The Co-operative Bank and Advanced Payment Solutions (APS) Form Partnership to Provide Prepaid Card Service for Public Sector Organisations

LONDON, November 10, 2010 - Local Authorities and wider public sector organisations can now use
prepaid cards (www.mycashplus.co.uk) to make payments to any client
group. This latest solution is provided by Advanced Payment Solutions Ltd
(APS), the leading European prepaid card provider.

The agreement which sees Co-operative Bank introducing its customers to
APS, so they might consider alternative payment methods to traditional
cheque issuing for benefits, social care and localised petty cash. Indeed any
purpose where on-going payments are required.

This cost-effective system - particularly important for organisations
looking to maximise use of time and money in the economic downturn - allows
easier and quicker management of expenditure through a more transparent and
flexible payment method.

Rich Wagner, chief executive officer of Advanced Payment Solutions, said:
"This tailored method of making and receiving payments is a great alternative
to cash payments to lower cost and improve expense controls for public sector
organisations.

"It offers an easier, faster and economical method of making payments to
local authority client groups who traditionally receive payment by cheque,
many of which then pass through the offices of cheque cashing
establishments."

Ian Smith, Senior Manager, public sector banking at The Co-operative
Bank, said: "At a time when other banks appear to be doing little to help
their public and private sector customers we're proactively seeking and
implementing innovative ways of helping them to keep costs down in these
tough times.

"Our customers now have the ability to pay by cheque, Government
Procurement Cards, text and now with APS Prepaid Cards.

"We're delighted to be working with Rich and APS to maximise quick and
cost effective ways for clients and customers of the Bank to make payments."

This partnership builds on an existing five-year relationship between the
Bank, APS and the Post Office to allow individuals, small businesses and
local authorities to add value to the pre paid cards at the Post Office.

Notes to editors:

About The Co-operative Bank corporate banking:

Performance:

    - Corporate and Markets (of which the corporate banking
      operation forms part) in the first six months of 2010 saw the operating
      result more than double to GBP80.7m.

    - New customer deposits grew by an unprecedented GBP0.8bn (24%), as
      increasing numbers of corporate customers were drawn to the financial
      strength, service proposition and unique brand positioning of the
      corporate banking business.

    - Net income for CAM increased significantly by GBP64.6m (66.3%) to
      GBP162.1m.

    - Relationship banking for small to medium-sized corporate
      organisations and renewable energy finance also grew. The relationship
      banking proposition in particular is attracting new customers
      dissatisfied with the usual market players.

    - A commitment to lend GBP200m in 2010 to small and medium
      sized renewable energy projects, including community groups, underlined
      the bank's leadership in this specialist area. As the Government seeks
      to boost renewable energy through initiatives such as the Green
      Investment Bank, the market offers considerable opportunities for
      further growth.

    - The corporate banking operation now operates from 20 Corporate Banking
      Centres. This increased access to local support has helped to keep
      customer satisfaction strong.

Proud to be the World's Most Sustainable Bank - FT sustainable bank
awards 2010

About Advanced Payment Solutions Ltd (APS)

APS is the leading European prepaid card provider, with more than 500,000
cards issued and GBP500,000,000 million in payment turnover. Its flagship
product, the award winning Cashplus prepaid Gold MasterCard(R) is the UK's
first general purpose prepaid card for consumers and in the last couple years
APS has developed a growing interest among small businesses which now exceeds
2,500 who are utilising the benefits of the Cashplus prepaid Gold MasterCard
to manage and control their business expenditures.

    - ISDN facilities are available for broadcast media interviews.

    For further information contact:

    Justin Strong
    Associate Director
    SKV Communications
    Tel: +44(0)161-838-7770
    E-mail: justin.strong@skvcommunications.co.uk

    Andy Hammerton
    Public Relations Manager Corporate
    Co-operative Financial Services
    t: +44(0)161-903-3835 m: +44(0)7799-476-977
    E-mail: andy.hammerton@cfs.coop

    APS
    Public Relations
    t: +44(0)207-100-5850
    E-mail: mediaenquiries@apsgroup.com

For further information contact: Justin Strong, Associate Director, SKV Communications, Tel: +44(0)161-838-7770, E-mail: justin.strong at skvcommunications.co.uk: Andy Hammerton, Public Relations Manager Corporate, Co-operative Financial Services, t: +44(0)161-903-3835 m: +44(0)7799-476-977, E-mail: andy.hammerton at cfs.coop; APS, Public Relations, t: +44(0)207-100-5850, E-mail: mediaenquiries at apsgroup.com