BATTELLE, CYBERMARK COMPLETE SUCCESSFUL TESTING
OF DIGITAL CASH TRANSFER FROM SMART CARD

Battelle and CyberMark Inc. recently completed the initial development testing of a new, multi-application smart card that enables users to pay for a variety of items, ranging from sweat shirts at the company fitness center to vending machine coffee.

The system will offer "digital cash" for small purchases, secure transaction processing for purchases over networks, and provide personal information management.

An official for CyberMark said it has demonstrated the transfer of cash value from an account at the Huntington National Bank to a smart card at the Columbus headquarters of Battelle.

Battelle is the technical contractor for the system. Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, headquartered in Columbus, provides the front-end banking system for the financial component of the smart card.

CyberMark's smart card, identical in size and shape to current credit cards, contains a microprocessor chip rather than the magnetic stripe currently used on credit cards. The micro-processor chip provides more data storage capacity and functionality than the magnetic stripe.

Cardholders will be able to use the card to store and access information, such as bank account and health insurance data; as a key to home, office, or parking facilities, and to purchase goods or services.

Essentially, a user can transfer money from a bank account to the smart card. The user can then use the smart card to make purchases, as long as the purchase price does not exceed the amount placed on the card.

The card is a more modern version of a debit card, which automatically withdraws money from a checking account.

For example, a user can transfer $100 from a bank account to the smart card. The card now has the value of $100.

With each subsequent purchase, the amount of the product or service bought is subtracted from the card. The money is electronically transferred into the account of the seller.

When the $100 has been used up, the user cannot use the card. It will not function as a credit card. To reactivate the card, more money must be transferred on to the card.

"We're pleased to be part of this exciting development in smart-card based intelligent payment systems and believe this initiative is a natural extension of The Huntington's philosophy of bringing technology and banking together, allowing customers greater convenience and access to banking than ever before," said Peter Geier, Executive Vice President of Consumer Services to Huntington Bancshares.

The CyberMark technology is a fully-integrated hardware, software, and services platform for smart cards, providing data storage, enhanced security, transaction processing, and a choice of payment methods.

The system assures transaction integrity through enhanced encryption and security features, supports delivery of information and services over networks, and interfaces directly with the U.S. payments network. The system includes an integrated set of hardware devices that enables loading and reloading of digital cash from cash machines, bank accounts, or credit cards, and accepts payment at vending machines, retail locations, and personal computers.

After completion of further testing, the system is expected to be commercially available early in 1996. Demonstrations of the technology are currently available at Battelle's Columbus facility.

Battelle serves industry and government by developing, commercializing, and managing technology. With a wide range of scientific and technical capabilities, Battelle puts technology to work for clients in 30 countries.

CyberMark, Inc. is a smart card technology and services company providing secure intelligent payments systems for electronic commerce and multi-functional service delivery.

Huntington Bancshares is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with assets in excess of $20 billion. The company's banking subsidiaries operate 327 offices in Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Huntington's mortgage, trust, investment banking, and automobile finance subsidiaries manage 72 offices in the seven states mentioned as well as Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

For more information, contact:
Battelle - Robin Yocum, 614-424-5544
CyberMark - Alison Coventry, 202-298-2991
Huntington Bancshares Inc. - David Jacobs, 614-480-4433