The Atlanta transaction processing community continues to be recognized nationally for its leadership, expertise and financial success. Most recently, Institutional Investor magazine added Paul R. Garcia, Chairman, President and CEO of Atlanta-based Global Payments to its list of "The Best CEOs in America." Mr. Garcia was recognized in the "Technology - Computer Services and IT Consulting" category in the magazine's January 2005 issue.

The award is based upon a survey of portfolio managers and analysts at the world's leading investment companies. The competition is tough and the feedback is voluminous, as nearly 1,700 people, representing some 400 firms participated in the magazine's annual poll. The award is prestigious as those polled invest an estimated $5.9 trillion in U.S. equity assets annually.

Global Payments Inc. was also included in a recent listing of "The Global 50" published by InformationWeek magazine. According to the magazine, "The Global 50" is composed of the fastest-growing large companies operating in multiple countries including the United States and outside North America.

The magazine ranked businesses with U.S. headquarters, operating in multiple countries that enjoy the greatest year-over-year growth as a percentage of revenue. The list was compiled using information provided by Reuters, public data such as Securities and Exchange Commissions filings, Hoovers Online and InformationWeek sister publication Optimize. Global Payments, which currently has operations in eight countries, was ranked 46 on the list.

Global Payments, one of the largest companies in its sector, processes billions of business and consumer transactions each year through a vast electronic information network. The company represents a range of clients, including consumers, merchants, Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs), financial institutions, government agencies, and multi-national corporations across the U.S., Canada and Europe and Latin America. Global Payments offers a full line of processing solutions that includes credit and debit cards and Electronic Benefit Transfer cards (EBT); business-to-business purchasing cards; gift cards; check conversion, check guarantee, verification and recovery; and point-of-sale terminal management, gaming cash access services and money transfer services.

Global Payments is one of the most recognized brands in the electronic transaction processing industry. They manage more than 2.7 billion transactions per year and service nearly one million merchant locations through the company's electronic information network. Locally, Global Payments employs more than 3,500 people.

Global Payments' roots in the industry are deep, dating back four decades when its former parent company, National Data Corporation, created the industry.

Visit their Web site www.globalpaymentsinc.com for more information on the company or Mr. Paul Garcia.