Forever Stamp: An Investment Strategy?

Forever Stamp on Sale Today to Ready Customers for May 14 Price Change

PHILADELPHIA, April 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If it could ring, it would resonate freedom and independence from using one or two-cent stamps to mail letters when stamp prices change in the future. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) today introduced its latest consumer innovation by dedicating the Forever Stamp next to the patriotic icon it depicts. Featuring the Liberty Bell image and the word "forever," the Forever Stamp -- available nationwide today -- is good for mailing one-ounce First-Class Mail letters anytime in the future -- regardless of price changes.

"We are making history this morning," said USPS Board of Governors Vice Chairman Alan C. Kessler. "And what better place to make history than right here in Philadelphia -- the 'Cradle of Liberty,' -- alongside the Liberty Bell."

The Forever Stamp will always be available at the price of a First-Class Mail stamp in effect at the time of purchase. To introduce the stamp to the public, the Postal Service is offering the stamp today at 41 cents. Customers may use the stamp as soon as they wish, but stamp prices will not change until May 14. When prices change in the future, the Forever Stamp will sell at the new one-ounce, single-piece First-Class Mail price.

"The first U.S. postage stamps appeared in 1847," Kessler added, referring to the five-cent Benjamin Franklin stamp that was good for mailing letters up to 300 miles, and the 10-cent George Washington stamp for delivery beyond that. "Let history now record that the first Forever Stamp was dedicated on April 12, 2007, in the birthplace of American democracy and bearing the eternal symbol of American liberty."

There are no limits on customer purchases. Beginning today, April 12, the Forever Stamp will be available in booklets of 20 through http://www.usps.com, by calling 1-800-STAMP-24 and at Post Office retail counters nationwide. Customers may also purchase the stamps from selected Post Office vending machines. Starting May 14, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Automated Postal Centers will begin offering the Forever Stamp in sheets of 18. Also, many participating convenience stores, grocery stores, drug stores and other retailers will also begin selling Forever Stamp booklets of 20.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits 146 million homes and businesses, six days a week. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to cover its operating expenses. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $73 billion and delivers nearly half the world's mail.

Forever Stamp Fact Sheet

How to Order First Day of Issue Postmarks
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address them to themselves or others, and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FOREVER STAMP
POSTMASTER
2970 Market St RM 525
Philadelphia, PA  19104

After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by June 14, 2007.

How to Order First Day Covers
Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first day of issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 1-800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

INFORMATION FULFILLMENT
DEPT 6270
US POSTAL SERVICE
PO BOX 219014
KANSAS CITY MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products
There are three philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

-- First Day Cover, 79-cents (Item 676661) Booklet of 20 format.
-- Digital Color Postmark, $1.50 (Item 676665).
-- First Day Cover, 79-cents (Item 569961). ATM Sheet of 18 format.

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service

Stock Dividends Declaired By Pitney Bowes Board

Pitney Bowes Board Declares Common, Preference and Preferred Stock Dividends

April 09, 2007 - STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Board of Directors of Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI) declared a quarterly cash dividend on the company's common stock of 33 cents per share, payable June 12, 2007, to stockholders of record on May 18, 2007; a quarterly cash dividend of 53 cents per share on the company's $2.12 convertible preference stock, payable July 1, 2007, to stockholders of record June 15, 2007, and a quarterly cash dividend of 50 cents per share on the company's 4 percent convertible cumulative preferred stock, payable August 1, 2007, to stockholders of record July 14, 2007.

Pitney Bowes provides the world's most comprehensive suite of mailstream software, hardware, services and solutions to help companies manage their flow of mail, documents and packages to improve communication. Pitney Bowes, with $5.7 billion in annual revenue, takes an all-inclusive view of its customers' operations, helping organizations of all sizes enjoy the competitive advantage that comes from an optimized mailstream. The company's 86 years of technological leadership have produced many major mailstream innovations, and it is consistently on the Intellectual Property Owners Association's list of top U.S. patent holders. With approximately 35,000 employees worldwide, Pitney Bowes serves more than 2 million businesses through direct and dealer operations. More information about the company can be found at www.pb.com.

Contacts
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Sheryl Y. Battles
VP, Corp. Communications
203-351-6808
or
Charles F. McBride
VP, Investor Relations
203-351-6349

Learn To Spot Mortgage Fraud

Stop Fraud in Just Seven Seconds

Exclusive AllRegs Academy Training & Designation;

You're at the closing table. You represent a title company or a mortgage lender. The sellers pull out his driver's license, her passport or their permanent resident cards. How do you know they're real? Are you going to be the next victim of fraud?

April 05, 2007 - EAGAN, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AllRegs, the leading online publisher of reference information for the residential mortgage lending industry, has teamed up with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) to offer fraudulent document recognition training to the mortgage lending industry.

"Combining AAMVA's knowledge and propensity in fraudulent document recognition training with AllRegs' expertise in mortgage regulations provides an unmatched opportunity for professionals in the mortgage industry," states Dan Thoms, senior vice president of AllRegs. "Upon completion of the program, students will be able to recognize suspicious identity documents and detect fraudulent items on the 1003."

