Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                KEY EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
                ------------------------------------------------

                  THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the ____ day of
______, 2001, by and between Fiserv, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), and _____________________ (hereinafter referred
to as the "Executive").

                               W I T N E S S E T H
                               -------------------

                  WHEREAS, the Executive is employed by the Company and/or a
subsidiary of the Company (hereinafter referred to collectively as the
"Employer") in a key executive capacity and the Executive's services are
valuable to the conduct of the business of the Company;

                  WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to attract and retain
dedicated and skilled management employees in a period of industry
consolidation, consistent with achieving the best possible value for its
shareholders in any change in control of the Company;

                  WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that circumstances may arise
in which a change in control of the Company occurs, through acquisition or
otherwise, thereby causing a potential conflict of interest between the
Company's needs for the Executive to remain focused on the Company's business
and for the necessary continuity in management prior to and following a change
in control, and the Executive's reasonable personal concerns regarding future
employment with the Employer and economic protection in the event of loss of
employment as a consequence of a change in control;

                  WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive are desirous that any
proposal for a change in control or acquisition of the Company will be
considered by the Executive objectively and with reference only to the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders;

                  WHEREAS, the Executive will be in a better position to
consider the Company's best interests if the Executive is afforded reasonable
economic security, as provided in this Agreement, against altered conditions of
employment which could result from any such change in control or acquisition;

                  WHEREAS, the Executive possesses intimate knowledge of the
business and affairs of the Company and has acquired certain confidential
information and data with respect to the Company; and

                  WHEREAS, the Company desires to insure, insofar as possible,
that it will continue to have the benefit of the Executive's services and to
protect its confidential information and goodwill.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the
mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto
mutually covenant and agree as follows:

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          1.   Definitions.
               -----------

          (a)  Accrued Benefits. The term "Accrued Benefits" shall include the
               ----------------
following amounts, payable as described herein: (i) all base salary for the time
period ending with the Termination Date; (ii) reimbursement for any and all
monies advanced in connection with the (a) Executive's employment for reasonable
and necessary expenses incurred by the Executive on behalf of the Employer for
the time period ending with the Termination Date; (iii) any and all other cash
earned through the Termination Date and deferred at the election of the
Executive or pursuant to any deferred compensation plan then in effect; (iv)
notwithstanding any provision of any bonus or incentive compensation plan
applicable to the Executive, a lump sum amount, in cash, equal to the sum of (A)
any bonus or incentive compensation that has been allocated or awarded to the
Executive for a fiscal year or other measuring period under the plan that ends
prior to the Termination Date but has not yet been paid (pursuant to Section
                                                                     -------
5(f) or otherwise) and (B) a pro rata portion to the Termination Date of the
----
aggregate value of all contingent bonus or incentive compensation awards to the
Executive for all uncompleted periods under the plan calculated as to each such
award as if the Goals with respect to such bonus or incentive compensation award
had been attained; and (v) all other payments and benefits to which the
Executive (or in the event of the Executive's death, the Executive's surviving
spouse or other beneficiary) may be entitled on the Termination Date as
compensatory fringe benefits or under the terms of any benefit plan of the
Employer, excluding severance payments under any Employer severance policy,
practice or agreement in effect on the Termination Date. Payment of Accrued
Benefits shall be made promptly in accordance with the Company's prevailing
practice with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) or, with respect to clauses (iii),
                         -----------     ---                      -------------
(iv) and (v), pursuant to the terms of the benefit plan or practice establishing
----     ---
such benefits.

          (b)  Act. The term "Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
               ---
amended.

          (c)  Affiliate and Associate. The terms "Affiliate" and "Associate"
               -----------------------
shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule l2b-2 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Act.

          (d)  Annual Cash Compensation. The term "Annual Cash Compensation"
               ------------------------
shall mean the sum of (i) the Executive's Annual Base Salary (determined as of
the time of the Change in Control of the Company or, if higher, immediately
prior to the date the Notice of Termination is given) plus (ii) an amount equal
to (A) if the Executive has been employed by the Company for three or more years
prior to the Change in Control of the Company, the highest annual incentive
bonus the Executive received for any of the three fiscal years prior to the
Change in Control of the Company, or (B) if the Executive has not been employed
by the Company for three or more years prior to the Change in Control of the
Company, the greater of (x) 60% of the Executive's Annual Base Salary as of the
time of the Change in Control of the Company or (y) the highest annual incentive
bonus the Executive received for any of the two fiscal years prior to the Change
in Control of the Company in which the Executive was employed by the Company
(the aggregate amount set forth in clause (i) and clause (ii) shall hereafter be
                                   ----------     -----------
referred to as the "Annual Cash Compensation").

                                       -2-

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          (e)  Beneficial Owner. A Person shall be deemed to be the "Beneficial
               ----------------
Owner" of any securities:

               (i)   which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
     Associates has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
     immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
     arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights,
     exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided,
     however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
     beneficially own, (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange
     offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's
     Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for
     purchase, or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights issued
     pursuant to the terms of the Company's Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated
     as of February 24, 1998, between the Company and Equiserve Limited
     Partnership, as amended from time to time (or any successor to such Rights
     Agreement), at any time before the issuance of such securities;

               (ii)  which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
     Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of or
     has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule l3d-3 of the
     General Rules and Regulations under the Act), including pursuant to any
     agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person
     shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any
     security under this clause (ii) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or
                         ----------
     understanding to vote such security if the agreement, arrangement or
     understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to
     such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made
     pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations
     under the Act and (B) is not also then reportable on a Schedule l3D under
     the Act (or any comparable or successor report); or

               (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
     any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
     or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the
     purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy
     as described in clause (ii) above) or disposing of any voting securities of
                     -----------
     the Company.

          (f)  Cause. "Cause" for termination by the Employer of the Executive's
               -----
employment in connection with a Change in Control of the Company shall be
limited to (i) the engaging by the Executive in intentional conduct not taken in
good faith that the Company establishes, by clear and convincing evidence, has
caused demonstrable and serious financial injury to the Employer, as evidenced
by a determination in a binding and final judgment, order or decree of a court
or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction, in effect after exhaustion
or lapse of all rights of appeal, in an action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative; (ii) conviction of a felony
(as evidenced by binding and final judgment, order or decree of a court of
competent jurisdiction, in effect after exhaustion of all rights of appeal),
which substantially impairs the Executive's ability to perform his duties or
responsibilities; or

                                       -3-

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(iii) continuing willful and unreasonable refusal by the Executive to perform
the Executive's duties or responsibilities (unless significantly changed without
the Executive's consent).

