EXHIBIT 99.1

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
      ECHO


FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE
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                         CARL TERZIAN APPOINTED DIRECTOR
                       OF ELECTRONIC CLEARING HOUSE, INC.


Agoura Hills Calif., October 16, 2002 - Electronic Clearing House, Inc.
(NASDAQ:ECHO) today announced the appointment of Carl R. Terzian, Chairman of
the Board of Carl Terzian Associates, a nationally recognized public relations
firm in Los Angeles, to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the
Company.

Since 1969, Mr. Terzian has owned a successful firm of consultants specializing
in corporate, executive, institutional and product marketing. His unique agency
has assisted more than 4,500 causes, companies, individuals and organizations.
Additionally, each year Carl delivers at least 200 marketing and motivational
speeches throughout the world. Mr. Terzian serves on more than three dozen
corporate and non-profit boards, commissions, advisory groups, and task forces.

"I am very pleased to join the Board of Electronic Clearing House," said Carl
Terzian. "This is a dynamic company with a unique set of assets and the
potential to shape the future of the payment processing industry. I look forward
to working closely with management and my fellow directors to advance
shareholders' interests."

"The prestige of having a director of Carl's caliber is only surpassed by the
benefits the Company will receive from his many years of business experience and
marketing knowledge," said ECHO's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
Board, Joel M. Barry. "ECHO's current outside Board members, Mr. Aristides
Georgantas and Mr. Herbert L. Lucas, Jr., have strong financial institution and
corporate management experience so Carl's marketing and networking experience
nicely complements their expertise and broadens the overall effectiveness of the
Board."

Electronic Clearing House, Inc. provides a complete solution to the payment
processing needs of merchants, banks and collection agencies. ECHO's services
include debit and credit card processing, check guarantee, check verification,
check conversion, check re-presentment, check collection, and inventory
tracking.



Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: Any statements set forth above that are not historical facts re
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
such factors as fluctuations in demand for the Company's products and services,
the introduction of new products and services, the Company's ability to maintain
customer and strategic business relationships, technological advancements,
impact of competitive products and services and pricing, growth in targeted
markets, the adequacy of the Company's liquidity and financial strength to
support its growth, and other information detailed from time to time in the
Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.


Media  Contact:
---------------
Donna  Rehman,  Corporate  Secretary        Crocker Coulson, Partner
818-706-8999,  ext.  3033                   Coffin  Communications  Group
Electronic  Clearing  House,  Inc.          818-789-0100
Agoura  Hills,  Calif.                      E-MAIL: crocker.coulson@coffincg.com
URL:http://www.echo-inc.com                         ----------------------------
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E-MAIL:  corp@ECHO-inc.com
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