REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 6, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that users of Microsoft® Money 98 Financial Suite and Money 98 can now connect directly with American Express Co., Discover Card® and Private Issue® Card for electronic statement information. The card companies join 37 other credit card providers offering direct access to Visa and MasterCard account information through Microsoft Money. By comparison, Quicken 98 Deluxe provides direct access to 25 major credit and charge card providers.
“As more consumers use credit and charge cards for their daily purchases, their interest in tracking card spending and budgeting is growing,” said Lewis Levin, vice president of the desktop finance division at Microsoft. “Microsoft Money 98 and its participating credit and charge card providers make these tasks quick and easy by eliminating manual updating.”
With the addition of these providers comes direct access to card account information through the Internet. American Express, Discover and Private Issue cardholders can download statement information either through Microsoft Money or the issuers’ Web sites free of charge. By connecting via the Internet, Money 98 users are able to automatically receive and view updated service offerings, product information and Web site links from their respective card providers.
“Fast, accessible and reliable service is important to our card members,” said Colleen Zambole, vice president, electronic commerce for Discover Card and Private Issue Card. “Our connection with Microsoft Money opens the door to financial online services, enabling our customers to better track their spending and budgeting.”
Cardholders Get More With Money 98 Financial Suite
Microsoft’s relationships with credit and charge card companies round out a broad array of tracking and budgeting tools offered through Money 98 Financial Suite. Consumers using Financial Suite can easily manage fundamental financial tasks, such as paying bills, managing accounts, banking online, tracking expenses and creating budgets. For example, Financial Suite’s Goal Planner allows users to set up short- and long-term goals, while Advisor FYI
™
personal financial guidance helps consumers avoid financial mistakes and recognize financial opportunities.
Consumers using Money 98 Financial Suite also have direct links to the Money Insider
™
interactive financial guide Web site (http://moneyinsider.MSN.com/) , which gives consumers the tools and information to make smart financial decisions, as well as to Microsoft Investor (http://investor.com/) , a leading online personal investment resource chosen as the No. 1 Web site for financial information and investing on the Web by Barron’s magazine.
“Our consumers need instant, direct access to their account information as well as reliable services designed to aid budgeting, goal planning and future investing,” said Lynn Miller, senior director, interactive channel strategy for consumer card services at American Express. “Microsoft Money’s customized services effectively respond to our consumers’ primary financial needs in both the short and long term.”
Financial Institutions Participating With Money
Providing consumers with access to credit and charge card companies is not a new concept for Microsoft Money. Money 98 offers connections to more than 100 financial organizations – twice the number of any other personal finance software – including banks, credit unions and brokerage firms. Credit and charge card providers currently participating with Microsoft Money include the following:
American Express Co.
Bank Atlantic
Bank of Hawaii
Bank of Stockton
Centura Banks Inc.
The Chase Manhattan Bank
Cleveland Bank & Trust Co.
Commerce Bank
Commercial Federal Bank
Compass Bank
CoreStates Bank N.A.
Discover Card
First Chicago NBD Corp.
First Hawaiian Bank
FMB – First Michigan Bank
First National Bank of Kansas
First National Bank of Springdale
First of America Bank Corp.
First Technology Credit Union (FCTU)
First Tennessee Bank
First Union National Bank of North Carolina
Home Savings of America
Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co.
Mellon Bank Corp.
Michigan National Bank
Mountain American Credit Union
NBD
Norwest Corp.
Private Issue Card
Regions Bank
Republic National Bank of New York
Sanwa Bank California
Signet Banking Corp.
Smith Barney Inc.
SunTrust Banks Inc.
UMB Bank
Union Bank of California
U.S. Bank
Wells Fargo Bank N.A.
Zions Bank
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, Advisor FYI and Money Insider are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Discover Card and Private Issue are registered trademarks of NOVUS Services Inc.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors : If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.
