Popular, Inc. and E-LOAN, Inc. Announce Anticipated Closing of Merger

Popular, Inc. (“Popular”), the leading financial institution in Puerto Rico, and E-LOAN, Inc. (“E-LOAN”), an online consumer direct lender, today announced that they currently intend to complete the acquisition of E-LOAN by Popular effective November 1, 2005, prior to the opening of business.

About Popular, Inc.
Popular is a full service financial services provider with operations in Puerto Rico, the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America. As the leading financial institution in Puerto Rico with over 280 branches and offices, Popular offers retail and commercial banking services through its banking subsidiary, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, as well as investment banking, auto and equipment leasing and financing, mortgage loans, consumer lending, insurance and information processing through specialized subsidiaries. In the United States, Popular has established the largest Hispanic-owned financial services franchise, providing complete financial solutions to all the communities it serves. Banco Popular North America operates over 135 branches in California, Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Florida. Popular’s finance subsidiary in the United States, Popular Financial Holdings, Inc., operates nearly 200 retail lending locations offering mortgage and personal loans, and also maintains a substantial wholesale broker network, a warehouse lending division, loan servicing, and an asset acquisitions unit. Popular continues to use its expertise in technology and electronic banking as a competitive advantage in its Caribbean and Latin America expansion, through its financial transaction processing company, EVERTEC. Popular is exporting its 112 years of experience through the region while continuing its commitment to meet the needs of retail and business clients through innovation, and to fostering growth in the communities it serves. Popular is ranked among FORTUNE magazine’s 2005 100 Best Companies to Work For.

About E-LOAN
E-LOAN® is an online consumer direct lender dedicated to providing borrowers with a simple, easy and open way to obtain mortgage, auto and home equity loans. Since its launch in 1997, E-LOAN has drawn upon its pro consumer values to improve the lending experience in revolutionary ways. By eliminating the traditional incentive structure to charge consumers higher rates, giving consumers free access to credit scores and eliminating lender fees, E-LOAN is providing a uniquely open, fair and honest loan process. Protecting consumers’ financial privacy is also a paramount concern, prompting E-LOAN to implement industry leading privacy practices and advocate strong consumer financial privacy protection laws. Consumers have recognized E-LOAN’s trustworthiness and respect for customers. An independent study conducted by TRUSTe and The Ponemon Institute ranked E-LOAN as one of the top 20 most trusted companies for privacy in America. E-LOAN was the highest ranked online financial services company to make the top 20. In another independent study by The Customer Respect Group, E-LOAN received the overall highest rating in the Online Customer Respect Study of North America’s largest financial services firms.