Tefisto Partners Announces Advisement Services for Prepaid Telecommunications, Financial Services and Stored Value Opportunities Focused on the Unbanked

Offers Specialized Knowledge and Real World Expertise to Chain Store Retailers, Product & Service Providers, Distributors, Transaction Processors and Private Equity Firms

Tempe, AZ (PRWEB) August 16, 2004

Tefisto Partners, a consulting practice focused on the emerging Prepaid Telecommunications, Financial Services and Stored Value space, today announced the availability of its Advisement Service, developed to show various interested parties how to unlock opportunities within the Unbanked, Credit Challenged, Minority and Teen markets.

Keith Brand, the former Director of Category Development for Circle K Stores responsible for Prepaid Telecommunications, Financial Services and Stored Value offerings, has formed Tefisto Partners in order to offer knowledge and expertise to parties interested in uncovering business opportunities in these areas.

The United States is experiencing an explosion of new products and services designed to meet the previously unmet communication and financial service needs of the unbanked, underbanked, credit challenged, youth and minorities" according to Mr. Brand, President of Tefisto Partners. These offerings now include Prepaid Telecommunications, Prepaid Debit Cards, Stored Value Gift Cards, Check Cashing, Money Transfer, Walk-up Bill Payment and more."

The idea of 'Fringe Banking -- financial products and services geared toward individuals who do not engage with traditional banking and payment services - is a recent phenomena" according to Mr. Brand. And instead of visiting a bank branch, this formerly underserved market segment will now visit easy to access outlets to fulfill their financial service needs -- including cashing their checks, paying their bills, transferring money, and loading value onto prepaid debit cards and phones. The diverse outlets serving this clientele will include quick serve restaurants, video rental chains, postal facilities, traditional chain store merchants and more. If a location has traffic, it has opportunity."

Chain store retailers, product and service providers, distributors, electronic transaction processors and venture capitalists could all see tremendous upside opportunity, but only if they understand and seize this new opportunity" continued Mr. Brand. Tefisto Partners team of retail industry experts has spent years gaining valuable real world experience, expertise and insight into the prepaid / fringe banking space, which we will now share with our clients in order to quickly enable their success."

The data show a large potential customer base, combined with explosive projected product and service growth numbers.

•   Nielson reports 15% of US citizens are unbanked"
•   CSU Fullerton recently reported that 41% of US Hispanics are unbanked"
•   Morgan Stanley recently reported that 15 Million US Teens will become Prepaid Wireless customers between 2004 and 2006, and that 31 Million US citizens have a credit rating of poor".
•   The US Census reported in 2002 that 34 Million US citizens are living below the poverty level.
•   Yankee Group reported that over 20% of US Wireless subscribers will be Prepaid by 2005
•   Pelorus Group projects 40 Million prepaid debit cards to be issued in 2007, with over $5 Billion in loaded value.
•   FiSCA reports that check cashers processed over 180 Million checks in 2002, worth over $60 Billion, growing 10% annually
•   MarketData reports that money transfer is growing at a 20% to 30% annual rate
•   Nielson projects the stored value market will soar from $32 Billion in 2001 to $225 Billion in 2020

Tefisto Partners Advisory Services are tailored to each individual client

•   Chain store retailers: We will show you how to generate significant new revenue streams and customer traffic by bringing new stored value and fringe banking products and services to market, in the most effective, efficient and profitable way possible. Well lead or accentuate your strategic planning process, serving as your outsourced category management planning and implementation team.

•   Product and Service Providers: We will ensure you are best positioned to win in the marketplace with innovative targeted marketing and superior product positioning, while being customer-centric and retailer-friendly.

•   Distributors: We will activate your offering for the unbanked by bringing our product and service partners to you, ensuring that your offering is robust, well communicated and leading-edge.

•   Private Equity Firms: We will serve as your advisor as you seek out investment opportunities in this space, helping you understand the myriad offerings, product and service providers, customer targets and market dynamics, and well help you identify the companies and players that are best positioned to win.

•   Electronic Transaction Processors: We will position you to win with retailers and distributors seeking a scaleable, multi-application electronic processing solution and robust product offering.

For additional information on this advisory service and Tefisto Partners, contact Keith Brand at 602.750.8055, or keith@tefistopartners.com. Interested parties should also visit www.tefistopartners.com.

About Tefisto Partners:

Tefisto Partners, based in Tempe, Arizona, is a consulting / outsourced category management practice made up of retail industry veterans who specialize in strategic business planning, product development, marketing communications and supply chain management within the Prepaid Telecom / Financial Services / Stored Value space.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Keith Brand
President
Tefisto Partners, Inc.
602.750.8055
http://www.tefistopartners.com

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