Barclaycard signs exclusive card processing and acquiring deal with American Express

This innovative service will commence in Kenya on May 1, 2005 and consequently rolled out to eight countries within three months. In addition to Kenya, this agreement includes Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. This partnership will provide Barclaycard Merchant Services with a sustainable competitive advantage as no other bank will be allowed to offer this exclusive service. Merchant customers will also benefit from: - A single acquiring relationship that will offer services with major card schemes including American Express, - Full local customer market servicing and support available by calling a local phone number, - 24 hour card authorisations locally from Barclaycard, - Potential to improve their target customer base to include inbound American Express corporate and consumer Cardmembers The terms and conditions of this partnership involve the acquisition and management of merchant customer relationships. Barclaycard will not issue American Express Cards in any of the nine countries covered under this deal. This deal is part of the ongoing commitment from Barclaycard to improve services in the Kenyan Card Centre that has been streamlined to act as a regional processing centre. American Express will continue to maintain a visible presence in Kenya through Express Travel, the local American Express Travel Office that has been the face of the company in Kenya for 40 years. Express Travel will continue to service the needs of American Express Cardmembers and other travellers.