SAN ANTONIO — Picture a white sand beach, palm trees rustling with a passing breeze and the sun’s rays dancing on clear blue water as far as you can see. This tropical paradise may be the setting for your favorite vacation getaway or a fantasy escape from the workday routine. If a shady spot on a secluded beach is not your idea of a vacation – or daydream – destination, sunny Tuscany with its quaint villages, hillside vineyards and olive groves, and charming trattorie may be your vision of paradise. Either way, you can now indulge your imagination with new check designs from Clarke American, a leading provider of checks and check-related products, contact center services, Internet and direct response marketing solutions for the financial services industry.

Two new check series, “Island Breezes™” and “Tuscan™,” will be offered to account holders of Clarke American’s financial institution partners across the country beginning April 10. “Island Breezes” is a four-scene check series that features lush full-color photography of Hawaiian beaches, complete with sand, surf and sailing. A one-scene check series, “Tuscan” uses color illustration to evoke the romance of the Tuscan vineyards and Italian-style dining.

“These new check products are a perfect addition to Clarke American’s product line because almost everyone can relate to one or both of the destinations represented in the check scenes,” explains Linda Roothame, Clarke American senior product marketing manager. “Many of us can remember an amazing tropical vacation or the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy. Even if we haven’t made one of those trips yet, most of us hope to some day. That’s why I think so many people will be attracted to these beautiful new checks; every time they write a check, they will recall that special vacation spot or dream about the one they hope to visit in the future.”

The new Clarke American products are available at participating branches, and can also be ordered through a number of financial institution Internet and phone channels.

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