FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Date:           September 4, 2007

Contact:       Greggory S. Blundell

Phone:         908-707-1121

E-mail:         gblundell@pelorus-group.com

www.pelorus-group.comate:           September 4, 2007            

OPEN vs. CLOSED LOOP STORED VALUE:
RATCHETING UP THE COMPETITION

Raritan, NJ – On December 11 & 12, 2007, Vance Hodnett and The PELORUS Group will host their seventh stored value conference dedicated to assessing future directions and revenue potentials associated with the stored value phenomenon.  New stored value initiatives are reshaping our industry’s landscape, dramatically changing the manner by which financial institutions, retailers, and credit and debit card issuers approach the payments process.  This year’s event will focus on the choices consumers are making, and what factors are influencing the selection of open loop vs. closed loop stored value solutions.

Entitled “Open vs. Closed Loop Stored Value: Ratcheting Up The Competition”, this exclusive conference will convene at the world-renowned Hilton Savannah DeSoto, Savannah, GA.  Leading organizations from across market segments will be joining The PELORUS Group and an unprecedented array of industry luminaries for the longest running dedicated stored value event that is wholly independent and unbiased.  Topics slated for discussion include:

·        What are the results of The PELORUS Group's latest research into consumer adoption rates of open loop vs. closed loop stored value solutions?

·        How will the strategies of the largest brands shift over the next 24 months?

·        What are the benefits of open loop stored value cards compared to closed loop solutions, cash, checks, and other paper-based systems?

·        What are the impacts of open loop stored value cards vs. closed loop solutions on retailers, the financial industry, and companies that currently serve the unbanked and credit challenged?

·        What are the emerging multi-modal and multi-value payment cards?

·        Does the outlook for high debit card growth rates continue to be favorable?  What might get in the way of or change recent rates of usage?

·        What will be the relative growth rates of debit vs. prepaid debit cards over the next 5 years?

·        Will changes in Regulation E, effective July 2007, lessen the uncertainty and increase growth rates of payroll cards?

·        Which market segments of prepaid cards will have the highest and second highest growth over the next few years?

·        Will prepaid cards become more and more mainstream, with under-banked and unbanked users comprising a smaller percentage of the market over the next few years?

·        How do the key demographics break out, and what are the criteria and motivations that govern each?

·        What are the business applications of the different open and closed loop stored value offerings as we head into 2008, and how are they likely to change?  Which segments are realizing the most significant implementations?  What are the cost savings and promotional and customer loyalty opportunities empowered by stored value?

·        What impact will stored value have on the overall credit card industry?  How will banking institutions be affected?  Retail organizations?  What are the costs associated with credit cards vs. stored value cards?  What is the risk, and why?

·        What are the long-term ramifications of stored value to retailers, prepaid telecom vendors, the financial industry, and companies that currently serve the unbanked and credit challenged?

·        What are the associated costs of credit cards vs. debit cards for merchants and consumers?  What about customer loyalty, gift cards, and convenience cards?  What are the specific features and benefits that are leading people to use stored value programs in such large numbers?

·        In which consumer market segments are open loop stored value solutions registering their greatest penetration, and why?  How is that likely to change over the next critical 24 months?

·        How do the various demographics stack up in terms of product acceptance?  What are the criteria and motivations that govern each segment?

·        What are the perceived vs. real benefits of open loop stored value solutions compared to closed loop?

·        How do the various open and closed loop stored value offerings compare to one another?  What about track record, experience, the ability to marry product to demographic?  Who is leading the way, and how?  How do these companies measure up against traditional debit/credit card benchmarks?

·        What is happening on the technology, standards, and regulatory fronts?

·        What does The PELORUS Group foresee happening over the next five years for the different stored value and prepaid market segments and for both the entrenched and emerging competitors now vying for greater market share?  Market growth and drivers… issues … trends and forecasts… all fused together into one cohesive and understandable whole with The PELORUS Group’s compelling brand of insight!

This conference has been structured to provide the most intensive information flow possible:  sessions helping to clarify and promote strategies that reflect new market dynamics and demand; sessions that seek to clearly define the benefits - and drawbacks - of stored value campaigns; compelling presentations whose goal is to elicit cogent insight into where the emerging opportunities will develop, and much, much more.

If stored value and prepaid are important to the future of your organization… if you’re looking for straight answers without the hype, reserve your seat today.  Join The PELORUS Group and a global audience for this special, unbiased event.  The cost is $1,495 per registration.  However, if you register and we receive payment prior to November 15, 2007, you can benefit from a $200 discount per delegate.  Additional discounts for multiple registrations are available.  Most major credit cards are accepted.