Asta Funding Participates in Two Non-Conforming Consumer Receivable Purchases With a Face Value of $90 Million

Asta Funding, Inc., (NASDAQ:ASFI) , a leading consumer receivables asset management and liquidation company, today announced that it has acquired a 35 percent participation in a $46 million portfolio and a 50 percent participation in a $44 million portfolio of consumer receivables.

Both portfolios consisted of performing and non-performing consumer receivables and were purchased at substantial discounts.

“Our strategy has been to focus on niche opportunities in the consumer arena that meet our business model,” said Gary Stern, Asta president and chief executive officer. “The 50 percent participation receivable purchase was from a previous company from whom we have had excellent experience. The 35 percent participation purchase was with a company that has many years experience in this type of consumer receivables. Our partners on both transactions are knowledgeable and further support our confidence in the attractive characteristics of the transactions.”

About Asta Funding
Based in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Asta Funding, Inc., is a leading consumer receivables asset management company specializing in the purchase, liquidation and management of performing and non-performing consumer receivables, and the factoring of commercial receivables. Asta generates revenues and earnings primarily through purchase and collection of performing and non-performing consumer receivables and commercial factoring receivables. Asta has strategic alliances with the leading companies in the consumer receivables market. For additional information, please visit our Web site at www.astafunding.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are “forward looking” statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.) Although Asta Funding, Inc. believes the expectations reflected in such forward -looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that its expectations will be realized. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from Asta Funding, Inc.’s expectations. Factors that could contribute to such differences include those identified in Asta Funding, Inc.’s 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, and those described from time to time in Asta Funding, Inc.’s other fillings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, news releases and other communications.)