Salt Lake City, Utah, July 15, 2001 – The Eliot Management Group (EMG), a national provider of credit card processing and check services, announced today that it is forming a marketing alliance with Cowan’s Retail Systems, provider and developer of complex cash register and software management systems, to bring comprehensive payment solution packages to medium and large retail, restaurant, and lodging businesses. 

The alliance will give both companies the ability to bundle credit card processing service, check protection and collection services, and gift card services with a complete line of standard and complex cash register, cash management, and credit card processing software, equipment, systems, and programs to medium and large retail, restaurant, and lodging businesses.  As a direct provider for Visa and MasterCard credit card processing services and other electronic payment solutions, EMG has the ability to provide rates and fees for credit card processing services and backend servicing expertise that will compliment Cowan’s experience and expertise in developing and deploying complex payment equipment, software and systems in a variety of medium and large business environments.

“Our combined offerings will address the payment processing and management needs of every type and size of client in the market today” States Welby Evangelista, Vice President of Business Development for EMG.  “Our customers will now have a myriad of choices and innovative solutions available to them to process everything from cash to credit cards delivered competently by one entity.” 

“We are very excited about this partnership because it gives us the opportunity to deliver our brand of equipment and service with an integrated ability to process every electronic payment component that we have had to depend on different entities in the past.” Quotes Jason Cowan, General Manager of Cowan’s Retail System. “EMG will help us assure that the quality of service to our clients is never compromised and that they are receiving the best combination of rates and services with a wide array of choices for payment processing equipment.” 

About EMG
Eliot Management Group provides credit card processing service to thousands of businesses across the United States. EMG offers Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, Diners and Debit enrollment and processing service. Eliot Management Group also provides credit card processing equipment sales, repair, and installation, check protection services, and gift and loyalty card solutions.

Eliot Management Group is based in Salt Lake City, Utah and has local offices in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah; Boise, Idaho; Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; Sacramento, California; Seattle and Tacoma, Washington; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For more information about Eliot Management Group, contact Welby Evangelista at (801) 933-5581.  

About Cowan’s Retail Systems
Cowan's Retail Systems, Inc. provides enterprise applications for the hospitality and retail industry throughout Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana supporting over 1,500 clients.  In addition to products from EMG, Cowan's Retail Systems represents POS products from Micros, Panasonic, TEC and Keystroke.

For more information on Cowan's Retail Systems and its advanced information technology solutions for the hospitality and retail industries, please contact Jason Cowan at (801) 486-2151. You can also visit Cowan's Retail Systems web site at www.cowansretail.com or send an email to jcowan@cowansretail.com.