CPI Card Group (Nasdaq:PMTS; TSX:PNT), a global leader in financial and EMV® chip card production and related services, today announced that Barry Mosteller, director of engineering and quality, was appointed vice president of ICMA’s board of directors, expanding his leadership role in the organization after serving on the board for five years. Additionally, 10 employees recently passed the International Card Manufacturers Association’s (ICMA) Advanced Card Education Advanced Technologies (ACE-A) accreditation exam and/or the Advanced Card Education Manufacturing (ACE-M) accreditation exam.

Growing its total to 92 accreditations, CPI Card Group has maintained its position as the world’s most ACE-accredited company. The accreditation from ACE, achieved through a challenging test requiring in-depth knowledge of credit card manufacturing, design and processes, is available to professionals that work for an ICMA member and have at least two years of industry experience.

“We congratulate the CPI team members that received new certifications and applaud Barry for his continued contributions to the ICMA,” said Steve Montross, president and CEO of CPI Card Group. “ICMA’s ACE accreditation program sets the bar for excellence in industry expertise among card manufacturing professionals. Our dedication to serving our customers and meeting the highest standards in card manufacturing for all of our locations is reflected not only in the total number of ACE accreditations among our employees, but particularly in the recent round of accreditation earned by our UK-based employees. We will continue to encourage our team members to challenge themselves, grow their skills and knowledge, and achieve industry recognition moving forward.”

The ACE-M certification reflects the skills and knowledge of card manufacturing professionals in areas including PVC/plastics, inks, adhesives, printing, collation, lamination, die-cutting, and standards/testing. Earlier this year, ICMA launched the ACE-A designation, which evaluates skills and knowledge in advanced materials and card construction, card technologies, security technologies and environmental initiatives.

“As shifting dynamics continue to impact all corners of our industry – including card manufacturers, personalizers, issuers and suppliers – we’re seeing increased demand for advanced education from both professionals and their employers,” added Mosteller, who received the new ACE-A accreditation. “I am honored to be serving the industry and supporting ICMA’s efforts as vice president of the board as we navigate this changing environment.”

In an additional demonstration of CPI Card Group’s close affiliation with ICMA, CPI senior designer Megan (Anthony) Bogard will be presenting at ICMA’s CardTREX North America event this Sept. 27-28, 2016 in Chicago, Ill. Bogard will take the stage to discuss valuable best practices for attention-grabbing financial card design during the event, which offers members of the card manufacturing industry education and networking opportunities. The presentation, titled “Card Design within a Secure Manufacturing Environment,” will take place on the first day of CardTREX, at 9:15 a.m. CT.

About CPI Card Group

CPI Card Group is a leading provider in payment card production and related services, offering a single source for credit, debit and prepaid debit cards including EMV chip, personalization, instant issuance, fulfillment and mobile payment services. With more than 20 years of experience in the payments market and as a trusted partner to financial institutions, CPI’s solid reputation of product consistency, quality and outstanding customer service supports our position as a leader in the market. Serving our customers from ten locations throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, we have the largest network of high security facilities in North America, each of which is certified by one or more of the payment brands: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Interac in Canada. Learn more at www.cpicardgroup.com.

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