New Chase Custom Finance(SM) Sales Office Opens in Minneapolis area

EDINA, Minn.--Aug. 2, 2006--Chase Auto Finance has opened a new Custom Finance business center in Edina to meet the sub-prime financing needs of automotive dealers in the Minneapolis market.

Dan Spillum will manage the new business center at 7650 Edinborough Way, Centennial Lakes Office Park IV. He and the center's credit team have more than 45 years of combined experience in the automotive industry. The local dealer relationship manager for the office is Greg Cerny.

"We are excited about opening a new Chase business center in Minneapolis, so we can provide sub-prime financing solutions to even more dealers in this region," said Bill Jensen, National Sub-Prime Executive, Chase Auto Finance. "It's another example of Chase's commitment to enhanced customer service."

Chase Auto Finance purchases retail installment contracts and originates loans across the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska. Its Custom Finance division currently operates 33 business centers, serving more than 15,000 auto dealers across the country.

Throughout the North Central region, the Chase Auto Finance retail and commercial sales teams provide a full spectrum of services to dealerships through its Prime Business Center in Chicago, Ill., and its Sub-Prime Business Centers in Milwaukee, Wis.; Detroit, Mich.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Chicago, and Louisville, Ky. Its Dealer Commercial Services division is the largest non-captive floorplan and commercial loan provider for auto dealerships across the nation, with the capability to offer treasury management services, real estate financing and other banking services to automobile dealers.

Chase Auto Finance, a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., together with its affiliates, is the largest bank provider of auto financing in the country. Parent company JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $1.3 trillion and operations in more than 50 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and businesses, financial transaction processing, asset and wealth management, and private equity. Under the JPMorgan and Chase brands, the firm serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients. Information about the firm is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.