FIRST DATA INTERNATIONAL STUDY REVEALS GROWING POPULARITY OF PAYMENT CARDS IN LATVIA

Riga, 24 April 2006: First Data International, a leader in electronic commerce and payment services around the world, today announced the 2006 findings from its annual study of card usage in Latvia.

The study, which was carried out on behalf of First Data by the Market and Public Opinion Research Centre SKDS, reveals that the number of card holders in Latvia who use cards to pay for their everyday purchases has grown by 12% over the past year. Payment cards are used by 57% of Latvian aged between 15 and 74 years and 31% of survey respondents are using their cards more often than a year ago.

Zanda Brivule, managing director of First Data International’s operations in Latvia, commented: “These results are very encouraging because along with rapid growth in the number of cards in our country, we are seeing growth in the frequency of card use. More and more people trust payment cards as a safe and convenient means of payment. With our client banks, First Data is taking an active role in explaining the possibilities of the chip card, both as a safe plastic wallet and as a carrier of information in the modern age.”

1064 respondents, between 15 and 74-years-old, participated in the survey, from across all geographical regions and socio-demographic groups in the country. The findings include:

Cardholding

- Payment cards are today used by 57% of Latvians aged between 15 and 74 years.

- There has been a 5% increase in banking clients over 2005. Today, 64% of Latvian people between 15 and 74 years old are banking clients and 92% of them have at least one valid card.

- The most active group of cardholders is between 25 and 34-years- old, with a higher level of education. Many are company managers and residents of the country’s capital, Riga.

- Over the year, the number of respondents who have become card users simply in order to receive their wages has fallen (from 65% to 58%), while the number of respondents who have actively chosen to hold a card has grown (from 9% to 16%).

Card usage

- 96% of card holders use payment cards to withdraw cash at ATMs

- 17% use cards to pay bills at ATMs.

- Only 7% use their cards to make bookings and place orders online .

- Compared to 2005, card usage for everyday and larger purchases has grown - from 70% to 82% for everyday purchases and from 32% to 55% for larger purchases.

- Although respondents still use cash more often than cards for various everyday purchases, this number has fallen, from 45% to 38%, compared to 2005.

- 29% of card holders use their payment cards wherever and whenever possible.

- 30% of respondents rarely or never use cards to make payments

- Over the last year, the frequency of payment card use has grown. Although a majority (53%) of card users state that they are using their cards as often as a year ago, 31% are using their cards more often and only 7% less often.

- 12 % of card users expect to use their cards more often over the next year; only 2% expect to use them less often.

Card types

- Debit is the most popular type of payment card in Latvia: 84% of card users have a debit card, while 24% of survey respondents have a credit card.

“The results of our 2006 survey suggest strongly that card usage will further increase over the coming year in Latvia, while the habit of going to an ATM to withdraw all available cash on pay-day will diminish” said Brivule. “This trend will enhance the transparency of payments and money flows in the country and daily use of bank services. It will bring our country closer to the most technologically developed countries of the world, where cash usage for everyday payments and cash accruals at home are in rapid decline.”

About First Data International

First Data International, part of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), is a leading provider of electronic commerce and payment solutions for financial institutions and merchants around the world. First Data International serves a diverse range of markets, leveraging global scale through a local presence and maintaining focus on individual client needs. It has more than 5,800 employees and operates across Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, Canada, Australia, Asia-pacific.

First Data serves 4.6 million merchant locations, 1,500 card issuers and millions of consumers, First Data powers the global economy by making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses around the world to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. The company’s portfolio of services and solutions includes credit, debit, private-label, smart and stored-value card issuing and merchant transaction processing services; money transfer services; money orders; fraud protection and authentication solutions; check guarantee and verification services through TeleCheck; as well as Internet commerce and mobile solutions. Western Union, together with Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, make up one of the world's largest money transfer networks with more than 271,000 Agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.firstdata.com .