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Sydney, 19 December 2006 - Nine out of ten Australians see benefits in giving pre-paid gift cards this Christmas, like the MasterCard gift card that can be spent in millions of locations around the world. Research Conducted by MasterCard Worldwide showed that the most attractive qualities of prepaid gift cards are their effectiveness as a budgetary tool and their popularity.

"MasterCard research shows 95 per cent of Australians broke their budget last Christmas and spent more than they meant to on presents. But this Christmas pre-paid gift cards such as MasterCard's are proving a popular budgeting tool, with 86 per cent of Australians believing they would be less likely to go over budget if they bought gift cards as presents," said Leigh Clapham, executive vice president, Australasia, MasterCard Worldwide.

"At Christmas time we are all tempted into spending more than we mean to, but this time around Australian's are being sensible and looking for ways to keep control of their spending. The MasterCard gift cards allow consumers to stick to a strict budget for presents, safe in the knowledge that their gift will be well received," said Clapham.

"The MasterCard gift cards are proving excellent presents because, unlike traditional gift cards or vouchers, they don't tie you to a single store and can be used in millions of locations, over the phone, over the internet and all over the world. Last year the majority of Australian's either gave or received a gift card and this year they are even more popular," Clapham added.

The survey, conducted by Galaxy Research on behalf of MasterCard Worldwide, found that almost all of us have received a present we didn't like. And this Christmas eight out of ten Australians would rather buy a pre-paid gift card for someone than a present that might not be appreciated.

"Nine out of ten Australians received a present they didn't like last Christmas and to avoid giving unwanted gifts this year, Australians are increasingly turning to gift cards. The cards are proving particularly popular gifts for those picky family members who are difficult to buy for. Seventy one per cent of consumers would consider giving a gift card to a choosy family member and 55 per cent would consider them for teenage relatives," continued Clapham.

"Our research indicates that in many circumstances a pre-paid gift card may even be more popular than a traditional gift of the same dollar value. Seventy five per cent of those surveyed said that they would prefer a MasterCard style gift card loaded with $200 over a traditional present worth the same amount," added Clapham.

Westpac launched its first ever pre-paid gift card with MasterCard in November. The Westpac MasterCard Gift Card costs just $4.95, can be loaded with anything from $15 to $800 and is valid for 12 months and comes with a stylish greeting card. Unlike traditional gift cards, it doesn't limit shopping to one store, so the shopping opportunities are endless! It's available from any Westpac branch including the busiest ones open on Saturdays. It can be used for multiple purchases, including shopping online, over the phone and in person at the millions of locations worldwide where MasterCard is accepted.

About the MasterCard pre-paid gift card research
The research was conducted by Galaxy Research online among members of the Pure Profile panel. The questionnaire was hosted online and for each question the respondent has to click on the response which represented their answer. The study was conducted among 804 respondents aged 18-64 years. The sample was stratified by age and area to match the profile of the Australian population. Fieldwork was completed in November. Following completion of interviewing, the data was weighted by age, gender and area to reflect the latest ABS population estimates.

The research was conducted by Galaxy Research online among members of the Pure Profile panel. The questionnaire was hosted online and for each question the respondent has to click on the response which represented their answer. The study was conducted among 804 respondents aged 18-64 years. The sample was stratified by age and area to match the profile of the Australian population. Fieldwork was completed in November. Following completion of interviewing, the data was weighted by age, gender and area to reflect the latest ABS population estimates.

MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes over 16 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial institution customers and merchants. Through its family of brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®, MasterCard Worldwide serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to www.mastercardworldwide.com.

Melissa Devine, 02 9818 0950, mdevine@ppr.com.au
Michael Pooley, 02 9818 9310, mpooley@ppr.com.au