Unisys To Transform Comerica's Payments Operations

    Business Editors/Technology Writers

    BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2005--

    New Solutions Leverage Unique 3D Visible Enterprise Methodology to Help Comerica Exchange Check Images and Archive Data for Better Customer Service

    Unisys Corporation (NYSE:UIS) today announced that it will help Comerica Incorporated (NYSE:CMA) transform its payment operations from paper to digital image exchange, a result of Check 21 legislation that went into effect late last year.
    Comerica is among the seven vanguard banks that will exchange check images in 2005 through the SVPCO Image Exchange Network, the world's largest and most sophisticated private-sector check image exchange system offered by SVPCO-Electronic Clearing Services, a business of The Clearing House Payments Co. Unisys, which processes half the world's checks through its outsourcing engagements and payment solutions, will deploy its new image exchange software to help Comerica validate check image quality and clear and settle transactions.
    With the move to digital image exchange, security is a paramount concern for banks, since greater use of faceless, electronic channels brings new fraud challenges. Along with today's Comerica announcement, Unisys introduced a comprehensive solution set to help banks maximize the opportunities of image exchange. (See companion press release). Unisys solutions verify image quality and usability to help mitigate risks. Unisys also validates images with digital signatures at the first point in the process: the transport system that captures the check electronically.
    "We believe Unisys is on the leading edge of where the banking industry is going - not just in image exchange but also with its enterprise-wide view of the payments business," said Paul Obermeyer, senior vice president and director of operations services at Comerica. "Unisys solutions are flexible, and help us serve customers better and handle data more efficiently."
    An integral part of the Unisys solution for Comerica is a payment information engine that archives images and data and allows banks to more intelligently track and use data across the enterprise. The engine is flexible and configurable, offering a more strategic view of best operating practices to deploy across a company to maximize cost efficiencies. The web-based engine can access a variety of external systems and internal image databases, providing complete payment histories that allow banks to more intelligently import, capture, store, manage and use transactional information.
    In developing the solution for Comerica, Unisys utilized its 3D Visible Enterprise (3D-VE) methodology, an innovative approach to understanding the cause and effect relationships between corporate vision, business operations and the information technology systems that support them, helping to reduce the risks associated with implementing change. Unisys worked with Comerica and other top U.S. banks to better understand and address the challenges and opportunities brought on by Check 21 and image exchange. Through its 3D-VE workshops, Unisys has identified more than 100 business processes potentially affected in preparation for payments transformation. The workshops help management analyze the gaps that exist in their current operations and better formulate a transformation strategy for their entire operations, including fraud detection, new product launches, and other procedures.
    "Together, Comerica and Unisys are helping lay the foundation for future payment transformation in the industry," said Gary Cawthorne, vice president and managing partner of global banking at Unisys. "As changing technology and consumer habits impact payments, banks must have better agility to adapt to ever-evolving market and technologic shifts. Our solutions not only provide visibility into their best operations now, but also anticipate future needs."
    The software and services engagement with Comerica builds on more than a decade's long relationship between the two companies. Unisys and Comerica are both pioneers in image-based processing and electronic clearing, and have a history of working together on innovative payments technology, including Comerica's use of Unisys image check processing system in 1992, and one of the first "all-item" check image archives in 1997.

    About Comerica

    Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Detroit, strategically aligned into the Business Bank, Small Business & Personal Financial Services, and Wealth & Institutional Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping businesses and people be successful. Comerica reported total assets of $53 billion at September 30, 2004.

    About Unisys

    Unisys is a worldwide information technology services and solutions company. Our people combine expertise in consulting, systems integration, outsourcing, infrastructure and server technology with precision thinking and relentless execution to help clients, in more than 100 countries, quickly and efficiently achieve competitive advantage. For more information, visit www.unisys.com.

    RELEASE NO.: 0124/8488

    http://www.unisys.com/about__unisys/news_a_events/01248488.htm

    Unisys is a registered trademark of Unisys Corporation. All other brands and products referenced herein are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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CONTACT: Unisys Danielle D'Angelo, 212-504-7286 danielle.dangelo@unisys.com or Weber Shandwick for Unisys Rob Shapiro, 212-445-8310 rshapiro@webershandwick.com

KEYWORD: PENNSYLVANIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE SOFTWARE NETWORKING PRODUCT MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Unisys

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