October 7, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

Melissa Baron, First Data, 402-222-6215, melissa.baron@firstdatacorp.com
Bob Lane, CUETS, 306-566-1772, lanero@cuets.ca

CUETS and First Data Announce

Card Issuing and Merchant Processing Agreements

First Data Technology Combines with CUETS to Enhance Point-of-Sale Services in Canada

Denver and Regina, Saskatchewan-October 7, 2002 - CU Electronic Transaction Services (CUETS) and First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) today announced they have entered into several agreements in which the companies have agreed to work together to provide advanced card issuing, merchant processing, and acquiring services to the Canadian financial services market. The relationship will broaden CUETS' ability to provide technical innovation, enhancements and high quality processing services for its issuing and acquiring credit union clients, as well as its direct merchant clients.

First Data will provide credit and off-line debit card processing services for CUETS' 500 credit union and other card issuing clients throughout Canada. First Data also has acquired equity interests in CUETS' merchant acquiring and merchant processing businesses and agreed to form an alliance which will assume responsibility for management, operations, risk and sales activities for the acquiring business. First Data will provide processing services to CUETS clients and for the alliance, including authorizations, merchant support, settlement and disputes.

"We chose First Data as a strategic partner because its advanced technology, industry expertise and economies of scale will support our continued commitment to technical innovation and high quality service delivery," said S.P. (Stan) Kuss, Chief Executive Officer of CUETS. "This partnership delivers a broader set of competitive capabilities for our credit union clients and more payment options for our merchant customers."

First Data and CUETS will work together to market services to credit unions, financial institutions and merchants. In addition, CUETS credit union clients will be better equipped to market services to new merchants and cardholders.

"This agreement reflects the collaborative strength of First Data in delivering the most advanced card and merchant processing solutions that enable market leaders like CUETS to retain their competitive edge while offering high quality, innovative services," said Pamela H. Patsley, president of First Data's international card and merchant processing operations.

About CUETS

With an employment base of 400 supporting a client list of 500 MasterCard affiliates (credit unions, caisses populaires, banks and other organizations), CUETS is emerging as a major player in Canada's card services marketplace. CUETS, now in its 21st year of operation, has grown steadily in recent years and now has annual revenues well over $100 million. As a result, CUETS ranks solidly among the Top 40 businesses in Saskatchewan by both revenue and growth rate. For more information, please visit CUETS' web site at www.cuets.ca.

About First Data Corp.

First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), with global headquarters in Denver, Colorado (USA), helps power the global economy. As a leader in electronic commerce and payment services, First Data serves approximately 2.8 million merchant locations, 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. With 29,000 employees worldwide, the company provides credit, debit, smart card and stored-value card issuing and merchant transaction processing services; Internet commerce solutions; money transfer services; money orders; and check processing and verification services throughout the United States. First Data also offers a variety of payment services in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, the Middle East and Germany. Its Western Union and Orlandi Valuta money transfer networks include a total of approximately 130,000 Agent locations in more than 190 countries and territories. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at www.firstdata.com.

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