CKFR Checkfree Corp (MM)

-- Members Who Receive and Pay Bills Online Experience Convenience, Control over Personal Finances and Improved Security over Paper Bills and Checks -- ATLANTA, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CheckFree Corporation (NASDAQ:CKFR) today announced a three-year contract extension with America First Credit Union, the sixth largest credit union in the United States, to continue as its electronic billing and payment provider. America First's electronic billing and payment service, Payment Partner, has been free to members and made available through the bank's technology partnership with CheckFree for more than five years. This contract renewal means that America First members will continue to experience the convenience, control and security of receiving and paying bills electronically. Payment Partner helps America First members better manage and organize their finances, save time and hassle, and schedule automated payments, which protects credit scores by ensuring on-time transactions. Additionally, a 2005 Identity Fraud Survey Report from the Better Business Bureau and Javelin Strategy & Research concludes that using online banking and bill payment services, and replacing paper bills with electronic bills, is one of the best things consumers can do to protect themselves from identity fraud. CheckFree e-Bill(SM) offers a greater level of protection by securely delivering bills electronically to a password-protected and encrypted site -- taking paper bills out of unsecured mailboxes. In addition, America First guarantees that members using Payment Partner are protected from any unauthorized transactions and processing delays. "America First is committed to providing its members with the highest quality electronic billing and payment service, because it helps consumers reduce the risk of identity theft and take control of their finances without the hassle of writing checks and buying stamps," said John Lund, Executive Vice President of America First Credit Union. "The features found in CheckFree Web make managing bills and payments simple, secure and convenient for our growing base of online members." America First currently has more than 45,000 members enrolled in Payment Partner, an increase of 15 percent since September 2004. Subscribers can receive e-Bills from a variety of national and regional companies. By using a consolidated website where multiple bills can be received and paid, rather than accessing one bill at a time at biller websites, members are best able to manage and organize their finances. According to a survey by The Marketing Workshop, Inc. and Harris Interactive, sponsored by CheckFree, consolidated site users benefit from reminders that help them protect their credit scores by paying on time, and report that the consolidated site saves them time and improves organization. "America First established itself as a leader in electronic billing and payment by offering the service for no charge since its initial deployment," said Jeff Weikert, general manager of the CSP business unit of CheckFree's Electronic Commerce division. "CheckFree values its long-term relationship with America First, and will continue to help its members maximize their personal financial management in a secure, online environment." About America First Credit Union (http://www.americafirst.com/) America First Credit Union was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1939, and has remained a member-owned, not for profit, cooperative financial institution. Today, America First is Utah's largest credit union, and the 13th largest credit union in assets in the United States, with $3.1 billion. It is the 6th largest credit union in membership in the country, with 377,000 members. America First has 63 branch locations, and 92 ATMs along the Wasatch Front, in St. George, and in Mesquite, Nevada. About CheckFree (http://www.checkfreecorp.com/) Founded in 1981, CheckFree Corporation (NASDAQ:CKFR) provides financial electronic commerce services and products to organizations around the world. CheckFree Electronic Commerce solutions enable thousands of financial services providers and billers to offer their customers the convenience of receiving and paying their household bills online or in person through retail outlets. CheckFree Investment Services provides a broad range of investment management solutions and outsourced services to thousands of financial services organizations, which manage more than $1 trillion in assets. CheckFree Software develops, markets and supports software applications that are used by financial institutions to process more than two thirds of the 12 billion Automated Clearing House transactions in the United States. The division also provides global trade processing, reconciliation, financial messaging, compliance and electronic billing and statement software to hundreds of organizations across the globe. Certain of CheckFree's statements in this press release are not purely historical, and as such are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements regarding management's intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or projections of the future. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the various risks inherent in CheckFree's business, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in CheckFree's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including CheckFree's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2005 (filed September 2, 2005). One or more of these factors have affected, and could in the future affect CheckFree's business and financial results in future periods, and could cause actual results to differ materially from plans and projections. There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made in this press release will prove to be accurate, and issuance of such forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by CheckFree, or any other person, that the objectives and plans of CheckFree will be achieved. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on information presently available to management, and CheckFree assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. DATASOURCE: CheckFree Corporation CONTACT: Media Relations, Judy DeRango Wicks, +1-678-375-1595, or , and Investor Relations, Tina Moore, +1-678-375-1278, or , both of CheckFree Corporation Web site: http://www.checkfreecorp.com/ http://www.americafirst.com/

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