Battle Against Identity Theft and Fraud Stepped Up: Loss Avoidance Alert System Expands Coverage to 12 States

Dallas, TX March 14, 2004--Mid-America Payment Exchange (MPX), a regional association serving over 2,000 members, has joined in the fight against financial crime by participating in the Loss Avoidance Alert SystemTM. The Loss Avoidance Alert System is a web-based network created with the sole purpose of eliminating fraud and identity theft. Alerts of illegal action provide a valuable exchange of information to member financial institutions and law enforcement agencies.
   
Founding partners of the Loss Avoidance Alert System are SWACHA-The Electronic Payments Resource, Texas Credit Union League (TCUL), Texas Savings and Community Bankers Association (TSCBA), the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), and the Community Bankers Association of Oklahoma (CBAO), through their alliance with IBAT.
         
With the addition of MPX, the Loss Avoidance Alert System now serves eleven states: Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Indiana, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa and Kentucky.
   
Ann-Marie Bartels, President and CEO of MPX, said, "We are excited about this unique partnership to offer the Loss Avoidance Alert System to our members. This is a new MPX member benefit which will enhance a financial institution's ability to monitor fraud and other suspicious activities, which hopefully will aid our members in limiting their losses. MPX is pleased to be offering this service at no additional cost to our members.
         
IBAT President/CEO Christopher Williston said, "Identity theft and fraud touches everyone. Bringing together financial institutions for this common effort will provide a virtual blanket of information to share with one another and for law enforcement."

"We are excited to be a part of this comprehensive initiative," added Eric Sandberg, President and CEO of the savings association.
   
Richard Ensweiler, President and CEO of the Texas Credit Union League said the movement makes sense for the financial community. "We all want to put an end to financial crime. Together, we hope to do that."
   
The day-to-day management of the project is handled by SWACHA, which began the Loss Avoidance Alert System more than a decade ago. SWACHA President and CEO Dennis Simmons said, "The expansion of the system to financial institutions across the Midwest will provide an even greater regional network for law enforcement and our respective members." SWACHA already maintains a working relationship with over 360 crime prevention agencies, including municipal, county, state and federal agencies, which work on a continuing education program with the association.

SWACHA – The Electronic Payments ResourceTM, a not-for-profit organization serving over 1,000 members across the Southwest, is the resource of choice in providing education, training, representation, and knowledge regarding electronic payments and payments system risks. We are dedicated to anticipating and meeting the needs of our constituents – which include financial service companies. As part of the NACHA family, SWACHA is an official source for the ACH Operating Rules and represents its members in national issues and the rule-making process. Visit www.swacha.org.

Mid-America Payment Exchange is a not-for-profit regional association responsible for providing payment systems information, support and leadership regarding the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network, financial electronic data interchange, Internet commerce and emerging electronic payment applications. Founded by the financial community in 1974, today MPX serves over 2,000 financial institution and corporate members throughout Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Southern Illinois, Southwestern Iowa and Western Kentucky. Visit www.mpx.org.

The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), based in Austin, Texas, provides service provider packages for member banks of IBAT. IBAT performs thorough due diligence on each service provider and this information, gathered during the due diligence process, is shared with IBAT member banks upon request. For more information, please visit the association at http://www.ibat.org.

The Texas Credit Union League represents more than 600 of the state's credit unions – which in turn are owned by nearly 6.8 million consumers. Credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives providing affordable financial services to people from all walks of life. Visit TCUL's web site at www.tcul.coop.

TSCBA-Texas Savings and Community Bankers Association has represented the thrift industry in Texas since 1922. It also represents thrift industry members from New Mexico. The combined membership of TSCBA represents over $40 billion in depositor's money and $60 billion in industry assets.





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