          (g)  Change in Control of the Company. A "Change in Control of the
               --------------------------------
Company" shall be deemed to have occurred if an event set forth in any one of
the following paragraphs shall have occurred:

               (i) any Person (other than (A) the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, (B) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any
     employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (C) an
     underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such
     securities or (D) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
     shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
     ownership of stock in the Company ("Excluded Persons")) is or becomes the
     Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not
     including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any
     securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates after
     November 14, 2001, pursuant to express authorization by the Board that
     refers to this exception) representing 20% or more of either the then
     outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined voting
     power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities; or

               (ii) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute
     a majority of the number of directors of the Company then serving: (A)
     individuals who, on November 14, 2001 constituted the Board and (B) any new
     director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in
     connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not
     limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of
     the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for
     election by the Company's shareholders was approved by a vote of at least
     two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were
     directors on November 14, 2001, or whose appointment, election or
     nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively the
     "Continuing Directors"); provided, however, that individuals who are
     appointed to the Board pursuant to or in accordance with the terms of an
     agreement relating to a merger, consolidation, or share exchange involving
     the Company (or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company) shall not
     be Continuing Directors for purposes of this Agreement until after such
     individuals are first nominated for election by a vote of at least
     two-thirds (2/3) of the then Continuing Directors and are thereafter
     elected as directors by the shareholders of the Company at a meeting of
     shareholders held following consummation of such merger, consolidation, or
     share exchange; and, provided further, that in the event the failure of any
     such persons appointed to the Board to be Continuing Directors results in a
     Change in Control of the Company, the subsequent qualification of such
     persons as Continuing Directors shall not alter the fact that a Change in
     Control of the Company occurred; or

               (iii) the shareholders of the Company approve a merger,
     consolidation or share exchange of the Company with any other corporation
     or approve the issuance of voting securities of the Company in connection
     with a

                                       -4-

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     merger, consolidation or share exchange of the Company (or any direct or
     indirect subsidiary of the Company) pursuant to applicable stock exchange
     requirements, other than (A) a merger, consolidation or share exchange
     which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
     immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or share exchange
     continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
     converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent
     thereof) at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities
     of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding
     immediately after such merger, consolidation or share exchange, or (B) a
     merger, consolidation or share exchange effected to implement a
     recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person
     (other than an Excluded Person) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner,
     directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the
     securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired
     directly from the Company or its Affiliates after November 14, 2001,
     pursuant to express authorization by the Board that refers to this
     exception) representing 20% or more of either the then outstanding shares
     of common stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the
     Company's then outstanding voting securities; or

               (iv)  the shareholders of the Company approve of a plan of
     complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or an agreement for the
     sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
     Company's assets (in one transaction or a series of related transactions
     within any period of 24 consecutive months), other than a sale or
     disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's
     assets to an entity at least 75% of the combined voting power of the voting
     securities of which are owned by Persons in substantially the same
     proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such
     sale.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no "Change in Control of the Company" shall be
deemed to have occurred if there is consummated any transaction or series of
integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the
common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of
transactions continue to own, directly or indirectly, in the same proportions as
their ownership in the Company, an entity that owns all or substantially all of
the assets or voting securities of the Company immediately following such
transaction or series of transactions.

          (h)  Code. The term "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
               ----
including any amendments thereto or successor tax codes thereof.

          (i)  Covered Termination. Subject to Section 2(b), the term "Covered
               -------------------             ------------
Termination" means any termination of the Executive's employment during the
Employment Period where the Termination Date, or the date Notice of Termination
is delivered, is any date prior to the end of the Employment Period.

                                       -5-

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          (j)  Employment Period. Subject to Section 2(b), the term "Employment
               -----------------             ------------
Period" means a period commencing on the date of a Change in Control of the
Company, and ending at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the third anniversary of such
date.

          (k)  Good Reason. The Executive shall have "Good Reason" for
               -----------
termination of employment in connection with a Change in Control of the Company
in the event of:

               (i)    any breach of this Agreement by the Employer, including
     specifically any breach by the Employer of the agreements contained in
     Section 3(b), Section 4, Section 5, or Section 6, other than an isolated,
     ------------  ---------  ---------
     insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith that
     the Employer remedies promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by
     the Executive;

               (ii)   any reduction in the Executive's base salary, percentage
     of base salary available as incentive compensation or bonus opportunity or
     benefits, in each case relative to those most favorable to the Executive in
     effect at any time during the 180-day period prior to the Change in Control
     of the Company or, to the extent more favorable to the Executive, those in
     effect at any time during the Employment Period;

               (iii)  the removal of the Executive from, or any failure to
     reelect or reappoint the Executive to, any of the positions held with the
     Employer on the date of the Change in Control of the Company or any other
     positions with the Employer to which the Executive shall thereafter be
     elected, appointed or assigned, except in the event that such removal or
     failure to reelect or reappoint relates to the termination by the Employer
     of the Executive's employment for Cause or by reason of disability pursuant
     to Section 12;
        ----------

               (iv)   a good faith determination by the Executive that there has
     been a material adverse change, without the Executive's written consent, in
     the Executive's working conditions or status with the Employer relative to
     the most favorable working conditions or status in effect during the 180-
     day period prior to the Change in Control of the Company, or, to the
     extent more favorable to the Executive, those in effect at any time during
     the Employment Period, including but not limited to (A) a significant
     change in the nature or scope of the Executive's authority, powers,
     functions, duties or responsibilities, or (B) a significant reduction in
     the level of support services, staff, secretarial and other assistance,
     office space and accoutrements, but in each case excluding for this purpose
     an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent event not occurring in bad faith
     that the Employer remedies within ten (10) days after receipt of notice
     thereof given by the Executive;

               (v)    the relocation of the Executive's principal place of
     employment to a location more than 35 miles from the Executive's principal
     place of employment on the date 180 days prior to the Change in Control of
     the Company;

                                       -6-

<PAGE>

                (vi)  the Employer requires the Executive to travel on Employer
     business 20% in excess of the average number of days per month the
     Executive was required to travel during the 180-day period prior to the
     Change in Control of the Company; or

                (vii) failure by the Company to obtain the Agreement referred to
     in Section 17(a) as provided therein.
        -------------

          (l)   Person. The term "Person" shall mean any individual, firm,
                ------
partnership, corporation or other entity, including any successor (by merger or
otherwise) of such entity, or a group of any of the foregoing acting in concert.

          (m)   Termination Date. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2(b),
                ----------------                                  ------------
Section 10(b), and Section 17(a), the term "Termination Date" means (i) if the
-------------      -------------
Executive's employment is terminated by the Executive's death, the date of
death; (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of voluntary
early retirement, as agreed in writing by the Employer and the Executive, the
date of such early retirement which is set forth in such written agreement;
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated for purposes of this Agreement
by reason of disability pursuant to Section 12, the earlier of thirty days after
                                    ----------
the Notice of Termination is given or one day prior to the end of the Employment
Period; (iv) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Executive
voluntarily (other than for Good Reason), the date the Notice of Termination is
given; and (v) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Employer
(other than by reason of disability pursuant to Section 12) or by the Executive
                                                ----------
for Good Reason, the earlier of thirty days after the Notice of Termination is
given or one day prior to the end of the Employment Period. Notwithstanding the
foregoing,

                (A)   If termination is for Cause pursuant to Section 1(f)(iii)
                                                              -----------------
     and if the Executive has cured the conduct constituting such Cause as
     described by the Employer in its Notice of Termination within such thirty-
     day or shorter period, then the Executive's employment hereunder shall
     continue as if the Employer had not delivered its Notice of Termination.

