DCS’ CardWizard Software Instantly Reissues Replacement Cards Affected by Heartland Data Breach

Englewood, Colo.-February 11, 2009.
Dynamic Card Solutions (DCS), the leading instant card issuance and PIN selection provider for financial institutions, today announced that its CardWizard® software is being used to instantly reissue debit cards that have been exposed by the massive breach at third-party merchant processor Heartland Payment Systems Inc.

United Heritage Credit Union, located in Austin, Texas and one of DCS’ financial institution customers that has been affected by the breach, is proactively contacting its members to give them the option of walking into a branch to instantly receive a new, active debit card via DCS’ CardWizard system. Or, the member may choose to have their card mailed to them – which takes approximately seven-10 business days

Of the 948 cards that have been reissued at United Heritage, 568 cards (roughly 60 percent) were instantly reissued to members at the branch via the CardWizard software. And, the credit union projects that more cards will be instantly reissued as additional members request their card immediately versus having to wait almost two weeks to receive and activate their new card through the mail.

“Data breaches are challenging for all parties involved, but because United Heritage has the capability to reissue cards instantly, we have experienced a very positive response from our members,” said Michael Ver Schuur, executive vice president and CFO of United Heritage. “Being able to instantly reissue cards provides unprecedented member service, increased security and tremendous cost savings. More importantly, instant issuance has given us the ability to ease many of our members’ concerns by securely reissuing them a replacement card right away, cutting back on the disruption to daily lifestyles many of these cardholders could otherwise experience.”

With large data breaches, many financial institutions are forced to rely on card processors to cancel and reissue cards to affected cardholders. Because so many providers can be backlogged with emergency orders, it can sometimes take up to a month or more for them to reissue and send cards.

However, financial institutions that have an instant card issuance program in place have complete control of the reissuing process. With the capability to instantly reissue cards, banks and credit unions not only eliminate the time it takes for cardholders to receive a replacement card, but they are also able to tremendously reduce costs associated with reissuance. Most importantly, the risk of losing customers and their business is reduced when a card can be reissued quickly. When large breaches happen, instant issuance enables financial institutions to reissue thousands of cards at a fraction of the price, as well as preserve customer relationships.

DCS’ component-based CardWizard software application can instantly or centrally reissue full personalized and compliant Visa® and MasterCard® products. With the ability to adapt to numerous interfaces, companies can combine CardWizard with a variety of card issuance machines and PIN pad devices to create flexible card issuance and reissuance environments to accommodate most user requirements.

For more information about DCS' instant issue technology, please visit www.instantissuance.com.

United Heritage Credit Union
United Heritage Credit Union began in 1957 as Military Federal Credit Union with only eight members and $40 in deposits. Today, the community-based credit union, serving Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, Hays, Caldwell, Smith and Wood counties, has grown to over 52,000 members and over $590 million in assets with 11 locations throughout Texas.