MIAMI, FL –The Smart Card Alliance announced the 2005 OSCA awards for “Outstanding Smart Card Achievement” (OSCA) in the North American smart card industry during its recent annual conference in Miami. Selected for awards were Chase Bank USA as Outstanding Issuing Organization and Robert Brandewie, director, Defense Manpower Data Center for Individual Leadership.

Winners of the two OSCA awards are selected from nominees by a panel of previous OSCA award winners along with individuals from the analyst and media communities.

“The OSCA awards acknowledge outstanding leadership and accomplishment in the smart card industry by those dedicated to improving and developing the industry overall,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “Each of these recipients has helped move the industry forward in areas such as contactless payments, identity authentication, physical access control and information systems security.”

–As the leading credit card issuer with over 100 million credit cards in circulation, Chase has taken a trail-blazing role in the issuance of contactless smart cards to its payment cardholders in the U. S. While other major payment card issuers in the U. S. adopted a “wait and see” attitude, Chase moved aggressively ahead with the issuance of its contactless cards in 2005, called Chase credit cards with “blink.” The contactless payment feature provides a new level of convenience, security and opportunity to cardholders across the country.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the Smart Card Alliance for our accomplishments, and we appreciate the support of not only the Alliance members, but all members of the payments industry,” said Scott Rau, senior vice president of Payments for Chase, who accepted the award. “Chase credit cards with blink allow consumers to enjoy speed and convenience payment benefits, and allow merchants to provide a faster and enhanced point of sale experience. At Chase, we are excited about the future of blink and introducing blink in other markets, with other retailers and with current and new Chase cardmembers.”

–Mr. Brandewie has provided more than 30 years of service and leadership to DMDC, which received the 2004 OSCA for an issuing organization. During his tenure, he oversaw the largest and most comprehensive automated personnel database in the U. S. Department of Defense (DoD) and managed a dozen major operational DoD programs, including the DoD’s smart card program, known as the Common Access Card (CAC), with over 7.6 million cards issued to date. Today Brandewie continues to contribute to the industry through his active role in extending the DoD’s CAC program and promoting Federal smart card initiatives.

“I am a strong believer in the use of smart cards as a means of identification and am deeply honored to be recognized for that conviction,” said Mr. Brandewie. “I always envisioned smart cards as the centerpiece to a more secure operation and am excited to finally see it come to fruition.”

These awards come at a timely moment in the North American smart card market. The smart card market will grow rapidly over the next five years throughout the Americas, according to new research announced by Frost & Sullivan and the Smart Card Alliance. North American microcontroller smart card shipments will top 132 million units in 2005 and grow at a rapid 27.7 percent compound annual rate through 2010. In Latin America, growth will be even more spectacular. Frost & Sullivan forecasts a 59.1 percent compound annual growth rate for shipments during the same period. Shipments in the Latin America were 136.4 million microcontroller smart cards in 2005.

About the Smart Card Alliance The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to accelerate the acceptance of smart card technology.

Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. and Latin America. For more information, please visit www.smartcardalliance.org.