InteliSpend Launches MasterCard® Prepaid Cards in Canada

FENTON, Mo., Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- InteliSpend Prepaid Solutions™ announces the launch of its MasterCard prepaid cards to the Canadian marketplace. Included in the launch are the Preferences® MasterCard Prepaid Card and the Universal MasterCard Prepaid Card with the unique 5% Back feature. InteliSpend's MasterCard prepaid cards are issued by Peoples Trust Company.

Preferences MasterCard Prepaid Card
Built with InteliSpend's patented DirectSpend® technology, the Preferences MasterCard Prepaid Card gives businesses the power to determine exactly where the card can be redeemed. This card gives administrators the ability to filter how the card is used according to geography, industry, category, or specific merchant preferences.

Universal MasterCard Prepaid Card
The Universal MasterCard Prepaid Card can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted. Available only from InteliSpend and provided at no cost to clients, the unique award-winning 5% Back feature gives cardholders a bonus equal to 5% of their transaction amount  if they use their cards at any of the following preferred Canadian merchant locations:

Although new to the business-to-business incentive space, this innovation has already earned a Best-in-Category award in the Top Motivator category at the 2014 Paybefore Awards, sponsored by Paybefore, the leading source for industry information for alternative payments executives.

"Our goal is to provide a robust solution offering to our clients," said Sheree Thornsberry, general manager, InteliSpend Prepaid Solutions. "With this release, we are providing our Canadian clients with incentive solutions that not only meet their need for prepaid cards, but also give clients and card recipients a tangible bonus or reward for using the card."

"Prepaid cards are becoming increasingly popular to businesses looking for innovative, safe and secure ways to reward their employees, partners and customers. These are two great new options for Canadian businesses to take advantage of the convenience, flexibility and affordability of prepaid cards to build their business relationships and grow their bottom lines," said Tom McTague, Vice President, Prepaid, MasterCard Canada.

This feature also provides value to InteliSpend's preferred merchant partners. Marketing materials encourage cardholders to spend their incentive at participating merchants.

"We work with a great group of merchants to power our selective-spend cards," said Thornsberry. "Now they have the potential to reap incremental traffic and revenue-generating benefits from our MasterCard prepaid products, making our universal product unique in the marketplace."

"We fully support InteliSpend in their decision to expand their already successful portfolio by offering MasterCard prepaid products in Canada," said John Pals, COO of Peoples Card Services.

InteliSpend's MasterCard prepaid cards are funded in Canadian dollars and issued by Peoples Trust Company pursuant to a license by MasterCard International.

About InteliSpend
InteliSpend Prepaid Solutions| A Blackhawk Network Business delivers intelligent prepaid incentive sales solutions for business needs: employee rewards, wellness, sales incentives and promotional programs. InteliSpend's prepaid card expertise, innovative approach and patented DirectSpend process can solve even the most complex challenges. Relationships with American Express, Discover®, MasterCard and Visa enable the alignment of network and need. DirectSpend® is covered by Blackhawk Network Inc. U.S. Patents 5,689,100 and 5,956,695 and Canada Patent 2,215,969. Learn more about using InteliSpend's products at www.intelispend.com.

About Blackhawk Canada
Blackhawk Canada is a subsidiary of Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAWK and HAWK B), and is a leading prepaid payment network that supports the physical and digital distribution of a wide range of prepaid products. Blackhawk Canada utilizes proprietary technology to provide consumers a broad selection of gift cards, prepaid telecom handsets, airtime cards and general purpose reloadable cards across a global network.  Through Blackhawk Canada's digital platform, the company supports prepaid products and offers across a growing network of digital distribution partners including leading retailers, financial service providers, social apps, mobile wallets and other integrated physical-to-digital channels.

About Peoples Trust Company
Peoples Trust Company is a financial institution headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., with offices across Canada. The Company is active in originating and servicing mortgages, with over $ 6.2 billion in assets under administration, and offers very competitive deposit products. Peoples Trust, through its subsidiary Peoples Card Services, is a pioneer of prepaid and credit card programs in Canada, and a market leader in both reloadable and non-reloadable card products of Visa and MasterCard. For more information, visit www.peoplescardservices.com.

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SOURCE InteliSpend