National City Unveils First Bank-Sponsored Internet Automotive Shopping Site

    CLEVELAND, Sept. 5 Peter E. Raskind, executive vice
president, Consumer Finance, National City Corporation announced
today the launch of NCAutoChannel.com, the nation's first bank-sponsored
online automotive shopping site. NCAutoChannel.com is the first site in the
nation that brings together the auto manufacturer, car dealer and lending
organization to make auto shopping more convenient, cost-effective and
reliable than any other automotive marketplace on the Internet today.  The
service is provided free of charge to dealers and consumers, regardless of
their current affiliation with any particular bank.
    Raskind explained, "Research indicates that customers are searching for a
more efficient and cost-effective means of purchasing vehicles.  By combining
Internet technology with our network of over 4000 auto dealers we'll be able
to help consumers streamline the auto shopping process. We are pleased to
offer this feature on our existing corporate web site, Nationalcity.com."
    Jeffrey T. Siler, executive vice president, Dealer Finance, National City
Corporation, stated, "Unlike the automotive web sites that have been
struggling to survive these past few years, we've brought dealers in our
network who represent all manufacturers into the process, to create an open
marketplace that offers our customers and any consumer the ability to easily
compare vehicles, prices and find a local dealer to help them with the
purchase."
    As part of the NationalCity.com web site, NCAutoChannel.com allows the
consumer to request a quote from a dealer on the price of a vehicle, check the
value of their trade-in, and then calculate the loan payment required for the
purchase.  The site also features automotive news, car care tips, and vehicle
comparisons along with pricing.  A dealer locator is also available so
consumers can contact their neighborhood dealers directly. Siler commented,
"Our goal is to provide the right car at the right price from the right dealer
... right now!"
    Once an auto shopper has selected a vehicle, National City returns to them
a list of participating National City auto dealers in their local market area.
The consumer can then choose the dealer or dealers they would like to quote on
their new vehicle.  National City will then forward this information to the
selected dealers.  Dealers then contact the shopper directly with pricing or
other information requested. There is no charge to either the consumer or the
dealer for this service.
    In order to gauge the response and performance of the participating
dealers, National City asks consumers to complete a short survey sent out a
few weeks after they've requested their quotes.  Siler commented, "This
follow-up process insures that consumers and dealers are communicating clearly
to move the transaction process along smoothly, and helps us identify any
issues that might need to be corrected."
    Consumers may ask questions or receive more information on
NCAutoChannel.com by e-mailing autochannel@nationalcity.com .

    About National City
    National City Corporation is a $94 billion financial holding company
headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Through its subsidiaries, the company
provides a full range of financial services including investment banking and
traditional banking services to individuals and businesses, including
commercial and retail banking, consumer finance, asset management, mortgage
financing and servicing and item processing. National City has offices in
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois and Michigan. National City
can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.nationalcity.com .

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