S1 Corporation And DotsConnect Announce Strategic Alliance

Extended relationship is designed to help institutions reduce call center volumes and improve customer service

ATLANTA, Ga. and COLUMBUS, Ga. – February April 5, 2000 – S1 Corporation (NASDAQ: SONE), a leading provider of Internet-based financial services solutions, and DotsConnectSM, an e-payments solution provider, announced today that the companies have formed a strategic alliance in which S1 will integrate the DotsConnect digital account management services into the S1 Consumer Banking application, enabling S1 customers to reduce call center volumes and enhance customer service. With this agreement, DotsConnect, a wholly owned subsidiary of Total System Services, Inc.® (TSYS®) (NYSE: "TSS"), will expand its distribution channel to reach S1’s customers, who represent 35 of the top 100 financial institutions in the United States. The new services are scheduled to be available to S1 customers in 3Q00.The S1 Consumer Suite is composed of the following integrated applications: S1 Consumer Banking, S1 Consumer Investments, S1 Relationship Management, S1 Consumer Insurance, S1 Bill Presentment and S1 Customer Care.

In keeping with its commitment to work with best-in-class providers to enhance its applications, S1 will work with DotsConnect to enable its customers to offer advanced, online self-service options, such as requesting additional cards or convenience checks, activating new cards, disputing transactions, or changing addresses. In addition, joint DotsConnect and S1 customers will have online access to view or download real-time account data processed by TSYS, which includes Visa, MasterCard, and private-label transactions and specific account information, such as last payment received and finance charges. Ultimately, as users become more self-sufficient, call center volumes will decrease and customer service representatives can be more responsive to the individual user’s needs. In a recent study conducted by Dove Consulting in conjunction with S1, 86 percent of online users said that they would find performing account maintenance online useful.

"As the delivery of competitive online financial services becomes more strategic for many of our customers, so do the challenges of maintaining a high level of customer service," said Charles W. Ogilvie, general manager of S1 Corporation. "Our long-standing relationship with TSYS, and now DotsConnect, has consistently enabled us to create competitive advantages for our customers. By incorporating DotsConnect’s powerful online capabilities into the S1 Consumer Banking application, we are able to further execute on our vision to empower our customers to improve their customers’ world."

According to Gaylon Jowers, president and CEO of DotsConnect, "Our alliance with S1 allows DotsConnect to leverage the strength of our real-time online card applications to other online banking applications. It further demonstrates our commitment to working with leading Internet enabling vendors who empower consumers with the best possible e-commerce products, and it provides both companies with the quality, resources and connectivity needed to win in the Internet age."

Launched in 1998, TSYS’ full suite of e-commerce products and services, now DotsConnect, enables a number of financial institutions and retailers to focus on mass commerce opportunities provided by the Web. More specifically, it allows financial companies to provide consumers with an unprecedented array of card services over the Internet and retailers the ability to market their branded products to their consumers. TSYS was the first processor to offer a real-time Internet, credit-decisioning tool with the launch of its online application decision product in December 1998.

DotsConnect’s e-commerce products offer:

  • First-rate online customer service
  • Real-time credit evaluation online
  • Online bill presentment and payment
  • Online payment information
  • Access to real-time information online

About DotsConnect

DotsConnect is an e-payments company that facilitates commerce between buyers and sellers via the Internet by providing software and processing for online credit application, customer service and fulfillment processes for financial services companies and e-businesses. DotsConnect offers a single e-commerce solution that includes online credit application, scoring, decisions and customer service - all in real time.

With DotsConnect, e-businesses are given a competitive advantage for attracting and retaining customers by providing them the ability to apply, receive and manage their credit accounts in real time via the Internet. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Total System Services, Inc. (www.totalsystem.com), one of the world’s leading paperless commerce solutions providers for credit, debit, retail, commercial and stored value, DotsConnect is continuing a quarter century of innovation by providing tailored, secure, and reliable payment solutions that allow clients to serve more than 1.3 million companies and more than 300 million consumers.

About S1 Corporation

S1 (Nasdaq:SONE), the pioneer of Internet banking, is today’s leading global provider of innovative Internet-based financial services solutions. S1 offers a broad range of applications that empower financial organizations to increase revenue, strengthen customer relationships and gain competitive advantage by meeting the evolving needs of their customers across various lines of business, market segments and delivery channels. Through its professional services organization, S1’s applications can be implemented in-house or outsourced to the S1 Data Center. Additional information about S1 is available at http://www.s1.com.

Contacts:
Danita Gibson-Lloyd
Total System Services, Inc.
ph. (706) 649-5578
dglloyd@totalsystem.com

Tracey Frederickson
Sterling Hager, Inc.
ph. 617-926-6665
tfrederickson@sterlinghager.com