TrueLink to Provide Credit Management Resources for Tips & Tools Section at INGDIRECT.com

Business Wire

January 13, 2004

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., Jan 13, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- TrueLink, a leading provider of consumer credit management tools and operator of the web site TrueCredit.com, became the exclusive provider of credit reporting products for the Tips & Tools section at ingdirect.com, effective October 2003. ING DIRECT offers simple financial products, including the Orange Savings Account with the nation's highest yield with no fees and no minimums, direct to consumers over the telephone and Internet. ING DIRECT launched Tips & Tools on its web site to provide information on privacy, security and tips for saving and using credit wisely to consumers in August 2002.

Two topics that especially stand out in Tips & Tools are protecting against identity theft and protecting credit, issues of growing concern among many consumers. Tips & Tools explains how to protect against identity theft and also gives a course of action if someone is a victim. Another section, "Know Your Credit," discusses the importance of good credit, including how to read a credit report and the ability for ING DIRECT customers to sign up for TrueLink's award-winning credit management tools, including a 3-in-1 Credit Report and Free Score, a Single Credit Report and Score, and a 30-day free trial of credit monitoring at a significant discount.

"This partnership with ING DIRECT extends TrueLink's dedication to educating consumers about their credit and empowering them to make informed borrowing decisions," said TrueLink President Jan Davis. "We are pleased to provide ING DIRECT customers with the tools to manage, monitor and understand their credit while tapping into a new niche in the financial world."

"ING DIRECT is also committed to financial education, and our Tips & Tools is a great resource for people to learn more about establishing and maintaining good credit," said ING DIRECT spokeswoman Laura Lubin Rossi. "Through our partnership with TrueLink, we will provide customers with high-quality credit products at great savings."

About TrueLink:

Founded in 1995, TrueLink is led by a team of seasoned professionals with expertise in consumer credit, banking, lending and related financial services. Majority owned by TransUnion, TrueLink develops and markets credit information-based products and services that deliver value to both consumers and the nation's largest financial institutions. The company's family of consumer information Web sites includes www.TrueCredit.com, www.FreeCreditProfile.com and www.KnowYourLoanRate.com. Online Banking Report named TrueLink "Best of the Web" 2002, for credit monitoring and identity protection services. TrueLink operates out of Chicago, IL, New York, NY and San Luis Obispo, CA.

About ING DIRECT:

Headquartered in Wilmington, DE, ING DIRECT is the operating name of ING Bank, fsb (Member FDIC), a federally chartered savings bank, and part of ING (NYSE:ING); one of the world's largest financial institutions with more than $700 billion in assets. ING has been operating in the U.S. for over 100 years, with more than 11,000 employees working for ING companies. ING is ranked 17th on the Fortune Global 500 list (based on a wide range of criteria such as revenues, profits, earnings per share and return to investors) and is 10th on the Forbes International 500 list (based on revenue).

ING DIRECT USA has over 1.5 million customers and more than $18 billion in assets, making it one of the top ten largest thrifts in the U.S. ING DIRECT USA is one of eight direct banks operated globally by ING; the other locations are Canada, Germany (where ING DIRECT is known as DiBa), Australia, France, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy, with a total worldwide customer base of more than eight million (including U.S. customers). For product information or to open an account, visit ingdirect.com or call 1-800-ING-DIRECT.

Style note to Editors: ING DIRECT is always capitalized and never referred to as ING.

SOURCE: TrueLink

CONTACT: for TrueLink

Zachary Hastings Hooper, 212-255-8455

Zachary@rosengrouppr.com

or

ING DIRECT

Ashlee Stokes, 302-255-3034

ashlee.stokes@ingdirect.com

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