Diners Club International, Ltd., a business unit of Discover Financial Services and part of the Discover Global Network, and Crédit Mutuel-CIC Group, France’s largest merchant acquirer by volume, today announced a signed agreement that will grow Discover and Diners Club card acceptance in France.

As part of this strategic alliance, Crédit Mutuel-CIC Group will add acceptance of Discover and Diners Club cards to its payments processing services portfolio, beginning in November 2014. They opened ATM access in September.

“Discover is concentrating on building strong merchant acceptance for our cardmembers who travel internationally or live abroad,” said Gerry Wagner, vice president of global acceptance at Discover. “France is recognized as one of the top tourist destinations in the world, and our relationship with Crédit Mutuel-CIC Group enables us to continue reaching our growth objectives while delivering merchant acceptance in the locations that matter most to our cardmembers overseas.”

According to a senior executive from Crédit Mutuel-CIC Group, “This partnership contributes to the dynamism of our acquiring business and reinforces our position as a leading European acquirer oriented towards services. Through this agreement with renowned financial brands Diners Club and Discover, Credit Mutuel-CIC will enable its merchants of all sizes to develop their business through the offer of a wider choice of payment options.”

Discover Global Network is the third largest payments network in the world and the largest merchant acceptance network in Asia-Pacific. With more than 30 million merchant acceptance locations and 1 million ATM and cash access locations across 185 countries and territories, Discover Global Network includes Discover, Diners Club International, PULSE and affiliated networks.

About Crédit Mutuel-CIC Group

With total assets of €510 billion as at December 31, 2013, Crédit Mutuel-CIC Group is a first-tier European bank, recognized for its financial strength and the quality of its ratios. Its 4669 points of sale and 65 430 employees foster close relationships with their 23.8 million clients in France and Europe. Retail banking is the core of its operations. The organization’s mutualist approach, sizeable credit union network, move to develop bancassurance as early as the 1970s, scope of diversification activities (telephony, remote monitoring, etc.), and technological expertise which turned it in a leading European bank in the payment solutions sector.

For more information, please visitwww.creditmutuel.fr.

About Diners Club International

Diners Club International is owned by Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS), a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Established in 1950, Diners Club International became the first multi-purpose charge card in the world, launching a financial revolution in how consumers and companies pay for products and services. Today, Diners Club is a globally recognized brand serving the payment needs of select and affluent consumers, offering access to more than 500 airport lounges worldwide, and providing corporations and small business owners with a complete array of expense management solutions. With acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories, millions of merchant locations and access to more than 1 million cash access locations and ATMs, Diners Club is uniquely qualified to serve its cardmembers all over the world. For more information, visit www.dinersclub.com.

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers home loans, private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its direct banking business. It operates the Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.