Renewed ATM/Debit Agreement Supports Bank's Growth, Customer
Service
THE WOODLANDS, Texas & HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4,
2007--Woodforest National Bank and PULSE EFT Association have signed
an agreement extending the bank's participation in the PULSE ATM/debit
network. The agreement ensures that the bank's growing number of debit
cardholders will continue to have access to PULSE's nearly 260,000
ATMs, as well as point-of-sale (POS) terminals across the U.S. PULSE
will also continue to provide Woodforest with signature debit
processing and gateway connections to other networks.
Woodforest National Bank is a $2.4 billion bank headquartered in
The Woodlands, Texas. Woodforest National Bank currently has more than
350 branches located in Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, North
Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The bank's
total assets grew by 23 percent during 2006, exceeding $2.2 billion by
year-end.
In June, Woodforest National Bank was ranked No. 1 in customer
satisfaction in the Southwest Region by the J.D. Power and Associates
2007 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, and second in the nation. The
bank also ranked third among U.S. bank holding companies in return on
equity in 2006, achieving a 42 percent 5-year ROE, according to the
American Banker newspaper.
"Customer service has been the key to Woodforest's tremendous
success and growth in recent years, and the debit card is now one of
our critical points of contact with our customers," said Robert E.
Marling, Jr., chief executive officer of Woodforest National Bank.
"Our relationship with PULSE, which dates back to 1982, is central to
our ability to serve debit cardholders by providing them with reliable
access to their deposits at ATMs and POS terminals."
"PULSE is pleased to extend its long-term relationship with
Woodforest National Bank, one of the fastest growing financial
institutions in the country," said Dave Schneider, PULSE president.
"Our debit network services have supported the bank's impressive
growth and award-winning customer service for 25 years, and we look
forward to serving Woodforest's cardholders in the future."
About Woodforest National Bank
Woodforest National Bank is one of the largest employee-owned
community banks and currently services more than 400,000 customers at
more than 350 branches located throughout nine states. Woodforest
National Bank is a subsidiary of Woodforest Financial Group, Inc. For
more information, visit www.woodforest.com.
About PULSE EFT Association LP
PULSE is one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks, currently
serving more than 4,400 banks, credit unions and savings institutions
across the country. PULSE is owned by Discover Financial Services
(NYSE:DFS). The network links cardholders with nearly 260,000 ATMs, as
well as POS terminals at retail locations nationwide. The company is
also a valued resource for consumer research related to electronic
payments and is committed to providing its participants with education
on evolving products, services and trends in the payments industry.
For more information, visit www.pulse-eft.com.
CONTACT: PULSE EFT Association
Anne Rhodes, 832-214-0234
or
Woodforest National Bank
Cindi Stewart, 832-375-2508
SOURCE: PULSE EFT Association