LOS ANGELES, (BUSINESS WIRE), April 22, 2003–First National Bank Omaha, a division of First National of Nebraska, will over the next two years issue 100,000 Visa smart cards from Oberthur Card Systems, one of the leading suppliers of smart cards to American financial institutions. The smart card rollout is one of the first of its kind in the Midwest and allows First National Bank Omaha to offer its customers the best possible protection against card fraud and a range of personal data management applications. Oberthur is a supplier for four of the nation’s largest financial services smart card programs and the number one provider for Visa and MasterCard worldwide.

“Oberthur’s card solution allows us to build much deeper relationships with our customers by delivering tools and services that make their lives easier,” said George Schmelzel, Senior Vice President of marketing of First National Bank Omaha. “The in-built benefits of our cards will extend beyond the realm of personal banking, helping our customers to more effectively manage all kinds of personal information.”

Among the advanced services First National Bank Omaha will deliver at no extra cost to its customers is fileIt^SM, a “Convenience Storage” application that allows individuals to store personal data–birthdays, a social security number or frequent flyer details, for example–securely in the card’s memory. In addition, the card can be updated online from First National Bank Omaha’s web site, ensuring the customers have the latest, most secure smart card applications without having to receive a new card.

The Convenience Storage application is based upon smart Visa Framework, a comprehensive set of commands, data structures, security protocols and access methods developed by Visa U.S.A. and Oberthur to help manage personal data. The First National Bank Omaha program will be based on Oberthur’s advanced CosmopolIC Lite smart card.

“We have a long and successful history of providing innovative card solutions to First National Bank Omaha,” said Philippe Tartavull, president and CEO of Oberthur Card Systems’ North American division. “We share with the bank a creative, customer-driven approach to financial services and this latest agreement is another manifestation of our willingness to push back the boundaries of card functionality.”

About Oberthur Card Systems

With sales of 440.2 million euros in 2002, Oberthur Card Systems is one of the world’s leading providers of card-based solutions, software and applications including SIM and multi-application smart cards and services ranging from consulting to personalization.

Innovative products, security expertise and high quality services ensure Oberthur’s strong positioning in its three main target markets.–Payment: 54% of 2002 revenues. The company is the world leader and number one supplier for Visa and MasterCard.–Mobile Communications: 29% of 2002 revenues, with open and interoperable solutions based on Java™ technology.–Authentication and Network Security: emerging markets in which the company plays a pioneering role, with strong expertise in security and a dominant position in e-commerce and Pay-TV.

Close to its customers, Oberthur Card Systems benefits from an industrial and commercial presence across all five continents. Listed on the Euronext Stock Exchange (Euroclear code 12413) since July 2000, Oberthur Card Systems is a subsidiary of the Francois-Charles Oberthur Group.

For more information, visit http://www.oberthurusa.com and http://www.oberthurcs.com.

About First National Bank Omaha

First National Bank Omaha’s parent company, First National of Nebraska, is one of the largest bank holding companies headquartered west of the Mississippi River. First National and its affiliates have nearly $13 billion in managed assets and more than 6,700 employee associates located across the U.S. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, South Dakota, Texas and Georgia.

Contacts

Oberthur Card Systems
Francine Dubois, 310/884-7981 (Media)
Francine.dubois@oberthurusa.com

or

Casey Sayre & Williams
Jeremy Morgan, 310/458-1224 (Media)
jmorgan@cswpr.com