CTU Conister Tst

RNS Number:3132P
Conister Trust PLC
10 January 2007


Conister Trust PLC

10 January 2007


Conister announces the launch of two new strategic initiatives


Conister Trust PLC (AIM:CTU), an independent Bank based in the Isle of Man today
announces the launch of a new business division, TransBank, to issue prepaid
cards globally and a ground breaking Mobile-commerce initiative in partnership
with BSG Clearing Solutions (BSG), a subsidiary of Billing Services Group
Limited (AIM:BILL), a clearing and settlement provider for the telecom industry.

Launch of new business division TransBank to issue prepaid cards


The directors of Conister Trust are pleased to announce the launch of a new
business division, TransBank, for issuing 'white-labelled' prepaid cards. This
is in line with Conister's strategy of progressively repositioning itself to
focus on a number of E-commerce banking opportunities as referred to in the last
Interim Statement.

Prepaid cards are forecast to be one of Europe's fastest-growing markets, based
on September 2006 projections by market research firm PSE Consulting. "Between
now and 2010, the European market for such cards is expected to more than double
each year with 360 million prepaid cards in issue and where this market alone is
projected to involve transactions worth Euro75 billion annually." These figures
come in the wake of prepaid cards already having created a tremendous success
story in the US, Australia and Italy.

In the USA, the smaller, independent banks have captured the majority of the
growth of the prepaid card market and that experience is anticipated to be
mirrored in Europe. Conister has positioned itself to take advantage of these
opportunities. Conister is already a member of the MasterCardTM network and
expects to have Visa membership in early 2007. Prepaid cards issued by TransBank
will be 'network-branded, open-loop', offering the broadest spectrum of
functionality available to the industry today.

TransBank prepaid cards will enable customers to:-

   * buy and pay for goods in any shop that accepts MasterCardTM
   * withdraw cash at any ATM that accepts MasterCardTM
   * check the account status and recent transactions online
   * electronically transfer money to another TransBank card anywhere in the
     world
   * make mobile phone top-ups
   * hold a card in one of 3 major currencies - # or US$ or Euro
   * reload the prepaid card's balance by paying in cash at various local
     outlets

TransBank will be issuing cards branded for partners that have significant
distribution channels and the first prepaid cards issue is expected to be
launched in late January 2007.

Another large market for prepaid cards is the growing sector of migrant workers
- 190 million globally (Source: US Department of State), most of whom are
excluded from conventional banking services. One of the clients TransBank is
partnering with is a World Bank sponsored initiative to develop global migrant
workers cooperatives.

The expansion into the prepaid card market is an international addition to the
existing business of the Company as Conister Trust continues to serve the Isle
of Man community with financial services. As one of the world's leading
E-commerce locations, Conister views the Isle of Man as the ideal base for
turning TransBank into a globally recognised issuer of prepaid cards


Conister Trust PLC and Billing Services Group in ground breaking Mobile-commerce
initiative

Conister Trust and Billing Services Group have entered into a partnership to
jointly trial and market a solution for mobile operators to provide customers
with prepaid accounts which will allow them to spend and transfer money using a
debit card, a mobile phone or the Internet. The service will be especially
suitable to those mobile phone users with needs outside the scope of the retail
banking sector, such as parents transferring spending money to their children,
without the risks associated with cash or credit cards or migrant workers who
send funds "home" on a regular basis. Latest estimates are that migrant workers
repatriate $300bn funds annually (Source: World Bank).

Conister, through its TransBank division, will manage banking services including
debit card issue and regulatory affairs. Billing Services Group will manage the
transaction processing in addition to the financial clearing and settlement
between mobile operators and retailers.

"The partnership with Billing Services Group marks a new stage in Conister's
business development. It allows us to claim a place at the forefront of the
market for prepaid Mobile-commerce accounts", commented Jerry Linehan, CEO of
Conister. "We will be able to address the prepaid card market and in particular
the needs of migrant workers through mobile operators, harnessing their
technology and high brand value to provide a very competitive offer."

"A key business goal for the mobile sector is to increase the proportion of
revenue earned from data services, including mobile commerce," commented Randall
Brouckman, Chief Executive Officer of Billing Services Group. "This service will
provide operators with a single, simple entry point into that mobile commerce
market."

Jerry Linehan commented further, "The key strengths of this partnership are
Conister's know-how from 70 years in the banking industry and Billing Services
Group's technical capability and strong customer relationships among mobile
operators."


About Conister Trust PLC

Conister is a Licensed Deposit taker and Regulated Bank that has provided
personal finance in the Isle of Man and the UK for over 70 years. Conister have
now launched a new business division to issue prepaid cards, a market that
offers tremendous growth potential. Conister will be operating in this market on
a Business to Business basis.

Conister is a Company which is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange
(AIM) under the ticker symbol CTU. For more information visit
www.conistertrust.com.


About BSG Clearing Solutions

BSG Clearing Solutions is a leading global provider of clearing and settlement,
payment services, and financial risk management solutions for communications
service providers. The company processes over 20 billion transactions annually
for 750 of the world's largest communications companies throughout North
America, Europe and Asia. With a ubiquitous, scalable platform and an extensive
portfolio of clearinghouse services for fixed-line, wireless, Wi-Fi, and
broadband networks, BSG monetizes network transactions by facilitating the
financial exchange of its customers' services. BSG meets the needs of today's
complex network interconnections and anticipates the requirements of converging
technologies, allowing for rapid and reliable deployment.

BSG Clearing Solutions is an operating subsidiary of Billing Services Group
Limited, which is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) under the
ticker symbol BILL. For more information, visit www.bsgclearing.com.


For further information, please contact:
Conister Trust PLC
Jeremiah Linehan, CEO
Tel +44 (0) 1624 694694
Beaumont Cornish Limited
Roland Cornish
Tel +44 (0) 20 7628 3396



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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