                (B)   If the Executive shall in good faith give a Notice of
     Termination for Good Reason and the Employer notifies the Executive that a
     dispute exists concerning the termination within the fifteen-day period
     following receipt thereof, then the Executive may elect to continue his or
     her employment during such dispute and the Termination Date shall be
     determined under this paragraph. If the Executive so elects and it is
     thereafter determined that Good Reason did exist, the Termination Date
     shall be the earliest of (1) the date on which the dispute is finally
     determined, either (x) by mutual written agreement of the parties or (y) in
     accordance with Section 22, (2) the date of the Executive's death or (3)
                     ----------
     one day prior to the end of the Employment Period. If the Executive so
     elects and it is thereafter determined that Good Reason did not exist, then
     the employment of the Executive hereunder shall continue after such
     determination as if the Executive had not delivered the Notice of
     Termination asserting Good Reason and there shall be no Termination Date
     arising out of such Notice. In either case, this Agreement continues, until
     the Termination Date, if any, as if the Executive had

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

     not delivered the Notice of Termination except that, if it is finally
     determined that Good Reason did exist, the Executive shall in no case be
     denied the benefits described in Section 9 (including a Termination
                                     ---------
     Payment) based on events occurring after the Executive delivered his Notice
     of Termination.

             (C)  Except as provided in Section 1(m)(B), if the party receiving
                                        ---------------
     the Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute exists
     concerning the termination within the appropriate period following receipt
     thereof and it is finally determined that the reason asserted in such
     Notice of Termination did not exist, then (1) if such Notice was delivered
     by the Executive, the Executive will be deemed to have voluntarily
     terminated his employment and the Termination Date shall be the earlier of
     the date fifteen days after the Notice of Termination is given or one day
     prior to the end of the Employment Period and (2) if delivered by the
     Company, the Company will be deemed to have terminated the Executive other
     than by reason of death, disability or Cause.

         2.  Termination or Cancellation Prior to Change in Control.
             ------------------------------------------------------

         (a) Subject to Section 2(b), the Employer and the Executive shall each
                        -----------
retain the right to terminate the employment of the Executive at any time prior
to a Change in Control of the Company. Subject to Section 2(b), in the event the
                                                  -----------
Executive's employment is terminated prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, this Agreement shall be terminated and cancelled and of no further
force and effect, and any and all rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder shall cease.

         (b) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if a
Change in Control of the Company occurs and if the Executive's employment with
the Employer is terminated (other than a termination due to the Executive's
death or as a result of the Executive's disability) during the period of 180
days prior to the date on which the Change in Control of the Company occurs, and
if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such termination of
employment (i) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps
reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control of the Company or (ii)
otherwise arose in connection with or in anticipation of a Change in Control of
the Company, then for all purposes of this Agreement such termination of
employment shall be deemed a "Covered Termination," "Notice of Termination"
shall be deemed to have been given, and the "Employment Period" shall be deemed
to have begun on the date of such termination which shall be deemed to be the
"Termination Date" and the date of the Change of Control of the Company for
purposes of this Agreement.

         3.  Employment Period; Vesting of Certain Benefits.
             ----------------------------------------------

         (a) If a Change in Control of the Company occurs when the Executive is
employed by the Employer, the Employer will continue thereafter to employ the
Executive during the Employment Period, and the Executive will remain in the
employ of the Employer in accordance with and subject to the terms and
provisions of this Agreement. Any termination of the Executive's employment
during the Employment Period, whether by the Company or the Employer, shall be
deemed a termination by the Company for purposes of this Agreement.

                                       -8-

<PAGE>

         (b) If a Change in Control of the Company occurs when the Executive is
employed by the Employer, (i) the Company shall cause all restrictions on
restricted stock awards made to the Executive prior to the Change in Control of
the Company to lapse such that the Executive is fully and immediately vested in
the Executive's restricted stock upon such a Change in Control of the Company;
and (ii) the Company shall cause all stock options granted to the Executive
prior to the Change in Control of the Company pursuant to the Company's stock
option plan(s) to be fully and immediately vested upon such a Change in Control
of the Company.

         4.  Duties. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall, in the
             ------
same capacities and positions held by the Executive at the time of the Change in
Control of the Company or in such other capacities and positions as may be
agreed to by the Employer and the Executive in writing, devote the Executive's
best efforts and all of the Executive's business time, attention and skill to
the business and affairs of the Employer, as such business and affairs now exist
and as they may hereafter be conducted; provided, however, that the Executive
shall be entitled (a) to serve as director of other corporations and (b) to
devote time to personal and financial activities, in each case so long as such
activities do not materially affect the Executive's ability to perform the
Executive's duties hereunder.

         5.  Compensation.  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
             ------------
compensated as follows:

         (a) The Executive shall receive, at reasonable intervals (but not less
often than monthly) and in accordance with such standard policies as may be in
effect immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company, an annual base
salary in cash equivalent of not less than twelve times the Executive's highest
monthly base salary for the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month
in which the Change in Control of the Company occurs or, if higher, an annual
base salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control of
the Company (which base salary shall, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the
Executive, include the current receipt by the Executive of any amounts which,
prior to the Change in Control of the Company, the Executive had elected to
defer, whether such compensation is deferred under Section 401(k) of the Code or
otherwise), subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided in Section 6 (such
                                                             ---------
salary amount as adjusted upward from time to time is hereafter referred to as
the "Annual Base Salary").

         (b) The Executive shall receive fringe benefits at least equal in value
to the highest value of such benefits provided for the Executive at any time
during the 180-day period immediately prior to the Change in Control of the
Company or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any
time during the Employment Period to any executives of the Employer of
comparable status and position to the Executive; and shall be reimbursed, at
such intervals and in accordance with such standard policies that are most
favorable to the Executive that were in effect at any time during the 180-day
period immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company, for any and
all monies advanced in connection with the Executive's employment for reasonable
and necessary expenses incurred by the Executive on behalf of the Employer,
including travel expenses.

         (c) The Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be,
shall be included, to the extent eligible thereunder (which eligibility shall
not be conditioned on the Executive's salary grade or on any other requirement
which excludes persons of comparable status

                                       -9-

<PAGE>

to the Executive unless such exclusion was in effect for such plan or an
equivalent plan at any time during the 180-day period immediately prior to the
Change in Control of the Company), in any and all plans providing benefits for
the Employer's salaried employees in general, including but not limited to group
life insurance, hospitalization, medical, dental, profit sharing and stock bonus
plans; provided, that, (i) in no event shall the aggregate level of benefits
under such plans in which the Executive is included be less than the aggregate
level of benefits under plans of the Employer of the type referred to in this
Section 5(c) in which the Executive was participating at any time during the
------------
180-day period immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company and
(ii) in no event shall the aggregate level of benefits under such plans be less
than the aggregate level of benefits under plans of the type referred to in this
Section 5(c) provided at any time after the Change in Control of the Company to
------------
any executive of the Employer of comparable status and position to the
Executive.

          (d)  The Executive shall annually be entitled to not less than the
amount of paid vacation and not fewer than the highest number of paid holidays
to which the Executive was entitled annually at any time during the 180-day
period immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company or such greater
amount of paid vacation and number of paid holidays as may be made available
annually to other executives of the Employer of comparable status and position
to the Executive at any time during the Employment Period.

