, I4 Commerce, the leading provider
of alternative payment solutions for multi-channel retailers , today announced
that Gary Marino, CEO, will be a featured speaker next week at the eTail 2005
conference in Philadelphia, held August 1 - 4.wbresearch.

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Annuity
policies also are used in this market, although to a lesser extent.M.
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In his session, Marino will discuss:
* What consumers want and expect in online payment solutions
* How to apply payment knowledge gained in the offline world to online
strategies
* How merchants can address consumer needs while increasing sales
* Examples from merchants who have achieved significant success using
these tactics

For more information on the event and this presentation, please visit the
eTail 2005 conference online at http://www.

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com/etail/. For more information, visit
http: //www.
The persistency of this business is very good, with almost a 100%
retention for preneed life insurance policies written on a
single-premium basis, and higher lapses for modal-pay business ., established in 1899, is the world's oldest and most
authoritative insurance rating and information source.

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Marino also held numerous executive positions in his 13
year career with Citibank's European and North American Card Division.
Mortality is a key concern and must be priced appropriately, as the
mortality rate is significantly higher than for any other life
insurance product.

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Marino , a 20 year veteran of
the credit and payments industries, will be discussing the evolution of the
payments landscape and how multi-channel retailers can employ new payment
strategies to lift sales by addressing their consumer's security and
convenience needs.

Contact:
Gordon Ryan or Scott Love
Schwartz Communications
781-684-0770
i4@schwartz-pr.

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Best Co.

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Best anticipates that the preneed segment will continue to be
highly competitive, with the most successful companies committed to a
long-term value proposition. Best believes near-term challenges will make the
market difficult, with earnings pressures continuing due to spread
compression and limited pricing discipline in certain segments. Best expects that the net number of players in the market will
either be stable or likely will be reduced from current levels over
the next five years.

For more
information, visit A.

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A.M. Best Special Report: Preneed Insurance- A Market Opportunity for Committed U.S. Insurers

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Gary Marino, CEO, I4 Commerce
Gary Marino brings more than 20 years of credit card industry experience
to I4 Commerce.com

About 16% of this business was issued as individual,
single-pay life insurance and 9% individual, multipay life insurance . Based
on survey input and in line with the general trend in the industry,
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The report is based on responses
to A.

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Gary Marino CEO of I4 Commerce to Deliver Keynote on the Power of Payment Options at eTail 2005

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m.M.'s most recently completed industry Annual Life/Health
Supplemental Rating Questionnaires . Best's Web site at http://www.

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Through the company's offerings, merchants can leverage consumer insight to
make successful real-time retailing decisions that drive sales.i4commerce.com.

Business Editors/Insurance Writers

OLDWICK, N.J. Best, more than
$1.

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Marino's presentation, "Payments Power: Strategies For Acquiring New
Customers At The Point Of Sale," will take place on Wednesday, August 3 at
9:15 a.M.

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Prior to joining I4 Commerce, Marino was executive vice president , chief
credit officer and chief marketing officer of the consumer lending division at
First USA /Bank One.
Low interest rates, intense competition, demographics and
increasing regulatory oversight are all issues that have helped shape
the landscape in the preneed segment. Annuity sales are quite significant for some preneed
companies, but for the total market only represent about 9%, divided
between single pay (5%) and multipay (4%).com

Call customer service for more information, (908) 439-2200, ext.

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com

Heather Fields
I4 Commerce
443-921-1961
heather.M. While demographics continue to be
favorable, A.

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The presentation will discuss
strategies for and the benefits of offering a suite of payment options to
address the needs of expanding consumer segments.

About I4 Commerce
I4 Commerce's network of alternative payment solutions helps multi-channel
retailers to attract, satisfy and retain customers at the point-of-sale.
Preneed policies are generally life insurance policies.75 billion of funeral value was issued by the preneed industry
during 2003.
BestWeek subscribers can download a PDF copy of all full special
reports at no additional cost or a combination of the PDF copies plus
all related spreadsheet files of the report data at no additional cost
from our Web site at http://www.bestweek.

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I4 Commerce's alternative payment solutions
are the first new payment methods since credit cards to be so broadly
available within the United States. Instead, that individual likely would purchase a
single-pay annuity and designate the funeral home as the beneficiary. The average age for new preneed contracts is
approximately 71 years old, with in-force at approximately 72.

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Based on the survey of companies rated by A.

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Hundreds of thousands of consumers rely on the safety and convenience of
I4 Commerce's payment solutions when shopping online, via catalog and in-store
to help save both time and money.

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Best Co.
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Industry Expert Available for Interviews at the Show

TIMONIUM, Md. He has expertise in credit management, marketing, Internet
strategy development and general management. These
include chief credit officer and member of the bankcards executive planning
council.
Generally, if a client is "at need" where death is imminent within the
next few months, then preneed life insurance is not really
appropriate. Sales
through third -party marketers generally have lower persistency.M.M.

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ET at the Philadelphia Marriott.fields@i4commerce .----The preneed
segment continues to evolve, influenced by many of the same economic
and environmental factors affecting the broader life and health
insurance industry, according to a recently released special report,
by the A.
Group life insurance issued was the most popular type of product, with
41% single pay and 25% multipay, for a combined 66% of the total
business.com
Nonsubscribers can download a PDF copy of the full special report
(8 pages) for $55 or a combination of the PDF copy plus the
spreadsheet file of the report data for $140 from our Web site at
http://www. Best Co.