Deluxe Detect, powered by Early Warning, is a new relationship-screening tool that enables financial institutions to reduce fraud at the new account desk by providing identity verification and reliable risk assessment in real time.

"We listened to client requests for faster and more reliable decision-making support when establishing new consumer relationships and created what we believe is the most comprehensive offering of fraud prevention capabilities in the industry," said Chuck Feltz, president, Deluxe Financial Services. "Risk and retail managers are asking for improved data integrity to identify high-risk individuals quickly and accurately, and at the same time, help them open more accounts with greater confidence."

"The new account desk represents a financial institution's first line of defense against fraud," said Paul Finch, chief executive officer, Primary Payment Systems. "Through this alliance, we've combined our risk management expertise with Deluxe's market reach and electronic connectivity to over 7,500 banks and credit unions. Joining the capabilities of both companies is a leap forward in helping the industry combat today's fraud problems. As the fraud landscape continues to change, the Early Warning services, which power Deluxe Detect, represent the foundation for what will become a wide range of capabilities designed to address risk wherever it may present itself."

New applicants are screened against the Early Warning databases, which contain public and non-public data, including contributions directly from financial institutions and other financial services organizations. The service also helps fulfill key provisions of Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act pertaining to identity verification.

Furthermore, Deluxe Detect will operate through Primary Payment Systems' Trusted Custodian(R) model that protects financial institution data while rewarding the institutions, in the form of revenue sharing, when contributed data provides value to another financial institution. Currently, more than 90 percent of the largest banks in the United States rely upon the Primary Payment Systems Early Warning services.

Deluxe Detect reflects Deluxe's longstanding commitment to meeting financial institutions' needs for increased security and revenue growth. In September 2004, the company launched Deluxe ID TheftBlock(SM), a suite of protection services that monitor credit and checking activities to detect fraud and prevent losses for consumers and financial institutions.