          (e)  The Executive shall be included in all plans providing additional
benefits to executives of the Employer of comparable status and position to the
Executive, including but not limited to deferred compensation, split-dollar life
insurance, supplemental retirement, stock option, stock appreciation, stock
bonus and similar or comparable plans; provided, that, (i) in no event shall the
aggregate level of benefits under such plans be less than the highest aggregate
level of benefits under plans of the Employer of the type referred to in this
Section 5(e) in which the Executive was participating at any time during the
------------
180-day period immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company; (ii)
in no event shall the aggregate level of benefits under such plans be less than
the aggregate levels of benefits under plans of the type referred to in this
Section 5(e) provided at any time after the Change in Control of the Company to
------------
any executive of the Employer comparable in status and position to the
Executive; and (iii) the Employer's obligation to include the Executive in bonus
or incentive compensation plans shall be determined by Section 5(f).
                                                       ------------

          (f)  To assure that the Executive will have an opportunity to earn
incentive compensation after a Change in Control of the Company, the Executive
shall be included in a bonus plan of the Employer which shall satisfy the
standards described below (such plan, the "Bonus Plan"). Bonuses under the Bonus
Plan shall be payable with respect to achieving such financial or other goals
reasonably related to the business of the Employer as the Employer shall
establish (the "Goals"), all of which Goals shall be attainable, prior to the
end of the Employment Period, with approximately the same degree of probability
as the most attainable goals under the Employer's bonus plan or plans as in
effect at any time during the 180-day period immediately prior to the Change in
Control of the Company (whether one or more, the "Company Bonus Plan") and in
view of the Employer's existing and projected financial and business
circumstances applicable at the time. The amount of the bonus (the "Bonus
Amount") that the Executive is eligible to earn under the Bonus Plan shall be no
less than the amount of the Executive's maximum award provided in such Company
Bonus Plan (such bonus amount herein referred to as the "Targeted Bonus"), and
in the event the Goals are not achieved such that the entire Targeted Bonus

                                       -10-

<PAGE>

is not payable, the Bonus Plan shall provide for a payment of a Bonus Amount
equal to a portion of the Targeted Bonus reasonably related to that portion of
the Goals which were achieved. Payment of the Bonus Amount shall not be affected
by any circumstance occurring subsequent to the end of the Employment Period,
including termination of the Executive's employment.

          6.   Annual Compensation Adjustments. During the Employment Period,
               -------------------------------
the Board of Directors of the Company (or an appropriate committee thereof) will
consider and appraise, at least annually, the contributions of the Executive to
the Company, and in accordance with the Company's practice prior to the Change
in Control of the Company, due consideration shall be given to the upward
adjustment of the Executive's Annual Base Salary, at least annually, (a)
commensurate with increases generally given to other executives of the Company
of comparable status and position to the Executive, and (b) as the scope of the
Company's operations or the Executive's duties expand.

          7.   Termination For Cause or Without Good Reason. If there is a
               --------------------------------------------
Covered Termination for Cause or due to the Executive's voluntarily terminating
his or her employment other than for Good Reason (any such terminations to be
subject to the procedures set forth in Section 13), then the Executive shall be
                                       ----------
entitled to receive only Accrued Benefits.

          8.   Termination Giving Rise to a Termination Payment. If there is a
               ------------------------------------------------
Covered Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, or by the Company other
than by reason of (i) death, (ii) disability pursuant to Section 12, or (iii)
                                                         ----------
Cause (any such terminations to be subject to the procedures set forth in
Section 13), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive, and the Company
----------
shall promptly pay, Accrued Benefits and, in lieu of further base salary for
periods following the Termination Date, as liquidated damages and additional
severance pay and in consideration of the covenant of the Executive set forth in
Section 14(a), the Termination Payment pursuant to Section 9(a).
-------------                                      ------------

          9.   Payments Upon Termination.
               -------------------------

          (a)  Termination Payment.
               -------------------

               (i)  Subject to Section 9(a)(ii), the "Termination Payment" shall
                               ----------------
     be an amount equal to the Annual Cash Compensation times two (2). The
     Termination Payment shall be paid to the Executive in cash equivalent ten
     (10) business days after the Termination Date. Such lump sum payment shall
     not be reduced by any present value or similar factor, and the Executive
     shall not be required to mitigate the amount of the Termination Payment by
     securing other employment or otherwise, nor will such Termination Payment
     be reduced by reason of the Executive securing other employment or for any
     other reason. The Termination Payment shall be in lieu of, and acceptance
     by the Executive of the Termination Payment shall constitute the
     Executive's release of any rights of the Executive to, any other cash
     severance payments under any Company severance policy, practice or
     agreement.

               (ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if
     any portion of the Termination Payment or any other payment under this

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

     Agreement, or under any other agreement with or plan of the Employer (in
     the aggregate, "Total Payments"), would constitute an "excess parachute
     payment," then the Executive shall have the option to have the Total
     Payments to be made to the Executive reduced such that the value of the
     aggregate Total Payments that the Executive is entitled to receive shall be
     One Dollar ($1) less than the maximum amount which the Executive may
     receive without becoming subject to the tax imposed under Section 4999 of
     the Code (or any successor provision). For purposes of this Agreement, the
     terms "excess parachute payment" and "parachute payments" shall have the
     meanings assigned to them in Section 280G of the Code (or any successor
     provision) and such "parachute payments" shall be valued as provided
     therein. Present value for purposes of this Agreement shall be calculated
     in accordance with Section 1274(b)(2) of the Code (or any successor
     provision). Within forty days following a Covered Termination or notice by
     one party to the other of its belief that there is a payment or benefit due
     the Executive that will result in an "excess parachute payment" as defined
     in Section 280G of the Code (or any successor provision), the Executive and
     the Company, at the Company's expense, shall obtain the opinion (which need
     not be unqualified) of nationally recognized tax counsel ("National Tax
     Counsel") selected by the Company's independent auditors and reasonably
     acceptable to the Executive (which may be regular outside counsel to the
     Company), which opinion sets forth (A) the amount of the Base Period
     Income, (B) the amount and present value of Total Payments, (C) the amount
     and present value of any excess parachute payments determined without
     regard to any reduction of Total Payments pursuant to this Section 9(a)(ii)
                                                                ----------------
     and (D) the net after-tax proceeds to the Executive, taking into account
     the tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code if (x) the Total Payments
     were reduced in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 9(a)(ii)
                                                                ----------------
     or (y) the Total Payments were not so reduced. As used in this Agreement,
     the term "Base Period Income" means an amount equal to the Executive's
     "annualized includable compensation for the base period" as defined in
     Section 280G(d)(1) of the Code. For purposes of such opinion, the value of
     any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined
     by the Company's independent auditors in accordance with the principles of
     Section 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code (or any successor provisions), which
     determination shall be evidenced in a certificate of such auditors
     addressed to the Company and the Executive. The opinion of National Tax
     Counsel shall be addressed to the Company and the Executive and shall be
     binding upon the Company and the Executive. If such National Tax Counsel
     opinion determines that there would be an excess parachute payment, then,
     at the Executive's option, then, at the Executive's sole discretion, the
     Termination Payment hereunder or any other payment or benefit determined by
     such counsel to be includable in Total Payments may be reduced or
     eliminated as specified by the Executive in writing delivered to the
     Company within thirty days of his receipt of such opinion so that under the
     bases of calculations set forth in such opinion there will be no excess
     parachute payment. If such National Tax Counsel so requests in connection
     with the opinion required by this Section 9(a), the Executive and the
                                       ------------
     Company shall obtain, at the Company's expense, and the National Tax
     Counsel may rely on, the advice of a firm of recognized executive
     compensation consultants as to the reasonableness of

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

     any item of compensation to be received by the Executive solely with
     respect to its status under Section 280G of the Code and the regulations
     thereunder.

