AMSTERDAM, October 26, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a plenary meeting on 13 October 2010, The European Automated Clearing House Association (EACHA) has elected a new Board. Fred Bar (VocaLink) has been appointed as President. Other members include Harald Stern (Equens), Jose Luis Langa (Iberpay), Corrado Borsatti (ICBPI) and Jean-Pic Berry (STET).

Fred Bar, President of EACHA, said, EACHA has steadily developed and implemented clearing interoperability since its inception four years ago. It provides a forum which encourages members to collaborate for the benefit of the payments industry as a whole. With large-scale adoption of SEPA being the main payments industry challenge in the next 3 years, EACHA looks to apply the combined knowledge of its members in implementing interoperability standards to help make SEPA happen.

I am honoured to accept the position of President and I look forward to working with the EACHA community to carry on the good work.

EACHA would like to take this opportunity to thank the previous Board members Jan Sonneveld (Equens), Luis Sequeira (SIBS), Jad Khallouf (STET) and Richard Jones (VocaLink) for their valued contribution.

Notes for the editorial staff:

About EACHA

The European Automated Clearing House Association (EACHA) is the technical cooperation forum of European ACHs. Its membership, currently comprising 22 institutions, gathers twice a year to discuss European developments in retail payments. The philosophy of EACHA is that healthy competition also means teamwork. This is why EACHA believes firmly in developing a common vision for the future, and favouring harmonious implementation of European policies and schemes including interoperability based on open standards.

EACHA aims to: - be a forum enabling its members to share information - advance the views of its members on issues of general interest - resolve specific issues by, for instance, developing common guidelines for the clearing and settlement of SEPA payments. For more information please see http://www.vocalink.com or contact: Deborah Souter Elena Souter Zoe Gray VocaLink VocaLink Hotwire (PR for VocaLink) +44(0)870-920-8651 +44(0)870-920-8637 +44(0)207-608-2500/4641

SOURCE: VocaLink

CONTACT: Deborah Souter, VocaLink, +44(0)870-920-8651; Elena Souter,VocaLink, +44(0)870-920-8637; Zoe Gray, Hotwire (PR for VocaLink),+44(0)207-608-2500/4641