PayStream Advisors Releases Research on Consumer Payment Trends

Check Remittance Payments to Decline 25 Percent by 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 19 -- PayStream Advisors, Inc. announces the release of Embracing Flexibility: Payment Automation From a Consumer Perspective, a research report that shows how individuals' accelerating adoption of new electronic payment options is altering the consumer-to-business (C2B) remittance landscape. The report highlights the trends that are shaping consumers' payment preferences and presents best practices that corporate managers can follow to ensure that their payment strategies evolve with their customers' rapidly changing expectations.

According to Bill Gormley, Director, Research Services at PayStream Advisors, "Our research indicates that consumers' use of checks for non-point- of-sale payments will decline 6.6 percent annually over the next five years as alternate payment options -- particularly credit card, debit card, and ACH -- gain in popularity. This report is an excellent way for corporate billing, collections, marketing, and customer service managers to find out how they can optimize their organizations' consumer payment strategies in light of this trend."

Commenting for the sponsor of the report, James R. Fugitte, President and CEO of Fort Knox National Company added, "As a payment service provider dedicated to helping companies offer their customers a single-source electronic payment solution, we believe that this report hits the nail on the head. Our TruePay(TM) 5.0 solution is the only one I'm aware of that fully integrates consumer payment origination, remittance, reporting, and support. Companies can leverage it to achieve their specific payment-related goals and guarantee that they are providing the mix of payment options that their customers prefer."

PayStream Advisors periodically hosts free Web seminars to educate finance, IT, and e-commerce managers about how financial automation tools can be used to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance service. To find out how you can attend a complimentary Web seminar or private briefing about this report, call (704) 523-7357 extension 13 or visit www.paystreamadvisors.com and click on Corporate Services.

About PayStream Advisors, Inc.

PayStream Advisors is a technology research and consulting firm that improves the way organizations plan, evaluate, and select financial automation technologies to achieve their business objectives. PayStream Advisors assists clients in sorting through the growing complexities of IT applications related to financial automation with the goal of making objective, analytical, and actionable recommendations. Our clients include leading organizations in the financial services, information technology, utility, manufacturing, and public sectors. Wherever financial automation technology is an issue, PayStream Advisors is there to help. For more information, call (704) 523-7357 extension 13 or visit us on the Web at www.paystreamadvisors.com .

About Fort Knox National Company

Fort Knox National Company ( www.fortknoxnational.com ) processes nearly $20 billion in payments annually for over 700 U.S. companies, including some of the nation's top auto, consumer, and mortgage lenders. Fort Knox National Company's affiliates include Military Assistance Company ( www.macallotment.com ), the largest processor of automatic payroll deductions for U.S. military and federal civil service employees, and Fort Knox National Bank, the nation's 23rd largest ACH originating depository financial institution. For more information, contact Kelly Hilton, Communications Manager at (866) 872-7531 extension 2274 or khilton@fortknoxnational.com.