               (iii) The Company agrees to bear all costs associated with, and
     to indemnify and hold harmless, the National Tax Counsel of and from any
     and all claims, damages, and expenses resulting from or relating to its
     determinations pursuant to this Section 9(a), except for claims, damages or
                                     ------------
     expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
     firm.

          (b)  Additional Benefits. If there is a Covered Termination and the
               -------------------
Executive is entitled to Accrued Benefits and the Termination Payment, then the
Company shall provide to the Executive the following additional benefits:

               (i)   The Executive shall receive, at the expense of the Company,
     outplacement services, on an individualized basis at a level of service
     commensurate with the Executive's status with the Company immediately prior
     to the date of the Change in Control of the Company (or, if higher,
     immediately prior to the termination of the Executive's employment),
     provided by a nationally recognized executive placement firm selected by
     the Company; provided that the cost to the Company of such services shall
     not exceed 10% of the Executive's Annual Base Salary.

               (ii)  Until the earlier of the end of the Employment Period or
     such time as the Executive has obtained new employment and is covered by
     benefits which in the aggregate are at least equal in value to the
     following benefits, the Executive shall continue to be covered, at the
     expense of the Company, by the same or equivalent life insurance,
     hospitalization, medical and dental coverage as was required hereunder with
     respect to the Executive immediately prior to the date the Notice of
     Termination is given.

               (iii) The Company shall reimburse the Executive for up to $15,000
     in the aggregate of fees and expenses of consultants and/or legal or
     accounting advisors engaged by the Executive to advise the Executive as to
     matters relating to the computation of benefits due and payable under this
     Section 9.
     ---------

               (iv)  The Company shall cause all performance plan awards granted
     to the Executive pursuant to any long-term incentive plan maintained by the
     Company to be paid out at target, as if all performance requirements had
     been satisfied, on a pro rata basis based on the completed portion of each
     award cycle.

          10.  Death.
               -----

          (a)  Except as provided in Section 10(b), in the event of a Covered
                                     -------------
Termination due to the Executive's death, the Executive's estate, heirs and
beneficiaries shall receive all the Executive's Accrued Benefits through the
Termination Date.

          (b)  In the event the Executive dies after a Notice of Termination is
given (i) by the Company or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, the
Executive's estate, heirs and

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

beneficiaries shall be entitled to the benefits described in Section 10(a) and,
                                                             -------------
subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to such Termination Payment as the
Executive would have been entitled to had the Executive lived. For purposes of
this Section 10(b), the Termination Date shall be the earlier of thirty days
     -------------
following the giving of the Notice of Termination, subject to extension pursuant
to Section 1(m), or one day prior to the end of the Employment Period.
   ------------

          11. Retirement. If, during the Employment Period, the Executive and
              ----------
the Employer shall execute an agreement providing for the early retirement of
the Executive from the Employer, or the Executive shall otherwise give notice
that he is voluntarily choosing to retire early from the Employer, the Executive
shall receive Accrued Benefits through the Termination Date; provided, that if
the Executive's employment is terminated by the Executive for Good Reason or by
the Company other than by reason of death, disability or Cause and the Executive
also, in connection with such termination, elects voluntary early retirement,
the Executive shall also be entitled to receive a Termination Payment pursuant
to Section 8.
   ---------

          12. Termination for Disability. If, during the Employment Period, as a
              --------------------------
result of the Executive's disability due to physical or mental illness or injury
(regardless of whether such illness or injury is job-related), the Executive
shall have been absent from the Executive's duties hereunder on a full-time
basis for a period of six consecutive months and, within thirty days after the
Company notifies the Executive in writing that it intends to terminate the
Executive's employment (which notice shall not constitute the Notice of
Termination contemplated below), the Executive shall not have returned to the
performance of the Executive's duties hereunder on a full-time basis, the
Company may terminate the Executive's employment for purposes of this Agreement
pursuant to a Notice of Termination given in accordance with Section 13. If the
                                                             ----------
Executive's employment is terminated on account of the Executive's disability in
accordance with this Section, the Executive shall receive Accrued Benefits
through the Termination Date and shall remain eligible for all benefits provided
by any long term disability programs of the Company in effect at the time of
such termination.

          13. Termination Notice and Procedure. Any Covered Termination by the
              --------------------------------
Company or the Executive (other than a termination of the Executive's employment
that is a Covered Termination by virtue of Section 2(b)) shall be communicated
                                           ------------
by a written notice of termination ("Notice of Termination") to the Executive,
if such Notice is given by the Company, and to the Company, if such Notice is
given by the Executive, all in accordance with the following procedures and
those set forth in Section 23:
                   ----------

          (a) If such termination is for disability, Cause or Good Reason, the
Notice of Termination shall indicate in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances alleged to provide a basis for such termination.

          (b) Any Notice of Termination by the Company shall have been approved,
prior to the giving thereof to the Executive, by a resolution duly adopted by a
majority of the directors of the Company (or any successor corporation) then in
office.

          (c) If the Notice is given by the Executive for Good Reason, the
Executive may cease performing his duties hereunder on or after the date fifteen
days after the delivery of Notice of Termination and shall in any event cease
employment on the Termination Date. If the Notice is

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

given by the Company, then the Executive may cease performing his duties
hereunder on the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination, subject to the
Executive's rights hereunder.

          (d) The Executive shall have thirty days, or such longer period as the
Company may determine to be appropriate, to cure any conduct or act, if curable,
alleged to provide grounds for termination of the Executive's employment for
Cause under this Agreement pursuant to Section 1(f)(iii).
                                       -----------------

          (e) The recipient of any Notice of Termination shall personally
deliver or mail in accordance with Section 23 written notice of any dispute
                                   ----------
relating to such Notice of Termination to the party giving such Notice within
fifteen days after receipt thereof; provided, however, that if the Executive's
conduct or act alleged to provide grounds for termination by the Company for
Cause is curable, then such period shall be thirty days. After the expiration of
such period, the contents of the Notice of Termination shall become final and
not subject to dispute.

          14. Further Obligations of the Executive.
              ------------------------------------

          (a) Competition. The Executive agrees that, in the event of any
              -----------
Covered Termination where the Executive is entitled to Accrued Benefits and the
Termination Payment, the Executive shall not, for a period expiring six months
after the Termination Date, without the prior written approval of the Company's
Board of Directors, participate in the management of, be employed by or own any
business enterprise at a location within the United States that engages in
substantial competition with the Company or its subsidiaries, where such
enterprise's revenues from any competitive activities amount to 10% or more of
such enterprise's net revenues and sales for its most recently completed fiscal
year; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 14(a) shall prohibit the
                                              -------------
Executive from owning stock or other securities of a competitor amounting to
less than five percent of the outstanding capital stock of such competitor.

