Heartland Payment Systems® Named One of America's Top Technology Innovators by InformationWeek for S

Heartland Payment Systems^®Named One of America's Top Technology Innovators by InformationWeek for Seventh Consecutive Year

Nation's Fifth Largest Payments Processor Recognized on 2013 InformationWeek 500 for SmartLink Managed Network Solution

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Heartland Payment Systems (NYSE:HPY), one of the nation's largest payments processors and leading provider of merchant business solutions, has been named one of the top technology innovators in the U.S. for seven years in a row by InformationWeek, ranking #106 on the 2013 InformationWeek 500.

Heartland's award represented recognition for its innovative SmartLink managed network solution. Initially designed to displace third-party vendors and ensure secure, reliable connectivity for transaction transport at merchant locations, Heartland's homegrown solution has enabled Heartland to better serve merchant customers while realizing significant operational efficiencies and cumulative significant internal cost savings. Continuing SmartLink's development into a full-featured managed network service that delivers first-of-its-kind technology to securely transmit both transactional data as well as integral back-office information, Heartland transformed this internal IT initiative into the company's fastest-growing organic line of business by helping merchants address the growing complexities of managing network connectivity.

"It is an honor to once again be named to the InformationWeek 500 and to be recognized for the pioneering advancements that are driving value for our enterprise and our merchant customers alike," said Bob Carr, Heartland's chairman and chief executive officer. "Network connectivity is the technological crux of business today, and it will only become more crucial in the years ahead as organizations rely more heavily on web- and cloud-based services for payment processing as well as for a host of other functions ranging from marketing to food safety monitoring. For this reason, we are continuing to invest in the development of SmartLink as a business enabler that allows merchants to monitor and manage activity across their network and utilize that information to make critical business decisions."

SmartLink was first introduced for petroleum/convenience stores and is used today by leading petroleum marketers including CITGO and Martin Eagle Oil Company to consolidate multiple in-store devices onto one high-speed broadband line and provide monitored communications for automatic tank gauges, in-store environmental control systems, back-office systems, digital signs, email and Internet.

In 2012, Heartland launched SmartLink into the restaurant vertical to provide restaurateurs industry-specific monitored network communication, including freezer temperature monitoring that provides HAACP reporting compliant with the FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act, Voice over IP, back-office systems, support for digital signs and menu boards, redundant connectivity and managed Wi-Fi Internet access.

InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing, and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of some of the best-known organizations in the country. Unique among corporate rankings, the InformationWeek 500 spotlights the power of innovation in information technology.

"The theme of this year's InformationWeek 500 is digital business. It's a movement, rooted in data analytics, mobile computing, social networking and other customer-focused technologies that are turning companies and industries on their ear," said InformationWeek Editor in Chief Rob Preston. "Every enterprise is now a digital business — or needs to become one fast. The organizations in our ranking are leading the way."

Additional details on the InformationWeek 500 can be found online at www.informationweek.com/iw500/.

About Heartland Payment Systems

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE:HPY), the fifth largest payments processor in the United States, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, mobile commerce, eCommerce, marketing solutions, security technology, payroll solutions, and related business solutions and services to more than 250,000 business and educational locations nationwide. A FORTUNE 1000 company, Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. Heartland also established The Sales Professional Bill of Rights to advocate for the rights of sales professionals everywhere. More detailed information can be found by visiting HeartlandPaymentSystems.com,HeartlandPaymentSystems.com/Careers,HeartlandPaymentSystems.com/Blog or following 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, 2012. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

Media:
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Pamela Caruolo, 610-455-2746
pcaruolo@vaultcommunications.com

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