THIS JUST IN...A NEW SECURITY ALERT!

All new and existing merchants must comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). The card associations developed the PCI DSS to help strengthen data security at the merchant level to combat credit card data compromises.

All merchants are at risk for having sensitive data -- such as customer card data -- stolen. This kind of theft from security breaches at merchant locations -- both large and small -- has cost merchants millions of dollars in fines, restitution and reputation. Although nothing can completely eliminate your exposure to the potential theft of cardholder data, ensuring your compliance with PCI DSS will help reduce your risk significantly.

In order to improve your level of compliance with PCI DSS, International Bancard has partnered with Security Metrics to help you complete the Self Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). To complete this required SAQ, please click here and go to www.SecurityMetrics.com to "enroll" or call 866-692-7544.

International Bancard assesses a $16.95 fee for every month that merchants remain "out of compliance" and have not completed the SAQ at Security Metrics.This fee is being assessed in connection with International Bancard's contractual commitments to the Card Associations and in an effort to comply with PCI DSS. Payment of this monthly assessment does not ensure your compliance with the PCI DSS or any law, rule or regulation related to cardholder data security. The payment of such fee does not relieve you of your responsibility to comply with all rules and regulations related to cardholder data security.

All merchants must validate their PCI DSS compliance within 90 days from the date of the PCI DSS Service Fee billing. All merchants, no matter the size, are responsible for completing an annual Self Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and, if applicable completing a quarterly scan with an Approved Scan Vendor (ASV).

The payment of such fee does not relieve you of your responsibility to comply with all rules and regulations related to cardholder data security.

If you have already completed your Self Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), and vulnerability scan (if applicable), for the calendar year of 2010, please fax your certificate of compliance to 877.649.0021.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PCI STANDARDS AND SECURITY METRICS?