          (b) Confidentiality. During and following the Executive's employment
              ---------------
by the Company, the Executive shall hold in confidence and not directly or
indirectly disclose or use or copy or make lists of any confidential information
or proprietary data of the Company (including that of the Employer), except to
the extent authorized in writing by the Board of Directors of the Company or
required by any court or administrative agency, other than to an employee of the
Company or a person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in
connection with the performance by the Executive of duties as an executive of
the Company. Confidential information shall not include any information known
generally to the public or any information of a type not otherwise considered
confidential by persons engaged in the same business or a business similar to
that of the Company. All records, files, documents and materials, or copies
thereof, relating to the business of the Company which the Executive shall
prepare, or use, or come into contact with, shall be and remain the sole
property of the Company and shall be promptly returned to the Company upon
termination of employment with the Company.

          (c) No Solicitation. The Executive agrees that, in the event of any
              ---------------
Covered Termination where the Executive is entitled to Accrued Benefits and the
Termination Payment, the Executive shall not, for a period expiring two years
after the Termination Date, without the prior written approval of the Company's
Board of Directors, hire or solicit for employment any person

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

who is or was employed by the Company during the then immediately preceding
twelve months, other than pursuant to a general published solicitation of
employment.

          15. Expenses and Interest. If, after a Change in Control of the
              ---------------------
Company, (a) a dispute arises with respect to the enforcement of the Executive's
rights under this Agreement or (b) any legal or arbitration proceeding shall be
brought to enforce or interpret any provision contained herein or to recover
damages for breach hereof, in either case so long as the Executive is not acting
in bad faith, then the Company shall reimburse the Executive for any reasonable
attorneys' fees and necessary costs and disbursements incurred as a result of
the dispute, legal or arbitration proceeding ("Expenses"), and prejudgment
interest on any money judgment or arbitration award obtained by the Executive
calculated at the rate of interest announced by The Bank of New York, from time
to time at its prime or base lending rate from the date that payments to him or
her should have been made under this Agreement. Within ten days after the
Executive's written request therefor, the Company shall pay to the Executive, or
such other person or entity as the Executive may designate in writing to the
Company, the Executive's reasonable Expenses in advance of the final disposition
or conclusion of any such dispute, legal or arbitration proceeding.

          16. Payment Obligations Absolute. The Company's obligation during and
              ----------------------------
after the Employment Period to pay the Executive the amounts and to make the
benefit and other arrangements provided herein shall be absolute and
unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without
limitation, any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which
the Company may have against him or anyone else. Except as provided in Section
                                                                       -------
15, all amounts payable by the Company hereunder shall be paid without notice or
--
demand. Each and every payment made hereunder by the Company shall be final, and
the Company will not seek to recover all or any part of such payment from the
Executive, or from whomsoever may be entitled thereto, for any reason
whatsoever.

          17. Successors.
              ----------

          (a) If the Company sells, assigns or transfers all or substantially
all of its business and assets to any Person or if the Company merges into or
consolidates or otherwise combines (where the Company does not survive such
combination) with any Person (any such event, a "Sale of Business"), then the
Company shall assign all of its right, title and interest in this Agreement as
of the date of such event to such Person, and the Company shall cause such
Person, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform from and after the date
of such assignment all of the terms, conditions and provisions imposed by this
Agreement upon the Company. Failure of the Company to obtain such agreement
prior to the effective date of such Sale of Business shall be a breach of this
Agreement constituting "Good Reason" hereunder, except that for purposes of
implementing the foregoing the date upon which such Sale of Business becomes
effective shall be deemed the Termination Date. In case of such assignment by
the Company and of assumption and agreement by such Person, as used in this
Agreement, "Company" shall thereafter mean such Person which executes and
delivers the agreement provided for in this Section 17 or which otherwise
                                            ----------
becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of
law, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by,
such Person. The Executive shall, in his or her discretion, be entitled to
proceed against any or all of such Persons, any Person which theretofore was
such a successor to the Company and the Company (as so defined) in any action to

                                      -16-

<PAGE>

enforce any rights of the Executive hereunder. Except as provided in this
Section 17(a), this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Company. This
-------------
Agreement shall not be terminated by the voluntary or involuntary dissolution of
the Company.

          (b) This Agreement and all rights of the Executive shall inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, heirs and beneficiaries. All amounts
payable to the Executive under Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 15 if the
                               -----------------------------------
Executive had lived shall be paid, in the event of the Executive's death, to the
Executive's estate, heirs and representatives; provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not be construed to modify any terms of any benefit plan of the
Employer, as such terms are in effect on the date of the Change in Control of
the Company, that expressly govern benefits under such plan in the event of the
Executive's death.

          18. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be regarded
              ------------
as divisible, and if any of said provisions or any part hereof are declared
invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity and
enforceability of the remainder of such provisions or parts hereof and the
applicability thereof shall not be affected thereby.

          19. Contents of Agreement; Waiver of Rights; Amendment. This Agreement
              --------------------------------------------------
sets forth the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof, and the Executive hereby waives all rights under, any
prior or other agreement or understanding between the parties with respect to
such subject matter. This Agreement may not be amended or modified at any time
except by written instrument executed by the Company and the Executive.

          20. Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from
              -----------
amounts to be paid to the Executive hereunder any federal, state or local
withholding or other taxes or charges which it is from time to time required to
withhold; provided, that the amount so withheld shall not exceed the minimum
amount required to be withheld by law. The Company shall be entitled to rely on
an opinion of the National Tax Counsel if any question as to the amount or
requirement of any such withholding shall arise.

          21. Certain Rules of Construction. No party shall be considered as
              -----------------------------
being responsible for the drafting of this Agreement for the purpose of applying
any rule construing ambiguities against the drafter or otherwise. No draft of
this Agreement shall be taken into account in construing this Agreement. Any
provision of this Agreement which requires an agreement in writing shall be
deemed to require that the writing in question be signed by the Executive and an
authorized representative of the Company.

          22. Governing Law; Resolution of Disputes. This Agreement and the
              -------------------------------------
rights and obligations hereunder shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin. Any dispute arising out of
this Agreement shall, at the Executive's election, be determined by arbitration
under the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect (in which
case both parties shall be bound by the arbitration award) or by litigation.
Whether the dispute is to be settled by arbitration or litigation, the venue for
the arbitration or litigation shall be Milwaukee, Wisconsin or, at the
Executive's election, if the Executive is not then residing or working in the
Milwaukee, Wisconsin metropolitan area, in the judicial district encompassing
the

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

city in which the Executive resides; provided, that, if the Executive is not
then residing in the United States, the election of the Executive with respect
to such venue shall be either Milwaukee, Wisconsin or in the judicial district
encompassing that city in the United States among the thirty cities having the
largest population (as determined by the most recent United States Census data
available at the Termination Date) which is closest to the Executive's
residence. The parties consent to personal jurisdiction in each trial court in
the selected venue having subject matter jurisdiction notwithstanding their
residence or situs, and each party irrevocably consents to service of process in
the manner provided hereunder for the giving of notices.

          23. Notice. Notices given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in
              ------
writing and, except as otherwise provided by Section 13(d), shall be deemed
                                             -------------
given when actually received by the Executive or actually received by the
Company's Secretary or any officer of the Company other than the Executive. If
mailed, such notices shall be mailed by United States registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, addressee only, postage prepaid, if to the
Company, to Fiserv, Inc., Attention: Secretary (or President, if the Executive
is then Secretary), 255 Fiserv Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin 53045, or if to the
Executive, at the address set forth below the Executive's signature to this
Agreement, or to such other address as the party to be notified shall have
theretofore given to the other party in writing.

