TSYS Opens Technology Center in Boise
Gives Company Innovative Technical Staffing Solution to Accommodate Growth
Columbus, Ga. And Boise, Id., July 16, 2003 - TSYS® today announced the opening of TSYS Technology Center, Inc. (TTC), as a wholly owned subsidiary in Boise, Idaho. With 77 team members on board and 82 expected by August 31, 2003, TTC represents an innovative and flexible staffing solution to help TSYS address its robust implementation and development pipeline of clients and prospective clients.
The TTC team members will support technology efforts throughout the company, including government services, customer care, programming, and systems development. Most of the TTC team members were senior software application developers formerly employed with Sears, Roebuck and Co. at its Application Development Center at the Morrison-Knudsen office complex in Boise. After the Sears facility was closed December 31, 2002, TSYS later expanded into the office complex, making use of the ready and available talent pool. Sears has been a TSYS client since 1998.
TSYS President Philip Tomlinson expressed his enthusiasm about the center's opening. "The TSYS Technology Center will help TSYS meet an important corporate objective - managing tremendous growth. Today, we have more than 62 million accounts in the pipeline to be converted to TSYS. TTC has been established to replace contract programmers with a cost-effective resource pool that ensures TSYS intellectual capital remains in house while successfully addressing the demands of the implementation and development pipeline," Tomlinson said.
"Furthermore, TTC gives TSYS a western presence with team members whose backgrounds and philosophies are diverse while still complementary of the TSYS corporate culture," he continued.
Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne welcomed TSYS' announcement. "TSYS represents the kind of job creation we want in Idaho," said Kempthorne. "The company clearly cares about its employees, pays well, offers health care and provides benefits."
Gov. Kempthorne said the state has pledged up to $180,000 in Workforce Development Training Funds to help train TSYS' employees. Idaho and Boise officials, including Gov. Kempthorne, have been working with TSYS since mid-March of 2003. Kempthorne placed a call to TSYS President Philip Tomlinson, encouraging him to locate the project in Idaho.
"Our skilled workforce, affordable business operating costs and broadband connectivity make Idaho perfect for companies like TSYS," Kempthorne said.
TTC is directed by industry veteran Jim Witt, who previously established and directed the remote application development center in Boise for Sears. "The team members possess the requisite industry knowledge, TSYS-specific knowledge and technological expertise that will enable them to be quickly deployed into corporate initiatives, having a positive impact on TSYS' efficiency and productivity," said Witt. Prior to Sears, Witt was with U.S. Bancorp for 25 years. He held various positions from application developer to vice president and manager in their Mergers and Acquisitions Group.
TTC is modeled after TSYS' highly successful TSYS Canada, Inc.SM subsidiary in St. Catharine's, Ontario. A grand opening ceremony is planned for tomorrow, July 17.
For more information regarding TTC, send correspondence to rruth@tsys.com or attention Team Member Services, 701 East Morrison-Knudsen Plaza Drive, Suite 400, Boise, Idaho 83712.
About TSYS
TSYS (NYSE: TSS) (www.tsys.com) brings integrity and innovation to the world of electronic payments as the integral link between buyers and sellers in this rapidly evolving universe. With more than 264 million accounts on file, TSYS makes it possible for millions of consumers to use their credit, debit, stored value, commercial, smart and retail cards anytime, anywhere through any medium or portal. TSYS offers a full range of acquiring and issuing services from accepting and settling electronic payments for goods and services to designing, administering and fulfilling loyalty programs to credit applications, bankruptcy management and collection services. Based in Columbus, Ga., TSYS serves companies on three continents representing 16 currencies and seven languages. TSYS maintains operations in Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the United Kingdom and is an 81-percent owned subsidiary of Synovus (NYSE: "SNV") (www.synovus.com), number nine on FORTUNE magazine's list of "The 100 Best Companies To Work For" in 2003. For more information, contact news@tsys.com.
Contacts:
Danita Gibson-Lloyd
TSYS Media Relations
+1.706.649.5578
dglloyd@tsys.com
Eric S. Bruner
TSYS Media Relations
+1.706.644.8457
ebruner@tsys.com
Leo Berard
TSYS Investor Relations
+1.706.644.6081
leoberard@synovus.com