Payment Data Systems and Secure Cash Network Begin Distribution of Pronto Banco(TM) to Celluphone Retailers Nationwide
September 15 2004 - 8:01AM
PR Newswire (US)
Payment Data Systems and Secure Cash Network Begin Distribution of
Pronto Banco(TM) to Celluphone Retailers Nationwide Alliance
Extends Reach of Bill Payment Services for Debit Cards SAN ANTONIO,
Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Payment Data Systems, Inc.
(OTC:PYDS) (BULLETIN BOARD: PYDS) today announces, along with
alliance partner Secure Cash Network, Inc., and Celluphone,
"America's Premier Master Agent," to the wireless industry, the
availability of Pronto Banco(TM), the first card to utilize Payment
Data Systems' new bill payment service for debit cards.
Celluphone's innovative EPINs(SM) system, which is now in over
1,500 retail locations, allows wireless retailers to purchase
prepaid airtime over the phone or online, at the moment the
customer is ready to pay for it. In keeping with the Pronto Banco
market focus, many of the retailers using EPINs target cash-based
unbanked customers. The Pronto Banco(TM) Twin Card Packet is an
ATM/debit card system that allows the consumer to send one of two
cards to a friend or relative in another country providing access
to funds from either card. Another value- added feature in the
Pronto Banco(TM) packet is a prepaid Estafeta envelope allowing the
primary cardholder the option of sending the second card to Mexico.
Estafeta, Inc. is Mexico's leading and most reliable express
shipping company with complete coverage of the Mexican territory.
Consumers can use either card to access money via ATMs, or shop at
millions of POS retail locations worldwide. Bill payment is being
initially delivered with a pay by phone capability. The next major
functional enhancement will be the ability to pay bills at the
counter of Internet-enabled convenience stores. This functionality
will be available to stores within the next two months. Nearly 35
million Hispanics reside in the United States. Hispanics are the
fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. It is estimated
that approximately 50% of Hispanics are unbanked and regularly send
money home. In 2003, nearly $23 Billion dollars were sent from the
U.S. to Mexico, Central & South America. Sending funds using
traditional methods like Western Union and Moneygram typically
result in charges equal to or over 10% of the amount sent. Pronto
Banco(TM) is normally half the price and is expected to drive
significant sales, profits and store traffic for Celluphone retail
partners. "We are pleased Payment Data Systems has joined us to
provide bill payment functionality to our Pronto Banco(TM)
product," said Greg Bloh, President and CEO of Secure Cash Network,
Inc. "Delivering our total financial solution to the unbanked
through Celluphone retail locations is very exciting and is
consistent with our mission to serve the needs of this growing
consumer market." "The addition of Pronto Banco(TM)'s bill payment
service allows us to continue to expand the products we offer
independent retailers who are constantly looking for additional
revenue streams," added Mike Mohr, President of Celluphone. "We are
very enthusiastic about this expanded distribution of the bill
payment service for debit cards," said Louis Hoch, President and
COO of Payment Data Systems, Inc. "Given the reach and reputation
of Celluphone and the fact that many of the Celluphone retailers
cater to unbanked customers, we believe the Pronto Banco(TM) with
bill pay is ideally matched with our market focus for this
product." About Celluphone Founded in 1983, Celluphone was
appointed the first Authorized Agent for Verizon Wireless (then
AT&T AMPS) thirteen months before cellular service was even
launched in the Los Angeles area. Since then, they've grown to
become one of the largest wireless distributors in the country.
Since its inception, Celluphone has recognized that retail dealers
would be a crucial force in the wireless industry. With this in
mind, their sole focus has been to provide support for independent
dealers in every aspect of their wireless business. Celluphone
offers dedicated field support, efficient activations, competitive
commissions, and the broadest selection of handsets and accessories
available. In addition, their Prepaid Program addresses an entirely
different category of customer -- providing immediate up-front
profits and on-going income through additional airtime sales.
Through their offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco,
Sacramento, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Chicago, Wisconsin and
St. Louis, they currently support more than 3,000 active dealers.
Celluphone's proven success in this industry has made it "America's
Premier Master Agent" -- their broad range of sales, service, and
support programs give their dealers a decided edge in this unique,
competitive marketplace. For additional information, visit
http://www.celluphone.com/ or contact Adam Waugh, Marketing
Director, at (323) 727-9131. About Secure Cash Network, Inc. Secure
Cash Network, Inc. (SCN) is a Consumer Products and Financial
Services company specializing in Stored-Value ATM/Debit products
for unbanked consumers. SCN offers several prepaid card products
including Secure Cash Payday(TM) (Payroll Card), Pronto Banco(TM)
and Paga Rapido(TM). These products are made available to consumers
direct through employers and merchant locations throughout the
United States. For additional information visit
http://www.securecashnetwork.com/ or contact Mr. Tony Muscarello,
Secure Cash Network, Executive Vice President (281) 419-6950 x205.
About Payment Data Systems, Inc. Payment Data Systems, Inc. is an
Integrated Payments Solution Provider delivering comprehensive,
cost-effective solutions to billers and retailers for the
processing and management of electronic payments via the Internet,
point of sale, or payments taken by Customer Service
Representatives or an Interactive Voice Response (IVR). Additional
products available from PDS include services and products that can
be implemented more quickly and less expensively than the
alternative of adding multiple payments companies as these
solutions offer a full range of payment processing capabilities.
These service offerings include: one time and recurring ACH debits
and credits, electronic lockbox and returned check services, Web
pay acceptance of credit cards and checks, telephone pay to
Customer Service Representatives for acceptance of credit cards and
checks, Interactive Voice Response systems which completely
automate the payment receiving process, and data warehousing that
enable the storage and retrieval of all payment history from one
location. Payment Data is the owner of the electronic bill payment
portal, http://www.bills.com/ . Bills.com has the ability to
transmit electronic payments to thousands of national billers. For
additional information, visit http://www.paymentdata.com/ .
Investor information can be found at: http://www.otcfn.com/pyds .
Contact: Geoffrey Eiten, Investor Relations, OTC Financial Network,
(781) 444-6100 ext. 613. With the exception of historical
information contained in this release, this release includes
forward-looking statements made under the "Safe Harbor" provisions
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements. DATASOURCE: Payment Data Systems, Inc. CONTACT: Adam
Waugh, Marketing Director of Celluphone, +1-323-727-9131; or Tony
Muscarello, Executive Vice President of Secure Cash Network, Inc.,
+1-281-419-6950, ext. 205; or Geoffrey Eiten, Investor Relations of
OTC Financial Network, +1-781-444-6100, ext. 613, for Payment Data
Systems, Inc. Web site: http://www.paymentdata.com/
http://www.otcfn.com/pyds http://www.celluphone.com/
http://www.securecashnetwork.com/ http://www.bills.com/
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