Press Office

Auckland, 5 May 2009 - MasterCard Incorporated on 4 May 2009 announced strong first quarter 2009 results for the Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA)^[1] region. For the quarter ending 31 March 2009, the region witnessed growth in gross dollar volume (16.1%), purchase volume¹ (15.0%), purchase transactions (16.8%), cash transactions (28.9%) and cards issued (15.0%) versus the same period in 2008.

As of 31 March 2009, nearly 248 million MasterCard cards (excluding Maestro^® and Cirrus) had been issued by MasterCard customer financial institutions across APMEA. Cardholders in the region made more than 932 million purchase transactions in the first quarter of 2009 and could use their MasterCard cards at 28.8 million acceptance locations worldwide.

"Our performance in APMEA continues to be healthy. This can be attributed to the region's customer-focused strategy and smart business planning in collaboration with customers. Our commercial rigor, accountability and efficient delivery are precisely qualities that our customers seek to help navigate these challenging economic times, said Andre Sekulic, president, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard Worldwide.

For the quarter ending 31 March 2009, the Maestro^® brand mark appeared on over 194 million cards in APMEA. Consumers can now make debit point of sale purchases with their Maestro cards at nearly 922,000 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 2009.

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 approximately 21 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial-institution customers and merchants. Powered by the MasterCard Worldwide Network and 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 www.mastercard.com.

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 advance its customer-focused strategy and continue to collaborate with customers to plan smartly; and
• the company’s ability to continue to be commercially rigorous, accountable and efficient in meeting customers' needs during these challenging economic times.

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, 2008, 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 and 2009, 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.