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First Internet Bank Receives Award, Announces Growth

Indianapolis, IN, September 17, 1999 – First Internet Bank of Indiana (firstib.com), a real-time Internet-only financial institution, has been selected as one of the Web's Best Bank & Investment Sites as named by PC Novice/Smart Computing magazine in its September issue. Every month, PC Novice/Smart Computing magazines provide 500,000 readers with easy-to-understand computing information.

According to David Becker, CEO and Chairman of First Internet Bank, "We are very pleased to receive this award. Without the branch network a traditional brick-and-mortar bank has, we rely on our website as a point of customer contact. We believe it is effective, with easy-to-use navigation, extensive online customer support functions, and real-time transaction processing. By all indications, our customers agree."

Since it launched just seven months ago, firstib.com has opened over 3,100 accounts for customers in all 50 states. Average account balances are above $25,000, five times the national average. As of September 17, the bank has amassed $80 million in deposits.

firstib.com also continues to expand its product line. In August, firstib.com announced free bill payment services for personal checking account holders, a line of small business accounts, and a Mortgage Center in conjunction with E-LOAN, a leader in online mortgage lending.

While firstib.com already offered a full range of personal loan products, including installment loans and lines-of-credit, adding a mortgage loan option was critical in rounding out its product line. "We have offered our customers excellent rates on deposit and loan products from our launch," noted David Becker, Chairman and CEO of First Internet Bank, "but we lacked a mortgage product. We're pleased to be able to offer our customers and visitors a valuable service that is in keeping with our standard of competitive rates and top-quality customer service."

The First IB Mortgage Center allows visitors to shop for rates, get a loan product recommendation based on individual criteria, and even qualify and apply for a loan online.

firstib.com will continue to expand its product line through the end of the year, adding Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) early in the fourth quarter. In addition, firstib.com will unveil enhancements to its website throughout the third and fourth quarters.

firstib.com already offers a full suite of banking services that includes checking, money market savings, certificates of deposit, loans, bill payment services, credit cards and ATM cash cards. firstib.com offers significant customer benefits over traditional retail banks including real-time processing of all transactions and continuous services available 24X7 via the Internet, ATM, and touch-tone phone. Customers also enjoy industry leading interest rates on checking, savings, money markets and certificates of deposit.

About firstib.com

Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, firstib.com is the first state chartered Internet bank with accounts insured by the FDIC. It is the first "Extended Value Online Bank" to deliver a full range of real-time Internet banking products with personalized interactive services, as well as offering competitive rates. Its business model enables customers to facilitate Internet banking in a real-time environment, as well as empower users to better manage their own finances.

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