EELN E-Loan (MM)

E-LOAN and Edmunds.com Announce Partnership E-LOAN Partners With the Premier Online Automotive Information Resource for Consumers; Edmunds.com Named the 'Most Useful Web Site' According to Every J.D. Power and Associates New Autoshopper.com Study(SM) PLEASANTON, Calif., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- E-LOAN(R) (NASDAQ:EELN), an online consumer direct lender, today announced that it has been named the primary provider of auto loans for Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. As vehicle models and financing options continue to grow in complexity and choice, consumers are increasingly turning to the Internet for help in sorting through this information. Jupiter Research's 2003 Automotive Forecast Report showed that 57 percent of automotive consumers used the Internet to research their automotive purchase in 2002.(1) The same report projects that by 2008, 80 percent of auto consumers will regularly be accessing the Internet to research their auto purchase. "With increasing options for consumers to consider when purchasing a vehicle including dealer invoice cost, instant rebates, zero percent financing -- it's more important than ever that they have a resource they can trust to give them useful and unbiased vehicle information," said Mark Lefanowicz, E-LOAN's President and Chief Operating Officer. "The integration of E-LOAN's auto loan products within Edmunds.com allows consumers to have even more powerful resources to research and arrange fast, easy and low-cost financing for their car purchase." This partnership brings together two of the Web's most recognized companies in their respective industries. In addition to its award-winning lending services, E-LOAN was also ranked as one of America's 20 most trusted companies for privacy by the Ponemon Institute and TRUSTe(2). E-LOAN was the highest ranked online financial services company on the list. Edmunds.com is consistently ranked as one of the Web's premiere tools for automobile research. The company was named "Best car research on the Web" by Forbes and the "most useful Web site" according to every J.D. Power and Associates New Autoshopper.com Study(SM). "E-LOAN has a strong consumer brand and an excellent product with state-of-the-art loan processing applications," said Mike Darrow, Executive Vice President of Edmunds.com. "We expect to have a powerful strategic relationship with E-LOAN that benefits both our site visitors and our business development efforts." By clicking on the "FinanceCenter" at http://www.edmunds.com/, consumers can quickly and easily research E-LOAN auto and motorcycle loans, shop for rates without entering any personal information, and compare products to determine which loan best suits their individual needs. When they're ready to apply, consumers complete a 5-minute online application and receive a decision within 15 minutes during regular business hours. Once approved, E-LOAN will issue the customer a PowerCheck(SM), which works just like a personal check. Approved customers can go to a dealership or private seller to purchase their new or used vehicle as fast as 24-hours after they apply. Customers can also save by using a PowerCheck to refinance an existing car loan. About E-LOAN E-LOAN is an online consumer direct lender dedicated to providing borrowers across the credit spectrum with a more enjoyable and affordable way to obtain mortgage, auto and home equity loans. By making credit scores freely available to consumers and integrating them with a suite of sophisticated advice tools, E-LOAN is pioneering the nascent debt management advice category -- helping consumers proactively manage their loan portfolios to lower their overall borrowing costs. The company relentlessly advocates eliminating the unnecessary processes, fees, hassle, haggle and lack of transparency traditionally associated with the consumer loan experience. Protecting consumers' financial privacy is a paramount concern, prompting E-LOAN to implement industry leading privacy practices and advocate strong consumer financial privacy protection laws. In June 2004, an independent study conducted by TRUSTe and The Ponemon Institute ranked E-LOAN as one of the top 20 most trusted companies for privacy in America. E-LOAN was the highest ranked online financial services company to make the top 20. Consumers can log onto http://www.eloan.com/ or call 1-888-E-LOAN-22 to access E-LOAN's products, services and team of dedicated loan and debt advice professionals. E-LOAN is publicly traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol EELN. From inception through September 2004, E-LOAN has originated and sold over $22.8 billion in consumer loans. This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. E-LOAN's actual results may differ from the results described in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, general conditions in the mortgage and auto industries, interest rate fluctuations, and the impact of competitive products. These and other risk factors are detailed in E-LOAN's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (1) Jupiter Forecast Report: Automotive, 2003 - 2008 (2) Poneman Institute/TRUSTe National Privacy Study, 2004 E-LOAN Press Contact: E-LOAN Press/Investor Contact: Laurie Azzano Tiffany Fox Cosmo Public Relations E-LOAN, Public/Investor Relations 504/296-1349 925/847-6314 DATASOURCE: E-LOAN CONTACT: Laurie Azzano of Cosmo Public Relations, +1-504-296-1349, or , for E-LOAN; or investors, Tiffany Fox of E-LOAN, +1-925-847-6314, or Web site: http://www.eloan.com/

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