AFFN Signs Worldwide Deal WithMasterCard

TAMPA, Fla. - (11/17/04) -- The Armed Forces Financial Network,which is jointly owned by defense credit unions, said Tuesday ithas signed with MasterCard International to allow AFFN-brandeddebit cards to access MasterCard's Maestro merchant and Cirrus ATMterminals worldwide. The deal gives AFFN cardholders access to morethan seven million merchants and 935,000 ATMs around the world. Upuntil now, AFFN cardholders have been limited to only those Maestroand Cirrus machines on military installations overseas. But withmilitary base closures and increased troop movement recently, theDefense Department has asked AFFN to explore ways to expandmerchant and ATM access for its cardholders.