SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORPORATION RECEIVES NACHA’S 2008 GEORGE MITCHELL PAYMENTS SYSTEMS EXCELLENCE AWARD
LAS VEGAS—May 20, 2008—NACHA—The Electronic Payments Association announced today
that Synovus Financial Corporation has been awarded its 2008 George Mitchell Payments
Systems Excellence Award. Garry Hedges, director of planning and payments strategy, will
accept the award on behalf of Synovus Financial Corporation at NACHA's PAYMENTS 2008
conference in Las Vegas.
Synovus, operating 37 separate banks across the Southeast, is a leading technology innovator in
check imaging, mobile payments and alternative payments.
"Synovus is an organization that has turned the challenge of a decentralized structure into a
successful business model and used technology as their core tenet for growth," said Elliott C.
McEntee, chief executive officer of NACHA. "Synovus brings creative energy and vision to the
industry process of building the products that will continue to drive popularity and growth of
electronic payments."
"Synovus is honored to be the recipient of the 2008 George Mitchell Payments Systems
Excellence Award," said Hedges. "We believe that industry collaboration and innovation will
provide opportunity for all and allow the payments business to continue to flourish in the financial
sector."
Synovus once again made NACHA's Top 50 lists of the largest originating and receiving financial
institutions of automated clearinghouse (ACH) payments for 2007.
The George Mitchell Payments Systems Award, named after the late George Mitchell, former vice
chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and early payments
proponent, is presented annually to an individual or organization that has shown superior
leadership in the development, implementation, or advancement of electronic payments. Past
recipients include Paul W. Finch, Sr., Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., and Citi, along with other
prestigious leaders and innovators in the payments industry.
NACHA-The Electronic Payments Association
NACHA-The Electronic Payments Association is a not-for-profit association that oversees the
Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network, one of the largest electronic payment networks in the
world. More than 18 billion ACH payments were exchanged in 2007. NACHA is responsible for
the administration, development, and enforcement of the NACHA Operating Rules and sound risk
management practices for the ACH Network. Through its industry councils and forums, NACHA
brings together hundreds of diverse payments system stakeholder organizations to enable the
development of new network services and applications. NACHA represents more than 11,000
financial institutions through direct membership and 19 regional payments associations. NACHA
and its members provide education, tools, and resources to increase the adoption of ACH
payments to benefit businesses, consumers, and governments. To learn more, visit
www.nacha.org and www.electronicpayments.org.
Synovus
Synovus (NYSE: "SNV") is a financial services holding company with approximately $33 billion in
assets based in Columbus, Georgia. Synovus provides commercial and retail banking, as well as
investment services, to customers through 36 banks, 440 ATMs, and other Synovus offices in
Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. The company focuses on its unique
decentralized customer delivery model, position in high-growth Southeast markets and
commitment to being a great place to work to ensure the delivery of unparalleled customer
experiences. See Synovus on the web at www.synovus.com.
Media Contacts:
NACHA
Donna Schwartze
Phone: 314.330.3488
donnaschwartze@kc.rr.com
Synovus
Greg Hudgison
Phone: 706.644.0528
gregoryhudgison@synovus.com