Illinois' Bright Start(R) 529 College Savings Program Announces a New National Partnership with the Futuretrust(R) MasterCard(R) Rebate Program

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Jan. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois Bright Start College Savings Program announced today the availability of the Bright Start Futuretrust MasterCard, available nationwide.

For the first time, holders of a 529-linked credit card will automatically receive a $25 contribution to their Bright Start account after the first use of their Bright Start Futuretrust MasterCard. Participating account owners will also earn a minimum of 1% every time they make a purchase with the Bright Start Futuretrust MasterCard.

In addition, members earn up to 15% in additional college savings when they shop at thousands of partners in the Futuretrust Preferred Merchant Network consisting of major retail chains, catalogs, restaurants and on-line merchants. For every $25 of rebates accumulated, the money will automatically be invested into a linked Bright Start 529 account. The rebates are state tax deductible for Illinois residents.

Bright Start account owners can also tap into Futuretrust to generate significant savings for college via rebates on the purchase, sale, financing and refinancing of a home through participating mortgage/real estate partners. Furthermore, with Futuretrust's innovative new partnership with Insurance.com(TM), account owners can earn rebates when requesting quotes for auto insurance.

"Families can use the money they earn from the program as another college funding source without changing their spending habits," said Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois State Treasurer. "We've been working hard to make college more affordable. Our new partnership with Futuretrust is one of the recent changes to our 529 program that will make it easier for families to earn more." Futuretrust founder Rebecca Matthias noted that "a college education has never been more important, or more expensive. For our children, getting that degree will translate into greater earning power and better lives, and the Bright Start Futuretrust partnership can help."

Launched in 2000, recent improvements to Bright Start have resulted in lower fees, higher-rated funds and new investment portfolios from Oppenheimer Funds(R), making it an even more attractive option for Illinois families. A Bright Start 529 account can be used toward tuition and other qualified college expenses such as eligible room and board, books, and fees at colleges in Illinois and nationwide. Contributions are state tax deductible for Illinois residents and both earnings and qualified expenses are state and federal tax free.

To review the complete information and to apply for the Bright Start Futuretrust MasterCard as well as to link your Bright Start Futuretrust MasterCard to your Bright Start 529 account, account owners can log on to the Bright Start Web site at www.brightstartsavings.com - then click on the Futuretrust icon. For complete information on the Futuretrust program including retail and program partners, visit www.futuretrust.com or call 1888.TRUST.68

For more information about the Bright Start 529 college savings plan, visit www.brightstartsavings.com or call 1.877.43.BRIGHT (1.877.432.7444).

About Bright Start

The Bright Start College Savings Program is Illinois' tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan, designed to help families and individuals nationwide save for future higher education expenses. Bright Start boasts more than $2.4 billion in assets and includes more than 150,000 accounts. Bright Start is administered by the Illinois State Treasurer and is qualified under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.

About Mothers Work

Mothers Work is the world's largest designer and retailer of maternity apparel, using its custom TrendTrack(TM) merchandise analysis and planning system as well as its quick response replenishment process to "give the customer what she wants, when she wants it." As of November 30, 2007, Mothers Work operates 1,569 maternity locations, including 776 stores, predominantly under the tradenames Motherhood Maternity(R), A Pea in the Pod(R), Mimi Maternity(R), and Destination Maternity(R), and sells on the web through its DestinationMaternity.com and brand-specific websites. In addition, Mothers Work distributes its Oh Baby by Motherhood(TM) collection through a licensed arrangement at Kohl's(R) stores throughout the United States and on Kohls.com.

About Futuretrust

Futuretrust(R) is a MasterCard(R)-linked college savings program that enables families and friends to get a 'jump' on saving for college. Futuretrust has no membership fee. Rebates are automatically contributed to a tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan of the member's choice. Members earn a minimum of 1% every time they make a purchase with the Futuretrust MasterCard, accepted at millions of locations. Members also earn additional college savings when they use the Futuretrust MasterCard at thousands of partners in the Futuretrust Preferred Merchant Network consisting of major retail chains, catalogs, restaurants and on-line merchants. Members can also earn college savings rebates when they buy, sell, finance, or refinance a home, as well as use moving services and home warranty transactions. Applications are available at Motherhood(R) Maternity, Mimi Maternity(R), A Pea in the Pod(R) and Destination Maternity(R) locations, online at http://www.futuretrust.com or by calling 1.888.trust68.

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