PLEASANTON, Calif. -- E-LOAN(R), an online consumer direct lender, today announced that it has received the highest overall rating for online best practices implementation in the Keynote Systems' WebExcellence Q3 2006 Mortgage Scorecard. Keynote's Mortgage Scorecard is a bi-annual industry evaluation that measures the customer experience of leading mortgage web sites and their ability to meet best practice guidelines. E-LOAN also ranked highest overall in Keynote's WebExcellence Q1 2006 Mortgage Scorecard.

The Keynote WebExcellence Q3 2006 Mortgage Scorecard follows a rigorous research and analysis methodology in which it measures more than 200 expert determined criteria to establish the sites' ability to meet best practice guidelines. In addition to highest overall for customer experience, E-LOAN was ranked number one for the functionality of its web site overall, the ease of getting a rate quote and selecting a loan, and the ease in which consumers are able to learn about getting the best possible mortgage.

"E-LOAN was founded on the fundamental belief that all consumers deserve a better, faster and easier way to get a loan," said Mark Lefanowicz, president of E-LOAN. "It is particularly gratifying to be recognized for our efforts to lead the industry by providing online best practices for mortgage consumers nationwide."

Since its inception, E-LOAN has been recognized by consumers and industry experts for its pro-consumer values and its commitment to revolutionizing the way consumers get a loan through its fair, open and honest lending practices. In addition to Keynote Systems, independent studies conducted by The Customer Respect Group, The Ponemon Institute and TRUSTe have consistently bestowed top honors to E-LOAN for its dedication to providing borrowers with a simple, easy and open way to obtain mortgage, auto and home equity loans. In March of this year, E-LOAN was rated one of the top three most trusted companies for privacy in the United States by TRUSTe and The Ponemon Institute. For the second year in a row, E-LOAN received the overall highest rating in April of this year in the Online Customer Respect Study of North America's largest financial services firms by The Customer Respect Group, another leading independent research group.

About E-LOAN(R)

E-LOAN is an online consumer direct lender dedicated to providing borrowers with a simple, easy and open way to obtain mortgage, auto loans, and home equity loans. Since its launch in 1997, E-LOAN has drawn upon its pro-consumer values to improve the lending experience in revolutionary ways. By eliminating the traditional incentive structure to charge consumers higher rates, giving consumers free access to credit scores and eliminating lender fees, E-LOAN is providing a uniquely open, fair and honest loan process. Protecting consumers' financial privacy is also a paramount concern, leading E-LOAN to implement industry leading privacy practices and advocate strong consumer financial privacy protection laws. Consumers have recognized E-LOAN for its trustworthiness and respect for customers. Three independent studies conducted by TRUSTe and The Ponemon Institute ranked E-LOAN as one of the Top 20 Most Trusted Companies for Privacy in America. In another independent study conducted by The Customer Respect Group, E-LOAN received the overall highest rating in the Online Customer Respect Study of North America's largest financial services firms. E-LOAN has originated and sold over $27 billion in consumer loans.

E-LOAN is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Popular Financial Holdings, Inc., in turn a wholly-owned subsidiary of Popular, Inc., a full service financial services provider with operations in Puerto Rico, the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America. To find out more about E-LOAN and its products and services, logon to http://www.eloan.com or call 1-888-533-5333.

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