WFS Financial Announces Appointment of New Director

    IRVINE, Calif.--Feb. 21, 2003--WFS Financial Inc. , announced that Fredricka Taubitz has joined its board of directors as of Jan. 9, 2003.
    Since 1997, Taubitz has been an audit committee consultant, serving as an ex officio member of the Business, Finance, Audit and Technology Committee of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board. She served as chief financial officer and executive vice president of Zenith National Insurance Corp., a national property, casualty and life insurance holding company, from 1985 to 2000.
    WFS is one of the nation's largest independent automobile finance companies. WFS specializes in originating, securitizing and servicing new and pre-owned prime and non-prime credit quality automobile contracts through its nationwide relationships with automobile dealers. Information about WFS can be found at its Web site at http://www.wfsfinancial.com.