          24. No Waiver. No waiver by either party at any time of any breach by
              ---------
the other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this
Agreement to be performed by the other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar
or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or any prior or
subsequent time.

          25. Headings. The headings herein contained are for reference only and
              --------
shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this
Agreement.

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.

                                  FISERV, INC.

                                  By:________________________________________
                                     Its:____________________________________

                                 Attest:
                                      Its:___________________________________

                                  EXECUTIVE:

                                  ______________________________________(SEAL)

                                  Address:___________________________________

                                          ___________________________________

                                      -19-<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                                    COMPOSITE
                             ACE CASH EXPRESS, INC.
                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                    (AS AMENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 26, 2000).

         On August 4, 1997, the Board of Directors of Ace Cash Express, Inc.
adopted the following 1997 Stock Option Plan:

                  1. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to provide key
         employees with a proprietary interest in the Company through the
         granting of options which will

                     (a)   increase the interest of the key employees in the
                           Company's and its Subsidiaries' welfare;

                     (b)   furnish an incentive to the key employees to continue
                           their services for the Company and its Subsidiaries;
                           and

                     (c)   provide a means through which the Company and its
                           Subsidiaries may attract able persons to enter its
                           employ.

                  2. ADMINISTRATION. The Plan will be administered by the
         Committee.

                  3. PARTICIPANTS. The Committee shall, from time to time,
         select the particular key employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries
         to whom options are to be granted and who will, upon such grant, become
         participants in the Plan. For purposes of the Plan, "key employees" are
         those officers and employees whose performance and responsibilities are
         determined by the Committee to be influential to the success of the
         Company and its Subsidiaries.

                  4. STOCK OWNERSHIP LIMITATION. No Incentive Option may be
         granted to a key employee who owns more than 10% of the voting power of
         all classes of capital stock of the Company or its Parent or
         Subsidiaries; except that this limitation will not apply if the option
         price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock at
         the time the Incentive Option is granted and the Incentive Option is
         not exercisable more than five years from the date it is granted.

                  5. SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN. The Board may not grant options
         under the Plan for more than 1,715,000 shares of Common Stock of the
         Company, including (without limitation) to any key employee, but this
         number may be adjusted to reflect, if deemed appropriate by the
         Committee, any stock dividend, stock split, share combination,
         recapitalization, or the like of or by the Company. Shares to be
         optioned and sold may be made available from either authorized but
         unissued Common Stock or Common Stock held by the Company in its
         treasury. Shares that by reason of the expiration of an option or
         otherwise are no longer subject to purchase pursuant to an option
         granted under the Plan may be re-offered under the Plan.

                  6. LIMITATION ON AMOUNT. The aggregate fair market value
         (determined at the time of grant) of the shares of Common Stock which
         any key employee is first eligible to purchase in any calendar year by
         exercise of Incentive Options granted under the Plan and all incentive
         stock option plans of the Company or its Parent or Subsidiaries shall
         not exceed $100,000. For this purpose, the fair market value
         (determined at the date of grant of each option) of the Common Stock
         purchasable by exercise of an Incentive Option (or an installment
         thereof) shall be counted against the $100,000 annual limitation for a
         key employee only for the calendar year such Common Stock is first
         purchasable under the terms of the option.

                  7. ALLOTMENT OF SHARES. The Committee shall determine the
         number of shares of Common Stock to be offered from time to time by
         grant of options to key employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
         The grant of an option to a key employee shall not be deemed to entitle
         the employee to, or to disqualify the employee from, participation in
         any other grant of options under the Plan.
<PAGE>

                  8. GRANT OF OPTIONS. All options under the Plan shall be
         granted by the Committee, which is authorized to grant Incentive
         Options and Nonqualified Options under the Plan. Each grant of options
         shall be evidenced by a stock option agreement containing such terms
         and provisions as are approved by the Committee, but not inconsistent
         with the Plan, including (without limitation) provisions that may be
         necessary to assure that any option that is intended to be an Incentive
         Option will comply with Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. The
         Company shall execute stock option agreements upon instructions from
         the Committee. The Plan shall be submitted to the Company's
         shareholders for approval. The Committee may grant options under the
         Plan prior to the time of shareholder approval, and those options will
         be effective when granted, but if for any reason the shareholders of
         the Company do not approve the Plan prior to one year from the date of
         adoption of the Plan by the Board, all options granted under the Plan
         will be terminated and of no effect. No option may be exercised in
         whole or in part prior to such shareholder approval. A stock option
         agreement may provide that the participant may request approval from
         the Committee to exercise an option or a portion thereof by tendering
         shares of Common Stock, at the fair market value per share on the date
         of exercise, in lieu of cash payment of the exercise price.

                  9. OPTION PRICE. The option price of an Incentive Option shall
         not be less than 100% of the fair market value per share of the Common
         Stock (or 110% of such value if required by Section 4) on the date the
         Incentive Option is granted. The Committee shall determine the fair
         market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Incentive
         Option, using any reasonable valuation method, and shall set forth the
         determination in the resolutions it adopts or in minutes.

                  10. OPTION PERIOD. The Option Period will begin on the date
         the option is granted, which will be the date the Committee authorizes
         the option unless the Committee specifies another date (which can only
         be a later date if the option is an Incentive Option). No option may
         terminate later than ten years from the date the option is granted. The
         Committee may provide for the exercise of options in installments and
         upon such terms, conditions, and restrictions as it may determine. The
         Committee may provide for termination of the option in the case of
         termination of employment or for any other reason.

                  11. RIGHTS IN EVENT OF DEATH OR DISABILITY. If a participant
         dies or becomes disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the
         Internal Revenue Code) prior to expiration of his or her right to
         exercise an option in accordance with the provisions of the applicable
         stock option agreement without having totally exercised the option, the
         option may be exercised, to the extent of the shares with respect to
         which the option could have been exercised by the participant on the
         date of his or her death or disability (or to such other extent
         provided in the stock option agreement), (a) in the case of death, by
         the participant's estate or by the person who acquired the right to
         exercise the option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the death
         of the participant, or (b) in the case of disability, by the
         participant or his or her personal representative, provided the option
         is exercised prior to the date of its expiration or not more than 180
         days after the date of termination of the participant's employment
         because of his or her death or disability (or such other date as may be
         provided in the stock option agreement), whichever first occurs. The
         date of disability of a participant shall be determined by the
         Committee.

                  12. PAYMENT. Full payment for shares purchased upon exercising
         an option shall be made at the time of exercise in cash or by check, or
         if the stock option agreement so permits, by tendering shares of Common
         Stock at the fair market value per share at that time, or on such other
         terms as are set forth in the applicable stock option agreement. No
         shares may be issued until full payment of the purchase price therefor
         has been made, and a participant will have none of the rights of a
         shareholder of the Company regarding those shares until those shares
         are issued to him. In addition, the participant shall tender payment of
         such amount as may be requested by the Company, if any, for the purpose
         of satisfying its liability to withhold federal, state, or local income
         or other taxes incurred by reason of the exercise of an option.

