BROOKFIELD, Wis., Sep 25, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Fiserv, Inc. (Nasdaq:FISV) has extended its Fiserv Clearing Network (FCN) in the Southeast United States through the recent signing of First National Banker's Bank (FNBB) in Baton Rouge, La., as a settlement partner.

In order to clear checks, financial institutions must find a way to settle accounts, a service that's typically handled through a correspondent relationship or through the Federal Reserve. By using the FCN, financial institutions can improve efficiency and reduce check-clearing costs. In addition, the FCN paves the way for exchanging check images as that technology gains in popularity.

The agreement with FNBB adds a key market as Fiserv builds a nationwide network for clearing and settling checks, according to Mark Damico, president of the Fiserv Item Processing Group.

"Financial institutions are eager to find other efficient options for clearing checks," Damico said. "This agreement with FNBB will provide clients with some distinct advantages, including the ability to reduce costs, to gain efficiencies and to be prepared for the day when widespread image exchange is a reality."

"We are pleased to be a settlement partner with the Fiserv Clearing Network," said Joey Quinlan, president and CEO of First National Banker's Bank. "FNBB has always been dedicated to helping community bankers compete by streamlining operations and improving management services. The FCN solution is another check clearing option that affords community banks enhanced operational efficiencies while allowing them to maintain their correspondent settlement relationship with Banker's Bank."

The Fiserv Clearing Network is a clearing and settlement utility designed to reduce costs and create significant efficiencies for its member financial institutions. Any financial institution can be a member of the Fiserv Clearing Network, though the utility is aimed primarily at the more than 7,000 banks, thrifts and credit unions that receive core or item processing services from Fiserv. More than 350 financial institutions already utilize FCN to clear their items.

The Fiserv Clearing Network also is Fiserv's platform for the rapidly evolving world of image exchange between Fiserv Clearing Network member banks or with outside networks such as Viewpointe Archive Services LLC. The Fiserv Clearing Network has settlement partners serving clients throughout United States.

About First National Banker's Bank

First National Banker's Bank, the first nationally chartered banker's bank in the country, officially opened for business on July 2, 1984. FNBB offers an extensive suite of correspondent banking products and services, including lending, investments, cash management/clearings, ACH, international, credit cards, compliance, audit and other specialized services. With affiliates in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, FNBB enjoys relationships with more than 300 community banks throughout the Southeast. More information about First National Banker's Bank can be found at www.bankers-bank.com.

About Fiserv Item Processing

Fiserv is North America's largest third-party check processing provider, annually handling more than 4 billion checks for more than 1,600 clients worldwide. The company's Information Technology, Inc. (ITI) and Fiserv Imagesoft units provide image-based check processing software used by more than 1,000 additional financial institutions to process checks in-house. Fiserv operates more than 50 check-processing centers across the U.S., another 6 in Australia and a U.S. image archive that adds more than 7 million check images each day.

About Fiserv Inc.

Fiserv Inc. (Nasdaq:FISV), a Fortune 500 company, provides information management systems and services to the financial and health benefits industries. Leading services include transaction processing, outsourcing, business process outsourcing, software and systems solutions. The company serves more than 17,000 clients worldwide and is the leading provider of core processing solutions for U.S. banks, credit unions and thrifts. Fiserv was ranked the largest provider of information technology services to the financial services industry worldwide in the 2005 and 2004 FinTech 100 surveys. Fiserv Health provides health plan management, pharmacy benefits management, and BPO services to the managed care market and self-funded commercial and government employers and health plans. Headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., Fiserv reported more than $4 billion in total revenue for 2005. For more information, please visit www.fiserv.com.

SOURCE: Fiserv, Inc.

Fiserv, Inc.
Mike Muckian, 262-879-5667

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