Paybefore has chosen StoreFinancial and Downtown Boise as a Paybefore Awards winner in the Best Closed Loop or RAN Gift Card Program. Paybefore Awards, now in its fourth year, are the most prestigious recognition of excellence in the worldwide prepaid and stored value card industry. They are presented annually by Prepaid Media, whose Paybefore publications are the leading source of industry information for the global prepaid community.

“We are honored to receive a Paybefore Award for the Best Closed Loop Gift Card Program. The recognition reinforces our ongoing efforts for a program that directly benefits our downtown merchants and provides the community with a flexible gift card option that supports our downtown,” said Karen Sander, Executive Director of Downtown Boise Association.

“As our first downtown application, it has been extremely satisfying to see the success Downtown Boise has had with the program in their community. As the program provider, we provide the functionality and support of the RAN gift card program, but a successful program is dependent upon the client executing an exciting marketing campaign. This award recognizes Downtown Boise’s tremendous and effective gift card marketing efforts,” said Jamison Jaworski, VP of Sales and Marketing at StoreFinancial.

StoreFinancial and Downtown Boise’s gift card program was selected by a panel of five industry experts who served as judges for this year’s competition. A record number of entries from around the world were received.

“Paybefore applauds the leaders in our industry who are applying the flexibility and appeal of prepaid to innovate on behalf of consumers, governments and businesses,” said Marilyn Bochicchio, Paybefore CEO and chair of the judging panel.

“StoreFinancial and Downtown Boise have distinguished themselves in a tough field of competition,” she continued. “We are proud to recognize their contributions to advancing the use of prepaid products.”

Downtown Boise gift card redemptions are restricted to participating downtown merchants, making it a true downtown program. Currently, over 260 merchants participate in the program, including shops, restaurants, entertainment locations and the public parking garages. Gift cards are available for purchase at three retail locations, the Downtown Boise Association office, and online.

StoreFinancial and Downtown Boise now will vie for best-in-category distinction, which will be announced during the Paybefore Awards ceremony on Feb. 22 at the Prepaid Expo USA (www.prepaidexpousa.com).

About Downtown Boise Association

Downtown Boise Association Mission: To be the steward for the promotion and operation of Downtown Boise as an attractive, safe and vibrant place to work, shop, live and play. To learn more, visit www.downtownboise.org.

About StoreFinancial

StoreFinancial is an industry leading provider of specialty prepaid card programs in the US, Europe, Canada and Puerto Rico, currently supporting over 500 card programs. StoreFinancial is uniquely positioned to offer full service card programs to clients and partners in multiple markets. StoreFinancial’s specialty prepaid solutions drive traffic, build loyalty, and increase awareness for clients in multiple industries. To learn more, visit www.storefinancial.com.

About Paybefore

Paybefore is the leading information provider to prepaid and stored value industry professionals, offering the latest news, commentary and analysis. Paybefore’s family of industry publications include: Paybefore.com™, a searchable online information portal; Paybefore News™, daily news briefs delivered electronically; Paybefore News International™, a weekly compilation of prepaid news and events from outside the United States; Paybefore Update™, a downloadable enewsletter delivered 20 times a year; Paybefore Legal™, a downloadable enewsletter covering the legislative, regulatory and judicial developments in prepaid, as well as feature articles by leading attorneys in the field; Paybefore Magazine™, a biannual print publication highlighting the best of Paybefore; and Paybefore Buyer’s Guide™, available online and in print. Visit us at www.paybefore.com.