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Sydney, 30 April 2008 - MasterCard Incorporated announced strong first quarter 2008 results for the Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA)¹ region. For the quarter ending 31 March 2008, the region witnessed double-digit growth in gross dollar volume (20.1%), purchase volume² (22.7%), purchase transactions (19.5%), cash transactions (18.8%) and cards issued (15.9%) versus the same period in 2007.

As at 31 March 2008, over 217 million MasterCard cards (excluding Maestro^® and Cirrus) had been issued by MasterCard customer financial institutions across APMEA. Cardholders in the region made more than 800 million purchase transactions in the first quarter of 2008 and could use their MasterCard cards at 26.6 million acceptance locations worldwide.

“Strategically positioned at the heart of commerce, MasterCard achieves success by leveraging our strengths and unique business model that set us apart in the payments industry. The strong results this quarter again demonstrate that our diverse offerings and payments insights are resonating with our customer financial institutions and merchants, who continue to appreciate the value we provide to their businesses,” said Andre Sekulic, president, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard Worldwide.

For the quarter ending 31 March 2008, the Maestro^® brand mark appeared on over 233 million cards in APMEA. Consumers can now make online debit point of sale purchases with their Maestro cards at nearly 917,000 merchant locations in APMEA.

In addition to the performance highlights, MasterCard in the APMEA region also reported a number of significant achievements for the quarter ending 31 March 2008.

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 18 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 serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information, go to http://www.mastercard.com.

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

Statements in this press release which are not historical facts, including statements about MasterCard’s plans, strategies, beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking and subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Accordingly, except for the company’s ongoing obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws, the company does not intend to update or otherwise revise the forward-looking information to reflect actual results of operations, changes in financial condition, changes in estimates, expectations or assumptions, changes in general economic or industry conditions or other circumstances arising and/or existing since the preparation of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of any unanticipated events. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation:

• the company’s ability to continue to achieve success by leveraging its strengths and business model; and
• the company’s ability to demonstrate that its offerings and payment insights are resonating with customer-financial institutions and merchants.

Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements for a number of reasons, including those set forth in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, the company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K that have been filed with the SEC during 2008, as well as reasons including difficulties, delays or the inability of the company to achieve its strategic initiatives set forth above. Factors other than those listed above could also cause the company’s results to differ materially from expected results.