Minneapolis, February 27, 2004–Fargo Electronics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRGO) announced today that John E. Ekers has joined the company as Product Marketing Director for Software and Solutions. Mr. Ekers will direct customer solution marketing efforts for Fargo, in addition to managing overall electronic card (e-card) strategy. He will also manage the Fargo Technology Alliance, a global technology group that unites industry-leading solution providers with Fargo’s distribution partners to create advanced card identity options in the areas of biometrics, smart cards, systems integration and software. Based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Fargo markets card identity authentication systems and solutions that personalize plastic cards complete with digital images, text, lamination and electronically encoded information.

Prior to joining Fargo, Mr. Ekers worked as an independent business consultant for two years, serving clients in the areas of sales, marketing and business management related to the field of smart cards and card technology. He also spent seven years in business development and operations positions with Gemplus, the world’s largest manufacturer of smart card based solutions. At Gemplus, he served as the Director of the Advanced Personalization Technology Group, leading the company’s U.S. efforts on personalization solutions. He also spent two years as the head of Bureau Operations for the Americas.

“We are excited to have John Ekers on board,” said Kathleen Phillips, Fargo’s head of sales and marketing. “The breadth of John’s work in business development, sales, marketing and operations is impressive. His experience and contacts in the world of smart cards and systems make him an extremely valuable asset to our company.”

About Fargo

Fargo is the world’s leader in innovative technologies for desktop plastic card personalization systems. Based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Fargo is the only manufacturer to offer three distinct technologies in printing systems–High Definition Printing™ (reverse image), traditional Direct-to-Card printing (dye-sublimation), and CardJet Printing™ technology (inkjet)–to personalize plastic identification cards, complete with digital images and text, lamination, and electronically encoded information.

Personalized identification cards provide physical, information, and transaction security for a wide variety of applications and environments including Corporations, National IDs, Drivers’ Licenses, Universities, Schools, Government Installations, Transportation, Casinos, Healthcare Facilities, E-commerce, Retail Stores, Correctional Institutions, Associations, Sports Events and Recreation Sites. More than 70,000 Fargo systems have been sold in the U.S. and in over 80 other countries. For more information, visit Fargo’s Web site at http://www.fargo.com.