Offered through AllRegs Academy, the prescribed curriculum includes an online course and a five-day classroom requirement. At the completion of the program, attendees will be able to:

    * Identify suspicious documents in as little as seven seconds;
    * Recognize security features and unique identifiers on identity documents, including passports, drivers' licenses, social security cards and birth certificates;
    * Locate and verify covert security features on identification documents, including metricular cards and I-94s;
    * Detect fraudulent mortgage documents, such as a fraudulent 1003 loan application; and
    * Identify ten red flags on the 1003 loan application.

After meeting experience requirements, students who successfully complete the Fraudulent Document Recognition Online Course and the Advanced Fraudulent Document Recognition Classroom Course will receive the Certified Fraudulent Document Examiner (CFDE) designation. "This program is exclusive to our AllRegs Academy training program," asserts Thoms. "This is the only designation of its kind offered in our industry."

Participants must sign and abide by the Security & Liability Agreement, ensuring protection of covert security features of identification documents revealed only during the classroom course.

"AAMVA members are experts in driver's license and identification processes and credentials," said Patrice Aasmo, AAMVA senior vice president of Product Development. "In our efforts to develop effective education for our membership, we have found there is great value in harnessing that expertise and tailoring it for other marketplaces. That is why we are thrilled to be in this alliance with AllRegs and to play a role in helping businesses in the mortgage industry reduce fraud, increase professionalism and enhance customer service."

Enrollment is currently open for the CFDE program. To learn more and register for the course, visit AllRegs Academy at www.allregs.com or call (800) 848-4904.
Contacts

AllRegs
Dan Thoms, 651-289-4801
dthoms@allregs.com
www.allregs.com

 

National Remodeling Month Receives Financing Help

GE Money and United Building Centers Launch Consumer Credit Program

 

Revolving & Installment Financing in Time for National Remodeling Month

 

April 02, 2007 - ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In time for National Remodeling Month in May, GE Money's Sales Finance unit and United Building Centers (UBC), a national supplier to builders, contractors and project-oriented consumers, today announced a new multi-year relationship to provide consumer financing through GE Money's PROJECTLINESM program for purchasing UBC's wide variety of building materials and home improvement products.

 

"Over the past 152 years, we've continually grown our business by evolving as the needs of commercial and residential consumers change," said Dale Kukowski, President of UBC. "This partnership with GE Money – Sales Finance is another example of our commitment to bring valuable tools to our customers."

 

The credit program is now available through UBC's 172 centers in the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states and offers both installment and revolving credit options with a quick, easy application and sales process with competitive rates and promotions.

 

"As the new housing boom slows, more homeowners are making improvements to their existing homes, either as a do-it-yourself project or by working with a remodeler," said Bruce Christensen, vice president and general manager, Home Improvement industry, GE Money – Sales Finance. "We're excited to add our financing services expertise to United Building Center's long and prominent history in providing exceptional products, making these types of projects even more affordable and convenient for consumers."

 

Over the past 15 years, GE Money's Home Improvement division has been an industry leader, providing more than $13 billion in home improvement financing to nearly half a million homeowners.

 

About United Building Centers

 

United Building Centers began in 1855 as a single raft-load of lumber floating down the Mississippi River. Through years of growth and acquisitions, UBC has become known as a source of quality products and services strategically placed across the country, including 172 centers in the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states, 8 distribution centers, 10 millwork plants, 53 installing centers, 2 concrete plants, 14 truss manufacturing plants, 5 truss/panel manufacturing plants, 1 panel plant, and 2 rental facilities.

 

Since its inception, United Building Centers has been providing high quality building materials and exceptional service. Today, UBC, a Pro-Build Company, is widely recognized as one of America's leading suppliers of building materials to contractors. For more information, visit www.unitedbuildingcenters.com.

 

About Sales Finance and GE Money

 

Sales Finance, based in Kettering, Ohio, is part of GE Money, formerly GE Consumer Finance, and provides private label credit card programs, marketing, installment lending, service contracts and financial services for national and regional retailers in more than 20 industries including: home improvement, outdoor power equipment, powersports, sporting goods, automotive, recreational vehicles, consumer electronics and appliances, furniture, floor covering, marine, music, jewelry, and health care.

 

With more than $190 billion in assets, GE Money, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), is a leading provider of credit services to consumers, retailers and auto dealers in more than 54 countries around the world. GE Money, based in Stamford, Conn., offers a range of financial products, including private label credit cards, personal loans, bank cards, auto loans and leases, mortgages, corporate travel and purchasing cards, debt consolidation and home equity loans, and credit insurance. More information can be found at www.gemoney.com.

 

GE is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.ge.com.

 

Editorial Note: May is National Remodeling Month.

 

©2007 General Electric Company, All rights reserved.
Contacts

 

GE Money
Cristy Williams, 678-518-2596
cristy.williams@ge.com