Turkcell (NYSE: TKC, ISE: TCELL), the leading communications and technology company in Turkey is delighted to announce that together with Garanti Bank, the leading bank in payment systems, it has launched a co-branded prepaid card named “Cep-T ParaCard”.

The Cep-T ParaCard is a no name prepaid card with MasterCard logo issued by Garanti Bank. Turkcell customers can purchase the Cep-T ParaCard and subscribe to the Cep-T Para service from any Turkcell Communication Center (TIMs) and top-up money to the card via Garanti POS machines at TIMs, or from any Garanti ATM. Customers can use their cards for payments worldwide wherever MasterCard is accepted. The Cep-T Para service is a SIM based secure service that can be used with any handset. Cep-T Para subscribers can use this service to transfer money to any operator’s mobile subscribers. Recipients can withdraw their money instantly from Garanti ATMs by simply using a secure code sent to them, without a debit card. Subscribers can also use the service to top-up their prepaid lines.

Garanti Bank CEO Ergun Ozen has said that “We are starting a new era with the Cep-T ParaCard, a joint project with Turkcell. This new product integrates the mobile world with banking to provide privileges to mobile users. 2/3 of the population in Turkey does not utilize banking services, either due to their age or income. We target to reach 3 million people through our prepaid ParaCard, and 1.5 million people via Cep-T ParaCard within 3 years.”

Turkcell CEO Sureyya Ciliv has said that “Turkcell is always proud to introduce another first for mobile finance services. We aim to provide the advantage of mobility to those who cannot make full use of the banking system. Accordingly, we have introduced Cep-T Para as a mobile financial service platform available for all banks to facilitate our customers’ daily lives. We also provide the banks an alternative platform, on which they can reach nearly 20 million people currently beyond the financial system. We believe that Cep-T Para, which combines the advantages of mobility with financial operations, will become an indispensible part of our lives. We expect to reach 5 million users, including 2 million newcomers to the banking system within 3 years.”

About Turkcell

Turkcell is the leading communications and technology company in Turkey with 33.1 million subscribers and a market share of approximately 54% as of March 31, 2011 (Source: Our estimations, operators’ and Authority’s announcements). Turkcell is a leading regional player, with market leadership in five of the nine countries in which it operates with its approximately 60.4 million subscribers as of March 31, 2011. Turkcell reported a TRY2.1 billion (US$1.3 billion) net revenue with total assets of TRY15.2 billion (US$9.8 billion) as of March 31, 2011. Turkcell covers approximately 83% of the Turkish population through its 3G and 99.07% through its 2G technology supported network. It has become one of the first among the global operators to have implemented HSDPA+ and achieved a 42.2 Mbps speed using the HSPA multi carrier solution. Turkcell has been listed on the NYSE and the ISE since July 2000, and is the only NYSE-listed company in Turkey. 51.00% of Turkcell’s share capital is held by Turkcell Holding, 0.05% by Cukurova Holding, 13.07% by Sonera Holding and 1.19% by others, while the remaining 34.69% is free float.