Fiserv and SunTrust have announced 'they will donate one tree for every SunTrust customer who signs up for electronic bill (e-bill) activation or pays at least three bills online or via a mobile phone between April 14 and June 30, 2008. With assistance from the Arbor Day Foundation, Fiserv and SunTrust have set a goal of planting more than 10,000 trees as part of the campaign.'

According to a 2007 green banking study by Javelin Strategy and Research, if all U.S. households viewed and paid bills online, it would save 16.5 million trees each year. In one day a single tree can provide oxygen for up to four people and discharge up to 100 gallons of water from the ground into the air, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. SunTrust's free Online Banking with Bill Pay product makes it easy for SunTrust customers to pay bills and sign up for eBills, which contain the same information as typical paper bills.

SunTrust Online Banking with Bill Pay not only enhances convenience and security for clients, it provides us an avenue to educate our clients on how paying bills online, activating eBills and turning off paper statements can help reduce paper, save trees and improve the environment, said Tom Bennett, director of Consumer Deposits and Access Services at SunTrust.

Forrester Research recently conducted a survey that found that 48 percent of consumers cited it's better for the environment' as the top reason why they stopped receiving mailed statements, said Todd Lesher, executive vice president and general manager, CheckFree Electronic Banking Services, now part of Fiserv. We are committed to working with our banking partners like SunTrust to further educate the public about the positive impact that online bill payment and e-bills can have on the environment.

Fiserv and SunTrust are members of the Pay It Green Alliance, the environmental initiative of NACHA, The Electronic Payments Association and comprised of 20 leaders in the financial and consumer billing industries. The Pay It Green Alliance focuses on educating consumers and businesses about the positive environmental impact ofchoosing electronic bills, statements and payments instead of paper. NACHA The Electronic Payments Association is coordinating the initiative. For more information, visit www.payitgreen.org.