First Data North Flash - REMINDER: American Express OptBlue Program Launch and Retirement of American Express ESA & OnePoint

Date: March 13, 2015

Platform: North

Status: Initial Notification

Regarding: REMINDER: American Express OptBlue Program Launch and Retirement of American Express ESA & OnePoint

Reminder: Please plan to join us on the next American Express OptBlue training opportunity: March 16, 2015 at 2:00pm CST, if you were unable to attend the prior training opportunities or would like to attend the training again.

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First Data is pleased to announce that FDS North Retail Clients may now offer a new enhanced American Express program to their merchants. Attached are the terms and conditions that govern the manner in which Client may solicit and entitle merchants for participation in the OptBlue Program (such terms and conditions, the “OptBlue Addendum”) on the First Data system under Client’s agreement with First Data and its sponsor bank (“Client’s Agreement”). Please review in its entirety, the attached OptBlue Addendum, including the Schedules and American Express OptBlue Operating Regulations referenced therein (and located at https://fdmerchantservicecenter.firstdata.com), which are a part of the terms and conditions of the OptBlue Addendum. Any questions or concerns regarding these terms and conditions, please contact your First Data Regional Business Director (RBD).

IMPORTANT: Any solicitation or entitlement of a merchant for participation in the American Express OptBlue Program by Client must be done in accordance with the OptBlue Addendum. Therefore, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Client’s Agreement, any solicitation or entitlement by Client of a merchant for participation in American Express OptBlue Program constitutes Client’s acknowledgement and acceptance of the OptBlue Addendum, which Client acknowledges and agrees will be added to Client’s Agreement as of the date of the first solicitation or entitlement.

Effective 05/03/2015 in tandem with 2015 Spring Release, American Express OnePoint and ESA programs will be removed from the applicable forms (Merchant Processing Agreement (MPA), Schedule As, and Program Guide) and AMA Web. This is in alignment with this launch and American Express announcement of the forthcoming retirement of these programs

Going forward after 05/03/2015, clients must use the OptBlue program to board eligible merchants with American Express. This action does pertain to both new and existing accounts. Attached for your reference is a tip sheet for converting existing OnePoint merchant(s) to OptBlue in a chained account scenario in which the existing merchants are using the OnePoint program.

OptBlue eligibility criteria:

• Estimated charge volume <$1 million

• Merchant located in U.S.; not Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands or any other U.S. Territory

• Are not Franchisees

• Transact in USD only

• Are not within any of the prohibited or excluded merchant categories on the American Express Exclusion List

For merchants that do not meet the above criteria, clients would assist the merchant to obtain an SE number directly from American Express via:

• 855-TAKE-AXP or 855.825.3297 or americanexpress.com/merchant

• New merchant: Obtained SE number should be included on applicable paperwork and entered in AMA at time account is boarded

• Existing merchant: An MSC ticket should be entered with the applicable supporting paperwork to add SE number to the account

In support of the launch of the enhanced American Express program please plan to attend one of training opportunities provided below:

American Express OptBlue

American Express is staying competitive by migrating to OptBlue to achieve acceptance with small merchants and increase sales volume. Learn about the features and benefits of this new card type and changes to system tools for boarding and customer service.

Step 1: Join the Web meeting 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

CTRL-Click

Step 2: Join the Teleconference.

Call-in #: 877-304-0076 Passcode: 9471848

03/05/2014     11:00am CST

03/11/2015     11:00am CST

03/16/2015     2:00pm CST

03/26/2015     1:00pm CST

You may download a copy of the presentation within Live Meeting

If there are no questions or concerns with the terms and agreements, please contact your client service analyst (CSA) to complete setup and obtain the forms for selling and setting up merchant with the American Express OptBlue program.