PRINCETON, NJ -- (Marketwire) -- 12/14/12 -- Kris Herrin, chief technology officer (CTO) at Heartland Payment Systems (NYSE: HPY), one of the nation's largest payments processors, has been named a 2013 Premier 100 IT Leader honoree by IDG Computerworld, the leading source of technology news and information for IT influencers worldwide. The Premier 100 spotlights 100 leaders from both the technology and business sides of companies for their technology leadership, effectively managed IT strategies, and innovative approach to business challenges.

As CTO, Herrin delivers secure and reliable IT services for Heartland's state-of-the-art payments processing platforms and enterprise applications, including application development, infrastructure and operations. He has led the delivery of Heartland's cloud and mobile strategies, including Heartland's innovative, in-house developed sales enablement system, atlas, for Heartland's nearly 1,000 relationship managers (RMs); Heartland's MoBuyle mobile payment acceptance solution, one of the first secure, mobile payment applications fully designed and developed by a leading card payments processor; and the modernization of Heartland's datacenters.

An adjunct professor at the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management and an advisory board member for the Information Assurance Program, Herrin is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a Certified Payment-Industry Security Auditor (CPISA). Shortly after taking the reigns as Heartland's CTO in August 2009, Herrin was recognized in the 2010 InfoWorld CTO 25 Awards for his work driving operational efficiencies and delivery of innovative services using industry IT Service Management best practices.

"Heartland's IT operation will need to be more nimble than ever before while simultaneously continuing to leverage its core strengths, especially as the electronic payments industry undergoes changes with the introduction of new business models and payment types such as mobile payments and mobile wallets," said Bob Carr, Heartland's chairman and chief executive officer. "Kris has been integral in enhancing and maintaining Heartland's strong IT foundation, particularly around new technologies, environments and platforms, ensuring that Heartland is well positioned to address the evolving industry as a result."

The Premier 100 was first created in 2000 to spotlight individuals who have had a positive impact on their organization through technology. These are individuals who manage internal IT organizations, mentor and motivate their IT teams and business colleagues, create a positive work environment, envision innovative solutions to business challenges and effectively manage and execute IT strategies. For more information, visit Premier100.com.

About Heartland Payment Systems
Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE: HPY), the sixth largest payments processor in the United States, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, school solutions, loyalty marketing services, campus solutions, payroll and related business solutions and services to more than 250,000 business and education locations nationwide. A FORTUNE 1000 company, Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, (www.merchantbillofrights.org), a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. The company is also a leader in the development of end-to-end encryption technology designed to protect cardholder data, rendering it useless to cybercriminals. For more detailed information, visit www.HeartlandPaymentSystems.com or follow the company on Twitter @HeartlandHPY and Facebook at facebook.com/HeartlandHPY.

Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature which represent our management's beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are based on information currently available to us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements due to many factors, including risks and additional factors that are described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

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