UC Hub and eSafe Kickoff AFRICARDS Prepaid Visa 'Classic' Card Program in West Africa

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- UC Hub Group, Inc and its wholly owned subsidiary eSafe, Inc., (d/b/a eLuxe Financial, "eLuxe") announced today that it officially kicked off its AFRICARDS(tm) Prepaid Visa "Classic" Card program in West Africa, at a Gala held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Over 500 invited guests were in attendance, including the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso Tertius Zongo, other government dignitaries, entertainers, celebrities and representatives of BIB Bank, a Visa-issuing bank. Just 2.5% of this African market would translate to more than $100 Million in revenue.

The Gala was broadcast live by three major television stations throughout the West African Economic and Monetary Union (or UEMOA from its name in French, Union economique et monetaire ouest-africaine), where CEO Larry Wilcox and staff helped unveil the new AFRICARDS(tm) television, radio and print/billboard advertising. The first official AFRICARDS(tm) transaction was made by the Prime Minister who received confirmation of his transaction seconds later when his cell phone chimed with an SMS text confirming the transaction. UC Hub also demonstrated this feature at a press conference held later that day at the "Hotel Independance".

The kickoff was a great success and culminates two years of diligent work by many, including employees David Dearman and Serge Doh. Funding by the investors on this program was brought to UC Hub by the CEO as part of the emerging market strategy. "We intend to use the business model that has been created in Burkina Faso as the cornerstone of our African virtual banking business," states Wilcox.