PRESS RELEASE
January 28, 2004

MECU SPONSORS SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY FCU IN BALANCE PARTNERSHIP

San Francisco, CA: Do established credit unions support the efforts of emerging credit unions? Just ask the folks at South Side Community Federal Credit Union. Motorola Employees Credit Union has sponsored the newly chartered credit union in a BALANCE partnership to ensure their members have access to free and confidential financial counseling and education.

BALANCE partners with credit unions nationwide to provide money management, debt management and housing counseling, credit report education, and bankruptcy prevention programs. "Everyone should have access to free, professional help as they try to achieve their financial goals," said Joanne Budde, President of BALANCE, "Our partners help us ensure that all credit unions, regardless of size, are able to provide BALANCE services to their members. We applaud our partners' commitment to financial education."

Large credit unions in partnership with BALANCE have the option of sponsoring one of their smaller counterparts- making it possible for an institution with limited funds to provide these much-needed services to their members. John Fiore, CEO of MECU explained, "We have found BALANCE to be very beneficial for our members, and believe South Side Community FCU will find it just as valuable, if not more so. It is a great opportunity to help the members of this credit union."

It would be difficult to find a credit union more deserving of support than South Side Community FCU. Located in southeast Chicago, they serve a community that has had very limited access to consumer- friendly financial institutions, but is rife with predatory financial services. "We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with BALANCE. As a newly chartered credit union, it will better equip us to help our members meet and overcome the many financial challenges that would otherwise prohibit them from achieving their dreams," remarked Greg Brown, South Side FCU's CEO. "John Fiore's generosity typifies the cooperative spirit upon which the credit union movement was founded."

For more information about BALANCE Financial Fitness Program, contact Jeannine Moore at (800) 808-4327 ext. 124