MARKHAM, ON – Everlink Payment Services Inc. is pleased to announce that May 18, 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the date it began serving clients with world class payment innovations. This mission focused, at first, on Payment Network Gateway connectivity and ATM Managed Services, and then expanded to include Fraud Management Solutions, Card Issuance & Management Solutions, POS Acquiring Services and general Professional Services for credit unions, banks and independent sales organizations (ISOs) across Canada.

“Over the past 10 years we have grown to become one of the leading providers of comprehensive, innovative and integrated payments solutions and services in Canada,” says Mark Ripplinger, President & CEO of Everlink. “We attribute this success to the knowledge and talent of our team of payments professionals and an unwavering commitment to client centricity at all levels and in all aspects of our business.”

Everlink was founded by a small group of payments executives in response to an opportunity that arose from a growing demand in the credit union marketplace for a new switching alternative. Everlink then worked with its two shareholders –NYCE Payment Network LLC and Celero Solutions – and the prairie centrals – Credit Union Central of Manitoba, Credit Union Central of Saskatchewan and Credit Union Central Alberta – to install the ACI Base24 / HP NonStop switch infrastructure (which was recently enhanced with a complete refresh to the most current, state-of-the-art environment available). With this infrastructure in place Everlink began serving credit union clients when it processed its first Interac transactions in May of 2004.

In July 2004 Metavante Technologies acquired NYCE thereby becoming Everlink’s new majority shareholder until 2009 when they, in turn, were acquired by FIS, the current majority shareholder.

In 2005 Everlink acquired CGI’s credit union switching assets, a move which allowed it to tap into a rich history that dates back to the late 1970’s when Co-Operators Data Services Limited (CDSL) developed Canada’s first automated teller applications for IBM 3624 ATMs (CGI purchased CDSL in 1997).

“Although Everlink is celebrating our 10th anniversary, one could argue that due to the various acquisitions and mergers of existing companies, such as CGI’s switching assets in 2005, we are actually getting ready to celebrate our 40th,” says Carlo Tuzi, VP, Technology and Operations at Everlink. “I have been working in the industry for 35 years, first with CDSL and CGI and now with Everlink.  Although there has been a lot of change in the payments industry throughout that time I think that it is safe to say that no period has been quite as dramatic as the past 10 years and I am proud to have been able to spend that time here at Everlink, helping our clients navigate the ever-shifting payments landscape.”

In 2007 Mark Ripplinger took over as President & CEO and began his plan to diversify into various new lines of business and target new segments in the Canadian market, a plan which has led to success in terms of growth and innovation.

Under Ripplinger’s guidance Everlink has:

• Achieved an average Client Loyalty Index rating of 89.5% over the past 4 years
• Migrated all of its credit union and bank clients to EMV capability for debit card issuing and ATM acquiring;
• Signed a number of significant new clients in the credit union, bank and ISO segments.
• Held six installments of its popular Connections client conferences.
• Introduced a number of new products and solutions including the award winning Instant Card Issuance (ICI) solution; the FICO Falcon near real-time neural network fraud management solution, a complete Central Card Issuance (CCI) solution, a number of enhancements for both card issuers and ATM acquirers and more.
• Received two ACT Canada Canadian Innovation Awards and was selected as a finalist in the “innovation” category by the Markham Board of Trade at the annual Markham Business Excellence Awards.

“We are proud of what we have delivered to our clients over the years, empowering them to grow and expand and we look forward to continuing to serve them with secure, reliable and innovative solutions for many years to come,” says Ripplinger.

Everlink Payment Services Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive, innovative and integrated payments solutions and services for credit unions, banks, and independent sales organizations across Canada. In addition to supplying best-in-breed technology infrastructure and payment network connectivity via our well established Payment Network Gateway, we offer a diversified range of integrated payments Lines of Business including: ATM Managed Services, Card Issuance & Management, Fraud Management, POS Acquiring and Professional Services.

Everlink is celebrating 10 Years of Delivering Payment Innovations! Visit www.everlink.ca to learn more.

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