HEARTLAND PAYMENT SYSTEMS' IRINA HAYDON NAMED SALES DIRECTOR OF YEAR

Princeton, NJ - December 19, 2007 - Irina Haydon, an executive director of sales and service at Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE: HPY), has been named "Sales Director of the Year" by the 2007 Selling Power Sales Excellence AwardsSM. Heartland, a leading provider of credit/debit/prepaid card processing, payroll and payment services, was also named the "Financial Services Sales Organization of the Year" in the "Best Run Sales Organization" category.

Competing for the award with five other finalists from successful organizations across the country, Haydon was honored for her outstanding contribution to Heartland's continued growth and management of its sales force in 10 states. The award recognizes her skills as a manager and motivator, as well as her commitment to serving Heartland's growing customer base. Haydon has been with Heartland since May 2000 and oversees sales and field service in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions.

"Irina is an unbelievable success story," noted Sanford Brown, Heartland's chief sales officer. "A gymnast, she emigrated from Romania to the U.S. in 1988 where she was reunited with her family after nine years of separation.  From hardly knowing anyone and barely speaking English to earning recognition as the best sales director and a Selling Power Sales Excellence Award winner is simply a tremendous accomplishment."

Brown continued, "Irina's drive and commitment to not only personal success, but to the success of others, is exemplary. I join the entire company in congratulating her on her personal and professional achievements, and the amazing impact she has had on our entire organization. Irina represents the best in sales management: commitment, results-driven, and a focus on selling and servicing customers.  Her tremendous perseverance, drive, and compassion has taken her from an entry-level sales professional to one of the most decorated senior sales leaders in our business in less than eight short years.  Irina is a true example of the American success story. She is an inspiration to many - and we are so proud of her."

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About Heartland Payment Systems

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., a NYSE company trading under the symbol HPY, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, payroll and payment solutions to more than 162,000 small and mid-sized businesses nationwide.

Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. For more information, visit www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com and www.MerchantBillOfRights.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release may contain statements of a forward-looking nature which represent our management's beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are based on information currently available to us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements due to many factors. Information concerning these factors is contained in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to, the Company's registration statement on Form 10- K, or Form 10-Q as applicable. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.