Card combines exceptional discounts on everyday items; mobile, online tools also help to manage students’ finances

Coconut Creek, FL and Boulder, CO -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/19/2010 -- Campus Dough DebitSmart™ Visa® Prepaid Card, the newest solution for improving college student money management, is here.

The reloadable card is a first in several ways for students and parents: It offers clarity with transparently disclosed fees that are less than virtually any other similar card; it provides outstanding, five to 60 percent discounts at thousands of collegians' favorite places – more than any other card; it arms students and their families with online and mobile money management tools and online banking for better control of their finances.

"Today, college students and their parents face mounting financial pressures and money management challenges," commented Sarah Schupp, CEO of University Parent Media, the co-sponsor of the card. "So we created Campus Dough as a solution to help alleviate these concerns. The card does not have the penalties of a traditional card, and it helps students avoid other fees such as overdrafts on banking accounts.

"Campus Dough also allows students to use mobile and online banking as well as easy money management tools that include automatic spending alerts via text messages."

A leading resource for parents of students at nearly 120 colleges and universities, University Parent Media teamed with StorValue, the industry leader of co-branded and rewards-based prepaid cards, and issuer MetaBank™, to issue Campus Dough. The complete list of Campus Dough card fees and benefits is available at www.campusdough.com. Unlike credit cards, there is no credit application. All U.S. residents, resident aliens, and those in possession of a Matricula Consular are eligible for the Campus Dough card.

University Parent Media recently conducted an informal, qualitative online survey revealing that half of the respondents were not aware that the 2010 Credit CARD Act increased the difficulty for those under 21 to get a credit card without a parent or guardian co-signer. More than one half of the respondents were hopeful that a debit card could help them to better manage their finances than a credit card.

"Designing the optimal program for college students and their parents required that we listen to their feedback on card safety, convenience, fees and discounts," added Thomas Borzilleri, CEO of StorValue. "We also had to educate families that our new generation of prepaid debit cards is for everyone because not only does it offer one-of-a-kind rewards and discounts, but with online bill-pay and ATM services, it eliminates the need for many people – including students - to maintain a checking account. These are the kind of features that consumers should demand from their prepaid debit card and Campus Dough delivers them."

Additional Campus Dough card discounts and deals will be available on Facebook and Twitter, so individuals should sign up as Fans at www.facebook.com/CampusDough and Followers at www.twitter.com/CampusDough for both special offers and news. The Campus Dough campaign is coming soon, offering new cardholders exciting rewards and specials.

About University Parent Media™
University Parent Media, based in Boulder, Colo., produces print and online guides for parents of students in partnership with nearly 120 universities and colleges in 34 states. Each University Parent Guide offers institution-specific information on college orientation, parent programs, admissions, financial planning, health and safety, off-campus housing and much more. Visit www.universityparent.com. Follow on Twitter @4collegeparents and join Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/collegeparents.

About StorValue™
StorValue™ is the country's fastest-growing program manager and distributor of branded stored value prepaid debit cards. Emerging as the industry leader in providing rewards-based and loyalty-branded card solutions, its programs deliver unmatched benefits, features, and resources to a wide variety of businesses and consumers. StorValue's™ cards provide security, convenience, and value-added benefits to cardholders, while allowing sponsoring businesses and organizations to provide a vital and engaging service to their stakeholders. For more information, please visit http://www.storvalue.com or call 877-481-9333 ext 101.

About MetaBank™
MetaBank is a federally-chartered savings bank regulated by the Office of Thrift Supervision. Meta Financial Group, Inc.® is the holding company for MetaBank, Meta Payment Systems®, and Meta Trust Company®. For more information visit http://www.metacash.com.

Media Contacts:

University Parent Media
Jerry W. Lewis
303.875.7547

StorValue
Linda Press
CorpCommunicators
310.877.6145

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

New debit card gives collegians shopping, restaurant discounts; Parents to ensure security, responsible spending

Coconut Creek, FL and Boulder, CO -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/18/2010 -- University Parent Media™ and StorValue Card Solutions™ are addressing the latest issue on campuses across America: What will students do without a credit card?

