Paybefore 2011 Award Winners Named, Battle for Best-In-Category Begins!

It’s official and it is on! With a record number of submissions from across the globe, judges for the 5th Annual Paybefore Awards™ announced the first round of winners for 16 categories in what was reportedly the most intense competition in the awards’ history. But the real contest is only just beginning… Three to four winners within each category must now duke it out for the supreme distinction of “Best-In-Category,” to be awarded live before capacity crowds at the 2011 Prepaid Expo USA March 6th through 9th in Orlando, FL – the largest gathering of prepaid industry professionals in the world! The Paybefore Awards recognize exceptional achievements in the prepaid and stored value industry – and the pressure for “Best-In-Category” is mounting. According to Paybefore CEO Marilyn Bochicchio, the 2011 crop of candidates marked a milestone in quality. “This year’s entries showed exceptional creativity and thoughtfulness in using prepaid to solve real-world payment issues and provide outstanding convenience, safety and control for the individuals who use these products,” Bochicchio said. Prepaid Expo Program Director Hollie Goldman said the ferocity of this year’s competition augers well for the prepaid market, in general. “Every indicator I’ve seen suggests the prepaid industry is poised for dramatic growth. A meld of technological ingenuity and socio-cultural and economic trends has opened the door for innovative prepaid solutions in government and commercial sectors, both domestic and abroad,” said Goldman. “At a time of such tremendous progress,” Goldman added, “ is it any wonder that this year’s Paybefore winners have raised the bar? Take a look at the case studies; you’ll find some remarkable stories. We’re delighted to host this year’s awards, but I don’t envy the judges. The 2011 Best-In-Category competition is brutal.” In fact, the flood of outstanding nominations has prompted Paybefore to introduce two new “Judges’ Choice” awards: one recognizes an entrant that defies categorization, while the other represents an emerging break-through program. In addition to the Best-In-Category and Judge’s Choice Awards, Paybefore will also announce the winner/s of its prestigious Paybefore Industry Achievement award at the event. This honors the individual/s who’ve made the most significant contribution to the prepaid industry either within the past year and/or over the course of a career. For more information about IIR’s Prepaid Expo USA 2011 taking place March 6-9 in Orlando, FL or to register, please visit www.iirusa.com/prepaid For more information about Paybefore, please visit www.paybefore.com

2011 Paybefore Awards Winners Best Consumer-Funded Prepaid Program MyPlash Teen Card Plastic Cash International UpSide Visa Plastyc Inc. PASS from American Express American Express Best General Purpose Reloadable Program: In-Person Sales Channel Western Union MoneyWise Prepaid MasterCard Western Union H&R Block Emerald Prepaid MasterCard H&R Block H&R Block Bank Progreso Financiero Ventiva Visa Prepaid Card Progreso Financiero Best General Purpose Program: Online Sales Channel SmartyPig Cash Rewards Card SmartyPig AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card AccountNow PayPower Blackhawk Network Best Prepaid Program Media Advertising The Western Union MoneyWise Prepaid MasterCard Direct Response Television Campaign Western Union Acquirgy Moroch Visa Prepaid Debit Marketing Campaign Visa Inc. Community Financial Outreach Program MasterCard Worldwide Green Dot National Television Campaign Green Dot Corporation Best Prepaid Program Direct Marketing Prepaid Cards Sweeten Invitation to Shop at New and Remodeled Stores Walmart First Data AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card AccountNow The Bancorp Bank ICW Master Account Prepaid Program Itz Cash Card Ltd. Best Web Sales Channel The American Express Gift Card American Express GiftCards.com GiftCards.com LLC PayPal/MoneyPak Sweepstakes Green Dot Corporation PayPal Inc. Best Government-Funded Prepaid Program TranZtec Prepaid TruCa$h MasterCard DCR Strategies Inc./TruCa$h TranZtec ENERGY STAR Citi Prepaid Services Helgeson Enterprises Blackboard Pay Campus Card Program Blackboard Inc. Best Business-to-Consumer or -Employee Prepaid Program Auto Purchasing Program Reward and Program Referral Cards Zag.com InteliSpend Prepaid Solutions TotalPay and Money Network Check Program ADP Mocapay Partners with Wow Bao to Provide Mobile Experience Mocapay Best Corporate-Funded Prepaid Incentive, Reward, Rebate or Loyalty Program Plata Promociones NovoPayment Servitebca Mexico Subaru Foundations Subaru of America Inc. Carlson Marketing Home Depot’s B2B Incentive eGift Card Program The Home Depot CashStar Best Third-Party Prepaid Product Retailer CVS/pharmacy Green Dot Corporation Kroger One Stop Card Shop Holiday Mega Event Kroger Aktif38 Aktif Bank Best Gift Card Program Western Union Online Gift and Greeting Card Western Union  Walmart Gift Card: Save Money. Live Better. Go Global. Walmart First Data Vanilla Visa Gift Card InComm The American Express Gift Card American Express Best Prepaid Card Design MyPlash Plastic Cash International The American Express Bundled Gifting Solution American Express Gift It. Spend It! Ceridian Stored Value Solutions Best Virtual or Mobile Prepaid Application MetroPCS Virtual Prepaid MasterCard Net1 Virtual Credit Card Inc.  The Bancorp Bank U.S. Bank AccelaPay Mobile Banking Application U.S. Bank FIS ePayment Solutions Monitise Americas SWAGG Outlier Inc. Best Consumer Value in Prepaid Zoompass Mobile Wallet and Prepaid MasterCard Program Enstream LP SmartyPig Cash Rewards Card SmartyPig Walmart MoneyCard Walmart GE Money Green Dot Corporation Most Effective Prepaid Solution Tour Operator Program Convenient Cards Wal-Mart Associate Electronic Pay Program Wal-Mart Stores First Data Corp. TravelexOceanPay Prepaid Solutions Inc. Travelex Best Non-U.S.-Based Prepaid Program Grass Roots Prepaid Cards Grass Roots  FIS noQ24x7 Prepaid Card Program Itz Cash Card Ltd. Aktif38 City Card Aktif Bank Most Innovative Prepaid Program SWAGG Outlier Inc. Citi Flu Care Card Citi Prepaid Services MetroPCS Virtual Prepaid MasterCard Net1 Virtual Credit Card Inc.  FSV Payment Systems Inc. The Bancorp Bank

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