McDonald’s^® Arch Card^® Offers Quick, Convenient
Gifting Option for Busy Holiday Shoppers

OAK BROOK, Ill.--(EON:Enhanced Online News)--McDonald’s Arch Card, the reloadable convenience card available in $5, $10, $25 and $50 denominations, is offering consumers a quick, convenient gift idea this holiday season. With holiday spending projected to increase four percent to an estimated $474.5 billion in 2007¹, the Arch Card offers an all-purpose gift idea, perfect for nearly every recipient.

“Convenient, cashless payment options are necessary for today’s busy consumers, and the Arch Card makes purchasing your favorite McDonald’s meal and gift giving easier than ever this holiday season.”

According to the National Retail Federation^®2, consumers spent $27.8 billion on gift cards during the 2006 holiday season. The success of the Arch Card has helped establish McDonald’s as one of America’s leading sources of gift cards. Reloadable in increments of $5, $10, $25 and $50 and featuring balances on the bottom of each receipt, the Arch Card offers a fast and convenient way to purchase McDonald’s menu items.

“The Arch Card has increased in popularity since it was launched nationwide in 2005,” said Bill Lamar, chief marketing officer, McDonald’s USA. “Convenient, cashless payment options are necessary for today’s busy consumers, and the Arch Card makes purchasing your favorite McDonald’s meal and gift giving easier than ever this holiday season.”

The Arch Card can be redeemed and purchased through the drive-thru or inside participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide using cash, credit or debit cards. The Arch Card does not expire and dormancy fees are never charged, making it a practical addition to consumers’ lives during the holiday season and beyond.

New this year, McDonald’s has expanded its commitment to Upromise, the country’s largest college savings rewards company, to include all Arch Card purchases and reloads. American college students will pay an average of $22,218 this year for private college, or $5,836 for an in-state public university³. Upromise members can receive one percent of the total amount purchased or reloaded on a McDonald’s Arch Card to help save for the rising cost of college tuition. Upromise members can register cards at www.Upromise.com for savings rewards.

About McDonald’s:

McDonald's USA, LLC, is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80 percent of McDonald's 13,700 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. For more information about McDonald's visit www.mcdonalds.com.

About Upromise

Launched in April 2001, today Upromise is the country’s largest private source of college aid. Membership is free and allows families to automatically save money for college while making everyday purchases of products and services at more than 23,000 grocery and drug stores, 14,000 gas stations, 8,000 restaurants, as well as thousands of retail stores, and more than 550 online shopping sites. Upromise’s partners include Citi®, ExxonMobil Corporation, Bed Bath & Beyond, Johnson & Johnson-McNeil, McDonald’s®, JCPenney.com, LandsEnd.com, Sears.com, and hundreds of others. Upromise also makes it easy for families to start their own college savings strategy through tax-advantaged 529 college savings plans, or by using Upromise contributions to help pay off student loans. These securities are offered through Upromise Investments, Inc. (member NASD/SIPC). Upromise is a wholly owned subsidiary of SLM Corporation (NYSE: SLM), commonly known as Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading provider of saving-and-paying-for-college programs. Upromise was founded in 2000, is headquartered in Newton, Mass., and has more than 350 employees. For additional information about Upromise, visit www.Upromise.com.

© 2007 McDonald’s.

1. National Retail Federation, 2007 Holiday Season Forecast: September 20, 2007

2. National Retail Federation, Consumer Survey conducted by BIGresearch: January 2007

3. Upromise: 2007

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