Company’s Efforts Result in New Awards from DiversityInc in Two Key Categories

First Data Named a “Top 25 Noteworthy Company” for Diversity Efforts

Also Named One of the “Top 10 Best Companies for Veterans”

Building on its multi-year initiative to create a progressive and inclusive environment for its employees, First Data Corporation (NYSE: FDC), a global leader in commerce-enabling technology and solutions, was proud to receive two significant awards this week from DiversityInc, one of the nation’s leading diversity-focused publications whose rankings are seen as a benchmark for excellence in corporate workplace policies. The awards, which recognized the company for its initiatives to hire, retain and promote individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, were presented to First Data at an event this week in New York City.

“A lynchpin of First Data’s transformation has always been the talent and diversity of our people, and we are proud to be recognized for our work in cultivating and attracting a workforce that reflects the best in our industry and our society,” said Frank Bisignano, Chairman and CEO, First Data. “These efforts are not only making First Data a better place to work, but ultimately strengthening our company from the inside out.”

For the second consecutive year, First Data was named one of the Top 25 Noteworthy companies for diversity, a list cultivated from a pool of more than 1,800 companies. The honor was based on several factors, including demographics of employees and new hires, promotions into management positions, access to employee-resource groups, cross-cultural mentoring, and a strong commitment by senior leadership.

“We saw 23 companies increase their standings on the DiversityInc Top 50 and Specialty Lists in 2016, and more than 1,000 companies submitting for contention on the list,” said Luke Visconti, DiversityInc’s founder and CEO. “We are very encouraged by the commitment and dedication to diversity management shown by these top performing companies.”

Beyond diversity, First Data has strived in recent years to open its doors as a welcoming home to veterans, military spouses, and members of their families. In recognition of those efforts, DiversityInc also named First Data as one of the Top 10 Companies for Veterans, an award that recognizes companies for understanding the value veterans bring to the workforce.

First Data is focused on supporting those who served in uniform through a company-wide military engagement strategy called First Data Salutes, initially launched in 2014. Since the program’s debut, First Data has increased the percentage of veteran and military spouse hires from two percent to 15 percent, and has earned numerous awards and accolades for its service to the veteran, Guard and Reserve, and military spouse communities.

First Data was ranked in the “Top 20 Companies” for a second year in a row in Military Times’ annual “Best for Vets” employers list. The company also claimed a top 10 spot on the “Top Military Spouse Friendly Employers” list by Military Spouse magazine and was ranked #1 in the technology industry on that list. In addition, First Data debuted at #7 on Monster/Military.com’s “Best Companies for Vets” top ten list.

In addition to these rankings, First Data is also a leading partner of Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University, among many other initiatives in this space, designed to increase training for men and women transitioning out of service, along with strengthening and growing the community of veteran-owned business.

As diversity-related issues, and corporate response to them, make headlines in many states, First Data has been leading from the front. First Data joined a number of Fortune 500 companies in 2015 in submitting an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage and, underscoring the belief that employees should be able to bring their whole selves to work, recently strongly opposed a discriminatory religious freedom bill in its headquarters state of Georgia.

Inside the company, First Data formed an affinity group, called UNITY, designed to create a more inclusive workplace and support LGBT employees around the world. The company also rewrote its policies to include providing coverage benefits for domestic partners and the inclusion of gender identity in its anti-discrimination policies. First Data also amended its medical plan to allow for gender transition coverage. For its efforts, First Data has earned a perfect score two years in a row on the Corporate Equality Index survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign.

In addition to these efforts, First Data has established five other employee resource groups, or ERGs: the Asian American Leadership Council, Hispanic and Latino Leadership Council, Black Leadership Council, Women's Leadership Council, and Young Professionals (YoPro).

More information about First Data’s diversity policies and programs can be found in the “Diversity at First Data” section of the company’s website: FirstData.com

About First Data

First Data (NYSE: FDC) is a global leader in commerce-enabling technology and solutions, serving approximately six million business locations and 4,000 financial institutions in 118 countries around the world. The company’s 24,000 owner-associates are dedicated to helping companies, from start-ups to the world’s largest corporations, conduct commerce every day by securing and processing more than 2,500 transactions per second and $1.9 trillion per year.

First Data CorporationMedia ContactLiidia Liuksila212-515-0174Liidia.Liuksila@FirstData.com

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