significant, cooperative industry effort between a national rules organization and a national provider of ECP services to accelerate the acceptance and implementation of ECP exchanges.

"Members and participants of SVPCo and ECCHO will be able to exchange ECP files across clearinghouse membership boundaries. Thus members and participants of both organizations will benefit from the elimination of silos of rules sets and coverage limited to members of the same clearinghouse", said David Walker, Executive Director, ECCHO. "By licensing these rules, SVPCo moves one step closer to achieving its objective to electronify the check and rapidly create critical mass on a nationwide basis", according to Hank Farrar, Senior Vice President, SVPCo.

Together, ECCHO and SVPCo will create a comprehensive set of rules including a core set of ECP rules with supplemental rules as necessary to support specific product offerings by SVPCo and to accommodate unique geographic requirements. These rules will initially include SVPCo's national net settlement and paper check exchange rules, as well as geographic-specific deadlines for ECP file exchanges, return deadlines, adjustments, etc.

The Small Value Payments Company was created earlier this year by twelve of the largest U.S. banks and the New York Clearing House to facilitate the first standardized nationwide electronic exchange of checks. ECCHO is a national clearinghouse owned by its member banks whose vision is the creation of value through the electronification of the paper check. ECCHO member banks hold approximately 80% of the deposits of the top 100 U.S. banks.

For more information about ECCHO, its check electronification vision or membership in ECCHO, please contact David Walker at (866) 440-4709.

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April 16, 1998
Fleet Expands ECCHO Presence to become Full Member

(DALLAS, April 16, 1998) ECCHO (Electronic Check Clearing House Organization) is pleased to welcome Fleet National Bank as its newest Full Member. "We look forward to Fleet's expanded involvement in ECCHO", says Mr. David Walker, ECCHO's Executive Director. "This upgrade in Fleet's membership from Associate Member to Full Member makes the organization eligible to participate in our Operations Committee and participate on the ECCHO Board of Directors."

According to Hayden Watson, Managing Director of Bank Operations for Fleet, the bank has made a significant commitment to ECP starting with its New York processing center that anticipates beginning ECP production as early as this month. "Also, additional exchanges outside of New York are planned for the near future," he says. "We believe the success of ECP exchanges across a large geographic area requires membership in ECCHO, a national clearinghouse."

ECCHO is also pleased to be renewing its relationship with Mr. Watson. "He provided significant leadership during ECCHO's first six years." Says Mr. Walker. "As a former director and past president of ECCHO, Mr. Watson was a member of the task force that created the ECCHO vision. In addition, he participated in the development of ECCHO's four short-term vision initiatives."

"Becoming a full member of ECCHO appealed to Fleet because of its proven ability to rapidly develop and implement the rules necessary for banks to achieve ECP financial benefits," says Mr. Watson. "Beyond its leadership as the national rules organization, ECCHO has also demonstrated additional value through its support of other organization's projects that complement ECP, such as the FSTC's E-Check project and the Check Truncation project of the Fed/Clearing House Association of the Southwest."

ECCHO is a not-for-profit national clearinghouse that is owned by its member banks. Formed in 1990, its primary objective is the development and promotion of electronic check presentment (ECP). ECCHO's membership includes more than 60 banks. Banks of all sizes may have access to ECCHO rules through the clearinghouse's tiered membership levels.

For more information, please contact David Walker at (866) 440-4709.

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April 15, 1998
ECCHO Appoints New Executive Director

(DALLAS, April 15, 1998) ECCHO (Electronic Check Clearing House Organization) is pleased to announce that David Walker has been appointed to the position of Executive Director. Previously, Mr. Walker served as ECCHO's Managing Director, a position he has held for the past eight years. As Executive Director, he will continue to promote the organization's vision, as well as manage the day-to-day operations.

"By naming Mr. Walker as the Executive Director, we are recognizing his long-term contribution to ECCHO's development, and his selection assures continuity in our activities and direction," says Michael Pasiecki, Chairman of ECCHO and senior vice president of Chase Manhattan Bank. "The value of Mr. Walker's years of experience in banking and data processing, coupled with his ECCHO involvement and broad participation in various industry forums, made him the obvious choice to lead ECCHO."

"I am excited to have the opportunity to directly participate in the sweeping changes being made to the banking industry resulting from the transition from paper checks to electronic transactions," says Mr. Walker. "ECCHO's next critical step is the broad implementation of Electronic Check Presentment (ECP) across our current membership roster and the extension of ECP's value to banks of all sizes."

The position of ECCHO's Executive Director was previously held by Denny Carreker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Carreker-Antinori, Inc., who resigned his position in February. Because of Mr. Carreker's extensive involvement in ECCHO's formation and growth, his knowledge and vision will continue to be tapped by serving as an advisor to ECCHO's executive committee on relationships with BITS (Banking Industry Technology Secretariat) and other industry groups.

ECCHO is a not-for-profit national clearinghouse that is owned by its member banks. Formed in 1990, its primary objective is the development and promotion of electronic check presentment (ECP). ECCHO's membership includes more than 60 banks. Banks of all sizes may have access to ECCHO rules through the clearinghouse's tiered membership levels.

For more information about ECCHO, its check electronification vision or membership in ECCHO, please contact David Walker at (866) 440-4709.

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