MINNEAPOLIS, Jan 07, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- U.S. Bank, the nation's top issuer of Visa(R) prepaid cards,
was honored with a prestigious OSCARD award for its ReliaCard(R)
Visa. The OSCARDS recognize international excellence in card innovation.
The annual awards program is organized by Publi-News, a French publisher
specializing in banking publications, and Altenor, an international
consulting firm specializing in the payments industry.
The U.S. Bank ReliaCard Visa was selected as the winner in the Services
category. Overall, more than 500 cards were in competition for the 2009
OSCARDS.
"We currently partner with almost 30 government agencies to issue nearly
two million ReliaCards as a solution for their disbursement needs," said
Ralph Bianco, U.S. Bank senior vice president of Retail Payment
Solutions. "This honor reinforces our focus on innovation in the prepaid
sector while also recognizing our commitment to providing a more
economical way for government agencies to disburse funds to recipients
and for people to receive and use their government benefits."
The U.S. Bank ReliaCard Visa is a reloadable card designed to replace
costly paper checks for government agencies with recurring cash and
check disbursement activities, such as child support or unemployment
insurance. Cards are issued through a partnership with state agencies,
and cardholders can use the cards everywhere Visa debit cards are
accepted worldwide. Visit www.usbank.com/reliacardvisa
for details.
U.S. Bank Retail Payment Solutions (RPS) is one of the nation's leading
providers of payment processing, issuing and advisory services. RPS
offers credit, debit, and prepaid payment solutions to consumers and
small businesses through U.S. Bank and in partnership with financial
institutions, businesses, governments and employers.
U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with $265 billion in assets as of September
30, 2009, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the 6th largest commercial
bank in the United States. The company operates 3,002 banking offices in
25 states and 5,170 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking,
brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services
products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp
on the web at usbank.com.
SOURCE: U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank Media Relations
Teri Charest, 612-303-0732
teri.charest@usbank.com
