Visa Launches new Financial Literacy Initiative in the Middle East

UAE - 25 February 2010: Visa, a leading payment solutions provider, has launched its new MyMoneySkills website (www.mymoneyskills.me) featuring a free FIFA World Cup(TM) branded educational video game designed to help people of all ages from the Middle East strengthen their knowledge of personal finance. Unveiled at Gulf Educational Supplies and Solutions (GESS) 2010 in Dubai, Visa's dedicated financial literacy website in the Middle East is a core part of the company's global commitment to reach 20 million people worldwide with financial literacy information by May 2013.

Providing fundamental personal finance information in both Arabic and English on topics such as learning how to plan a budget, preparing for the future, using a credit card wisely and spending responsibly, MyMoneySkills and Financial Football form an engaging platform for young people, families and schools to improve their financial literacy skills.

Visiting Dubai to launch Visa's financial literacy programme in the Middle East, Jason Alderman, Senior Director of global financial literacy at Visa and creator of Financial Football, said: 'Mymoneyskills.me and Financial Football will become the cornerstone of Visa's Middle East financial literacy effort. The Middle East is a priority for Visa, which is why this is one of the first regions where we are launching Financial Football.'

Harnessing the popularity of football in the Middle East and worldwide, Visa has created the FIFA World Cup(TM)- themed Financial Football, a free, fast-paced, educational video game that tests players' knowledge of financial management skills as they advance down field and try to score goals. The Middle East is the fourth region in which Visa has rolled out the game, following Brazil, the U.S. and Mexico. In the coming months, Financial Football will be introduced in an additional 20 countries in the lead up 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM), including Canada, China, Japan, Russia and South Africa.

Lama Kabbani, Corporate Communications Manager for Visa in the Middle East, said: 'Visa launched its Financial Football programme in the Middle East at GESS 2010, the premier event for the region's growing education sector. Being on the ground at GESS gives us direct access to almost 5,000 public and private school teachers visiting the exhibition from across the GCC, allowing us a unique opportunity to communicate our financial literacy message. Visitors to Visa's stand at GESS will receive a free financial literacy pack containing a copy of Financial Football to use with their students.'

Financial Football and MyMoneySkills are the latest components of Visa's decade-long commitment to financial literacy which has helped millions of people worldwide learn how to manage their money wisely.

About Visa Inc.
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is one of the world's most advanced processing networks--VisaNet--that is capable of handling more than 10,000 transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank, and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa's innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit usa.visa.com/about-visa/our_business.html.

Visa: Eleanor Jack, d'pr - Tel: +971 4 344 4901 or +971 50 1033 161 email: eleanor@d-pr.ae

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