Bentley Commerce to Acquire Equity Interest in Check Collection Firm CollectAChek

LOS ANGELES, CA – Bentley Commerce Corp. (OTCBB: BLYC), the leader in online trade and barter, has agreed to purchase a 20% equity interest in 1210 N. Congress Corporation DBA, CollectAChek, (www.collectachek.com), a cash flow management company that pioneered free NSF (Non Sufficient Funds) check recovery services for businesses, in an exchange of stock.

When banking regulations changed three years ago, CollectAChek, developed a system to recover 100% of the face value of NSF consumer checks, up to $2,500, at no cost to businesses. CollectAChek recovers bounced checks electronically for merchants by debiting NSF writers’ bank accounts for the full face value of the check, together with a state-authorized fee it receives. In addition to getting back the full value of NSF checks that are collected, this often allows merchants to accept consumer checks without a costly guarantee service or expensive collection agencies.

CollectAChek recovers checks for a wide range of businesses that include: Discount Tire, Meineke Car Care Centers, Goodwill Industries, Subway, Fantastic Sams, Supercuts, Le Gourmet Chef, Kelly-Moore Paints, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Jackson Hewitt Tax Services. CollectAChek’s electronic system of re-presentment of NSF checks is faster, avoids paying second bounce fees and typically recovers about 70% of NSF checks, which is about twice as many as traditional methods — and is a FREE service.

In addition to recovering NSF consumer checks for free, NSF business-to-business checks for an unlimited amount can also be recovered by CollectAChek for 10% of the face amount of the check plus the state allowed fee. This is considerably less than the fees typically charged by traditional commercial collection agencies. Third party checks, which are usually payroll checks that merchants accept, can be recovered in a similar manner.

“CollectAChek is the perfect adjunct to the business services we are offering,” said Gordon Lee, Bentley Commerce’s Chairman. “By acquiring an equity interest in CollectAChek, we will have a great incentive to promote its NSF recovery services to the estimated 50,000 companies that trade through the exchanges on our Bentley Crump Barter Network, and offer CollectAChek’s comprehensive range of other valuable ancillary cash management services throughout our business network.”

Bentley Commerce is acquiring its equity in CollectaChek with an exchange of stock with two of CollectAChek’s founders. Robert Schumacher, president of Bentley Commerce Corporation, one of the founders of CollectAChek, is exchanging his 10% interest in CollectAChek for Bentley Commerce Corporation shares.

Services Bentley will offer with CollectAChek include:

• FREE Recovery of NSF Checks — electronic re-presentment of NSF checks is faster, avoids paying second bounce fees and returns a higher recovery rate for merchants than traditional methods — and is a FREE service.
• Check Verification — By using a check-reading device at the point of sale, businesses will know within seconds if they should accept a customer’s check or ask for a different form of payment.
• Consolidated Returns — For merchants who experience a high volume of returned checks per month, their NSF checks can be consolidated into one account. This can reduce or even eliminate bank fees for returned checks, and significantly increase the recovery rate for NSF checks.
• Check Guarantee — Checks are a popular form of payment and are the preferred non-cash payment method at the retail point-of-sale. A check guarantee service provides a simple and economical way to increase revenue at a place of business by accepting checks.
• Point of Purchase (POP) Checks — With POP Checks, the cashier runs a check through the same verification process and uses the customer’s bank information to debit their account electronically. Customers sign a credit card-like receipt authorizing the electronic debit to their accounts. Since the check is no longer needed, the merchant returns it to the customer along with the receipt.
• Debit Card Services — Businesses that accept debit cards enjoy reduced fees compared with other card payment options, guaranteed payment of funds (no returned checks), higher margin sales and increased impulse sales, cash-back option, and payment of funds to the merchant-designated financial institution usually within 24 hours.
• Repetitive Payments (ACH) — Automatic processing for receivables and payables, through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network, places a business in complete control of its cash flow. Monthly or periodic payments improve cash flow, reduce costs and enhance customer service.
• Accounts Receivable Conversion (ARC) — Merchants who receive a high-volume of checks, either by mail or at the point of sale, will be able to convert them into electronic checks through CollectAChek’s software and services. This is considerably faster than processing paper checks that must be physically handled. It reduces banking fees, as well as speeds up the time in which the merchant receives their funds.

About Bentley Commerce Corporation:
Bentley Commerce Corp. is a business-to-business, Internet e-commerce company that is establishing a new marketplace and distribution channel for worldwide barter and trade. Through the development of a seamlessly integrated family of online barter services, it envisions that most barter transactions can be handled over the Internet in real time, with its proprietary VirtualBarter software. Bentley intends to serve as a clearinghouse for barter trades for Fortune 500 trading partners, scores of existing retail barter exchanges that serve companies of all sizes, corporate barter companies that serve large multinational corporations, trade associations and their member companies, as well as media and travel agencies.

Forward-Looking Statements: With the exception of historical information, this news release and accompanying information may include forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated as a result of various risks. There are numerous factors that could contribute to such differences, therefore such projected events and anticipated results are not warranties or guaranties that such events will occur or that the Company will achieve such results. For more information about this corporation and risks involved in the investment of their publicly traded shares, please see the company’s website(s), and/or documents filed with the SEC, which are easily accessible in the EDGAR database system.