                  13. EXERCISE OF OPTION. Options granted under the Plan may be
         exercised during the Option Period at such times, in such amounts, in
         accordance with such terms, and subject to such restrictions as are set
         forth in the applicable stock option agreements. A stock option
         agreement may provide for acceleration of exercise upon termination of
         employment for any reason. In no event may an option be exercised or
         shares be issued pursuant to the exercise of an option if any requisite
         action, approval, or consent of any governmental authority of any kind
         having jurisdiction over the exercise of options shall not have been
         taken or secured.

<PAGE>

                  14. CAPITAL ADJUSTMENTS AND REORGANIZATIONS. The number of
         shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option granted under
         the Plan and the option or purchase price may be adjusted to reflect,
         as deemed appropriate by the Committee, any stock dividend, stock
         split, share combination, exchange of shares, sale of all or
         substantially all outstanding capital stock, recapitalization, merger,
         consolidation, separation, reorganization, sale of all or substantially
         all assets, liquidation, or the like of or by the Company.

                  In the event of a merger, consolidation, share exchange, sale
         of all or substantially all outstanding capital stock, reorganization,
         sale of all or substantially all assets, liquidation, recapitalization,
         separation, or the like of or by the Company, the Company (acting by or
         through the Board or the Committee) may make such arrangements as it
         deems advisable with respect to outstanding options granted under the
         Plan, and those arrangements shall be binding upon each participant who
         holds an outstanding option granted under the Plan, including (without
         limitation) arrangements for the substitution of new options for any
         options then outstanding (by conversion or otherwise), the assumption
         of any such outstanding options, or the payment for any such
         outstanding options. Any such arrangements relating to an Incentive
         Option shall comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the
         Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder. If (a) the
         Company becomes a party to an agreement providing for the merger,
         consolidation, or share exchange of or by the Company, any other sale
         of all or substantially all of the outstanding Common Stock, or any
         sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (any such
         transaction, a "Transaction") and the agreement provides that the
         holders of the outstanding shares of Common Stock will receive cash,
         securities, or other property directly or indirectly from one or more
         persons or entities other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
         (collectively, if more than one, the "Purchaser") upon the
         effectiveness of the Transaction, and (b) the Company does not make
         arrangements for the substitution of new options from the Purchaser for
         any options then outstanding (by conversion or otherwise), the
         assumption of such options by the Purchaser, or the payment for such
         options, then the Plan shall terminate and any options outstanding
         under the Plan shall terminate upon the effectiveness of such
         Transaction; provided, however, that all outstanding options granted
         under the Plan (whether or not theretofore vested or exercisable) shall
         become immediately exercisable during the ten days immediately
         preceding the effective date of such Transaction as well as on the
         effective date of the Transaction until it is effective. If the options
         will so terminate upon the effectiveness of a Transaction, the Company
         shall give each holder of an option at least ten days' notice of the
         opportunity to exercise his or her options before such termination. The
         Company shall, prior to the effectiveness of the Transaction, issue all
         Common Stock purchased by exercise of outstanding options, and such
         Common Stock shall be treated as issued and outstanding for purposes of
         the Transaction.

                  15. NON-ASSIGNABILITY. Incentive Options and, unless specified
         in the applicable stock option agreement, Nonqualified Options may not
         be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and
         distribution. Except to the extent provided in Section 11, during a
         participant's lifetime, Incentive Options and, unless specified in the
         applicable stock option agreement, Nonqualified Options granted to a
         participant may be exercised only by the participant.

                  16. INTERPRETATION AND LIABILITY. The Committee shall
         interpret the Plan and shall prescribe such rules and regulations in
         connection with the operation of the Plan as it determines to be
         advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee may rescind
         and amend its rules and regulations. Neither the Committee nor any
         member thereof shall be liable for any action, omission,
         interpretation, construction, or determination made in connection with
         the Plan in good faith, and the members of the Committee shall be
         entitled to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect
         of any claim, loss, damage, or expense (including, without limitation,
         attorneys' fees) arising therefrom to the full extent permitted by law
         and the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Company.

                  17. AMENDMENT OR DISCONTINUANCE. The Plan may be amended or
         discontinued by the Board or the Committee without the approval of the
         shareholders of the Company, except that any amendment that would (a)
         materially increase the number of securities that may be issued under
         the Plan or (b) materially modify the requirements of eligibility for
         participation in the Plan must be approved by the shareholders of the
         Company.

<PAGE>

                  18. EFFECT OF PLAN. Neither the adoption of the Plan nor any
         action of the Board or the Committee shall be deemed to give any key
         employee any right to be granted an option to purchase Common Stock or
         any other rights except as may be evidenced by a stock option
         agreement, or any amendment thereto, duly authorized by the Committee
         and executed on behalf of the Company, and then only to the extent and
         on the terms and conditions expressly set forth therein. The existence
         of the Plan and the options granted hereunder shall not affect in any
         way the right or power of the Board or the shareholders of the Company
         to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization,
         or other change in the Company's capital structure or its business, any
         merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of bonds, debentures,
         or shares of preferred stock ahead of or affecting the Common Stock or
         the rights of the holders thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of
         the Company or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or
         business, or any other corporate act or proceeding. Nothing in this
         Plan shall be construed as conferring upon any participant the right to
         continue as an employee, officer, or director of the Company.

                  19. TERM. Unless sooner terminated by action of the Board,
         this Plan will terminate on August 4, 2007. The Committee may not grant
         options under the Plan after that date, but options granted before that
         date will continue to be effective in accordance with their terms.

                  20. APPLICABLE LAW. This Plan shall be construed and enforced
         in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State of Texas.

                  21. DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this Plan, unless the
         context requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings
         indicated:

                  (a)  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  (b)  "Committee" means the committee of the Board appointed to
                       administer the Plan, or in the absence of such a
                       committee, the entire Board.

                  (c)  "Common Stock" means the Common Stock which the Company
                       is currently authorized to issue or may in the future be
                       authorized to issue (as long as the common stock varies
                       from that currently authorized, if at all, only in amount
                       of par value).

                  (d)  "Company" means Ace Cash Express, Inc., a Texas
                       corporation.

                  (e)  "Incentive Option" means an option granted under the Plan
                       which meets the requirements of Section 422 of the
                       Internal Revenue Code.

                  (f)  "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code
                       of 1986, as amended, and any successor statute.

                  (g)  "Nonqualified Option" means an option granted under the
                       Plan which is not an Incentive Option.

                  (h)  "Option Period" means the period during which an option
                       may be exercised.

                  (i)  "Parent" means any corporation in an unbroken chain of
                       corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of
                       granting of the option, each of the corporations other
                       than the Company owns capital stock possessing 50% or
                       more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
                       capital stock in one of the other corporations in the
                       chain.

                  (j)  "Plan" means this 1997 Stock Option Plan as may be
                       amended from time to time.

                  (k)  "Subsidiary" means any corporation in an unbroken chain
                       of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the
                       time of the granting of the option, each of the
                       corporations other than the last corporation in the
                       unbroken chain owns capital stock possessing 50% or more
                       of the total combined voting power of all classes of
                       capital stock in one of the other corporations in the
                       chain, and "Subsidiaries" means more than one of any such
                       corporations.

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