SAN ANTONIO — Clarke American, a leading provider of checks, check-related products, contact center services, Internet and direct response marketing solutions for the financial services industry, believes in putting its money where its heart is. The company’s continued charitable spirit and generous donations have been recognized by the American Red Cross with the 2005 Circle of Humanitarians Award. The award honors companies and individuals whose generous contributions provide life-saving support through American Red Cross programs.

Clarke American’s significant financial gifts to Red Cross programs represent only a portion of the total contributions that Clarke American has made to more than a dozen charitable and nonprofit organizations through its cause-related check program. Cause-related checks provide support to a wide cross-section of organizations around the country that serve children, education and the environment.

When account holders purchase the cause-related “checks that pay tribute,” Clarke American donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale to the cause represented on the check. Clarke American donates $1 for each check order and 50 cents for each label order of the “Let Freedom Ring^®” check series which benefits the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

“Check writers have responded very positively to these checks,” explains Linda Roothame, Clarke American senior product marketing manager. “In particular, the popularity of our ‘Let Freedom Ring’ products has allowed us to make considerable contributions to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. During the recent tsunamis in Asia and disasters in other parts of the world, the American Red Cross has been an essential provider of aid and vital services to victims. We are pleased to have played a part in supporting this life-saving work and are honored by the award recognition from the American Red Cross.”

Beginning with the September 11th Fund in 2001, Clarke American designated a portion of the sale of select checks and labels to the American Red Cross to aid in disaster relief efforts. In 2002, the company launched the “Let Freedom Ring” series of checks and related accessories, and through their sales, donations continue to be designated to the American Red Cross.

Since Clarke American launched its cause-related check program in 1994, product sales have provided more than $4.7 million in financial assistance to charities and nonprofit groups.

About Clarke American
Clarke American provides checks and check-related products, contact center services, Internet and direct response marketing solutions for the financial services industry. Each year, the company produces more than 10 billion personal and business checks in a variety of formats for more than 4,000 banks, credit unions and other financial institutions nationwide. The company has more than 3,200 associates and a national network of electronically linked production facilities and customer service centers located throughout the United States.

Clarke American is a recipient of the 2001 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the manufacturing category, awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and is the recipient of the 2001 Texas Award for Performance Excellence given by the Quality Texas Foundation. For more information about Clarke American, visit www.clarkeamerican.com.

For information about this press release contact
Cary Corbin
(830) 609-1932
Debbie Talley
(210) 697-1228