TSYS To Process Hewlett-Packard’s E-Commerce Sites in Real-time

Enables Online Shoppers to Gain Instant Credit

Columbus, Ga., July 20, 1999 — Total System Services, Inc.® (TSYS®) (NYSE: "TSS") today announced the signing of a multi-year agreement that will allow Hewlett-Packard’s (NYSE: "HWP") customers to apply for and receive instant approval for a line of credit to lease or purchase Hewlett-Packard computer-related merchandise via its Internet shopping village (www.hpshopping.com). The relationship with Hewlett-Packard is an electronic retail direct to consumer initiative. TSYS is the world’s largest retail processor of credit cards.

Based on the nature of the product offering and the market opportunities domestically, the addition of Hewlett-Packard is an important step towards expanding TSYS’ offerings in the e-commerce world. This arrangement provides credit account processing, facilities management services and remittance processing services to Hewlett-Packard’s domestic market. Through TSYS’ full suite of e-commerce products and services, branded as SureTransactSM, consumers will be able to apply for credit and receive real-time decisions in a matter of seconds allowing immediate purchasing over the Internet. In addition, consumers may also pay bills and receive customer service over the Internet.

TSYS President Philip W. Tomlinson said, "Hewlett-Packard is a world-class organization, and TSYS welcomes the opportunity to provide them with turnkey account processing and facilities management services. We look forward to helping Hewlett-Packard conduct commerce with its customers using our cutting-edge e-commerce products. This opportunity puts us one step closer to achieving the TSYS vision of being the global processor of choice for commerce."

"As the computing industry leader in customer satisfaction, Hewlett-Packard remains committed to providing customers with the very best service and support. We needed a way to offer our virtual mall shoppers a fast, easy and secure way to obtain credit - and then support them with a top-notch customer service team. We look forward to working closely with TSYS to meet the demands and expectations of our fast-growing electronic business community," said Bob Slaby, Hewlett-Packard’s e-commerce business manager.

TSYS is one of the world’s leading information technology processors of data, transactions and payments for domestic and international issuers of credit, debit, commercial and private-label cards. TSYS’ sophisticated systems offer online accounting, data processing, electronic commerce services, portfolio management, account acquisition, credit evaluation, risk management and customer service. Through our family of companies, TSYS services the entire lifecycle of card accounts and processes more than 192 million accounts, making it possible for an estimated 269 million cardholders to use their cards any time, anywhere. Headquartered in Columbus, Ga., TSYS (www.totalsystem.com) is an 80.8 percent owned subsidiary of Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE: "SNV") (www.synovus.com) named the Best Company to Work for in America by FORTUNE magazine.

Contacts:
 Danita Gibson-Lloyd
Corporate Communications Manager
ph. (706) 649-5578
dglloyd@totalsystem.com