Accredited Standards Committee X9 Developing New Merchant Data Security Technology Standard

Heartland Payment Systems to Host Planning Meeting for Brainstorming Technical
Approaches to Protecting Sensitive Payment Cardholder Data

PRINCETON, N.J.--(Business Wire)--
The Accredited Standards Committee X9 (ASC X9), accredited by the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI), is embarking on the development of a new
standard to protect cardholder data in the electronic payments industry. ASC X9
develops, maintains and promotes standards for all financial services in the
United States and pioneered standards for items including the credit card
magnetic stripe and ATM systems.

In advance of formally launching this "Sensitive Card Data Protection Between
Device and Acquiring System" initiative, Heartland Payment Systems is hosting a
preliminary planning workshop on Thursday, May 7, in Plano, TX. There, data
security experts and industry leaders will brainstorm technical approaches to
protecting this data. Ideas generated at this meeting will be presented at ASC
X9`s initial standards development meeting on June 1-5 in Foster City, CA.

"This preliminary meeting marks an important step in expediting the development
of next-generation data security solutions. Exchanging ideas is critical to the
creation of a robust and public standard that protects the security of
cardholder data and safeguards consumers and businesses nationwide," said Bob
Carr, chairman and chief executive officer of Heartland Payment Systems.
Heartland, one of the nation`s largest payments processors, is a member of the
ASC X9 working group. Carr is a strong proponent of information sharing and
end-to-end encryption as a means to enhance consumer data security at all points
of a payments transaction.

"All players in the payments industry have a mutual stake in protecting consumer
information," said Dodd Roberts, president and chief executive officer of the
Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). "It is essential that industry leaders work
together to eliminate all risk to personal information. A meeting like this is
critical to creating the solutions needed." The MAG, also a member of ASC X9, is
a nonprofit industry association that brings together all parties in the
payments industry to collaborate on issues and ensure the voice of merchants is
represented.

About Heartland Payment Systems

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., a NYSE company trading under the symbol HPY,
delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, payroll, check management and
payments solutions to more than 250,000 business locations nationwide. Heartland
is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy
initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing
practices. For more information, please visit www.HeartlandPaymentSystems.com
and www.MerchantBillOfRights.com.

About ASC X9

The Accredited Standards Committee X9, Inc, is the only industry-wide forum that
brings together bankers, securities professionals, manufacturers, regulators,
associations, consultants and others in the financial services arena to address
technical issues, find the best solutions and codify them as nationally and
internationally accepted standards. The American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) officially accredited ASC X9 in 1984. In addition, ASC X9 is recognized
as the official secretariat to the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) committee TC 68 on Banking and Financial Services.

About the Merchant Advisory Group

The Merchant Advisory Group is a 501(c)6 nonprofit industry association that
brings together all parties in the payment industry to collaborate on issues
that concern everyone, and ensure the merchant voice is heard on such issues.
The MAG is a vital source for educational and networking opportunities,
best-practice sharing and information on new technologies. The group is
supported primarily by merchant members and industry stakeholders such as
acquirers, issuers and vendors. For more information, please visit
www.MerchantAdvisoryGroup.org.

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc.
Jason Maloni, 202-973-1335
jason.maloni@e-hps.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009