The Credit CARD Act, making it more difficult for students under 21 to be issued a credit card, went into effect on February 22, 2010, creating the need for a safe and convenient on-campus spending solution.

A leading resource for parents of students at nearly 120 colleges and universities, University Parent, has teamed with StorValue, the industry leader of co-branded and rewards-based prepaid cards, and issuer MetaBank™, to offer the answer: the Campus Dough DebitSmart™ Visa® Prepaid Card. The reloadable card enables students to receive discounts on purchases at thousands of brick-and-mortar and online retailers – from leading pizza chains and fast-food restaurants to bookstores, coffee shops and downloadable music sites. In addition, students and any family members holding the card will be able to receive prescription discounts at more than 56,000 pharmacies across the country.

The Campus Dough card, which will be available to all university students and their families nationwide, will launch in April. University Parent will detail the cards rewards and features in the coming weeks in print and online University Parent Guides, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

"Campus Dough is the best way for students to manage money," explains Sarah Schupp, CEO of University Parent. "With our online tools, Campus Dough will allow students to improve their money management skills, and at the same time earn rewards from merchants and raise funds for their school. With our innovative card, students can take control of their spending and avoid credit card late fees or overdrafts on their checking accounts."

Through Visa, Campus Dough cardholders will be given online educational information on practical money skills for life and financial literacy geared to university students. In addition, StorValue™ will be implementing an online tool for cardholders to track expenses. All of the spending from the Campus Dough cards will be automatically downloaded into an online program for budget analysis and management for students to track their spending.

Thomas Borzilleri, CEO of StorValue, says, "StorValue helped University Parent to develop an innovative answer to a critical market problem, while further engaging the organization's stakeholders: parents, college students and the businesses that serve them. We worked to make the program even more valuable by offering one-of-a-kind rewards, customized budget analysis and educational tools. This is a perfect example of how StorValue collaborates with brands like University Parent from concept to activation, creating a seamless 'end-to-end' solution to achieve a successful co-branded rewards program through prepaid cards such as Campus Dough."

The Visa co-branded Campus Dough prepaid card will be reloadable, and funds can be allocated from a payroll direct deposit, checking account or GreenDot and Western Union retail locations nationwide. The Campus Dough DebitSmart Visa Prepaid Card will be used to make purchases at more than 20 million locations where Visa prepaid cards are accepted and have access to millions of ATMs worldwide.

About University Parent Media™
University Parent Media, based in Boulder, Colo., produces print and online guides for parents of students in partnership with 116 universities and colleges in 34 states. Sarah Schupp, then an undergraduate student at the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business entrepreneurship program, founded UPM in 2003.

Each University Parent Guide offers institution-specific information on college orientation, parent programs, admissions, financial planning, health and safety, off-campus housing and much more. Visit http://www.universityparent.com. Follow on Twitter @4collegeparents and join Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/collegeparents.

About StorValue™
StorValue™ is the country's fastest-growing program manager and distributor of branded stored value prepaid debit cards. Emerging as the industry leader in providing rewards-based and loyalty-branded card solutions, our programs deliver unmatched benefits, features, and resources to a wide variety of businesses and consumers. StorValue's™ cards provide security, convenience, and value-added benefits to cardholders, while allowing sponsoring businesses and organizations to provide a vital and engaging service to their stakeholders. For more information, please visit http://www.storvalue.com or call 877-481-9333 ext 101.

About MetaBank™
MetaBank is a federally-chartered savings bank regulated by the Office of Thrift Supervision. Meta Financial Group, Inc.® is the holding company for MetaBank, Meta Payment Systems®, and Meta Trust Company®. For more information visit http://www.metacash.com.

Media Contacts:
University Parent Media, Jerry W. Lewis, 303.875.7547
StorValue, Linda Press, CorpCommunicators, 310.877.6155

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm