FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 28, 2003 FORMER BESTBANK EXECUTIVES INDICTED FOR FRAUD DENVER –

BESTBANK / KEYBANK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 15, 2002 WILLIAM BROOKS FOUND GUILTY OF BANK FRAUD, WIRE FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING DENVER – John Suthers, United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, announced that WILLIAM E. BROOKS, age 38, of South Lake, Texas, was convicted today of 46 counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering for implementing a scheme to defraud the now defunct BestBank of Boulder, Colorado, as well as the Pueblo Bank and Trust. The scheme ultimately cost the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) over $9 million. The two week jury trial was before U.S. District Court Judge Wiley Y. Daniel. BROOKS was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 30, 2002. He owned several Texas companies, including an armored car company and a company that owns and operates ATMs (called an “Independent Sales Organization”

Wells Fargo Bank Indiana, National Association 111 EAST WAYNE STREET FORT WAYNE , IN 46802 Allen County Certificate #: 13849 Class: N Date Established: 01/01/1934 Active: Y Primary Insurance Fund: BIF Date Insured: 02/03/1934 Chartering Agency: OCC New Cert: 0 Date Processed: 01/30/2002 Offices: 37 Secondary Insurance Fund: Primary Federal Regulator: OCC Assets: $2,352,832 Deposits: $1,530,955 Trust Powers: FULL

• 1/30/2002 ATLAS WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC Active; Cedric Thomas 3271 Warrensville Center Road, #8b Shaker Hts. Ohio 44122 30-JAN-02 Active

• cf Indiana COLONIAL INVESTMENTS, LLC 12207 ILLINOIS RD , FORT WAYNE, IN 46814 Status: Active Creation Date: 1/30/2002
• 
  • WAYNE PARTNERSHIP L.L.P. : 12207 ILLINOIS RD , FORT WAYNE, IN 46814: Status: Active Creation Date: 11/12/2002 :
    • COLONIAL INVESTMENTS LLC DBA: Incorporation State: WY Initial Filing: 09/18/2003 Status: ACTIVE Standing: GOOD : 7173 CONSTRUCTION COURT STE. A SAN DIEGO, CA 92121-2691Registered Agent: GLOBAL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, INC. County: LARAMIE Address: 1605 PEBRICAN AVENUE CHEYENNE, WY 82001

The Pueblo Bank and Trust Company 301 West 5th Street Pueblo,CO 81002 FDIC Certificate #: 12594 Date Established: 1/1/1889 Bank Charter Class: Federal Reserve Non-member Date of Deposit Insurance: 1/1/1934 Primary Federal Regulator: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Primary Internet Web Address: http://www.pueblobankandtrust.com:80/

Corporate Filings, Annotated:

BESTBANK Filing Date: 06/16/1982 Status: DISSOLVED State of Incorporation: CO Term: PERPETUAL Inactive Date: 12/01/2002 *

• Colorado STD FINANCIAL CORP. 1675 Broadway, Denver CO 80202 Officers at 1371 Redwood Way, Petaluma CA 94954; Filing Date: 06/14/1996 Status: REVOKED State of Incorporation: DE Term: PERPETUAL Inactive Date: 12/01/2002
  • 6/14/1996 A failed Texas Bank June 14 THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF THE PANHANDLE, PANHANDLE, TEXAS. Total assets of $78.7 million and total deposits of $76.1 million. Sun Bank, Sunray, Texas, will assume $40 million in 4,900 accounts and The Plains National Bank of West Texas, Lubbock, Texas, will assume $36.1 million in 2,500 accounts. $752,000 in 102 accounts exceeded the federal insurance limit and was not assumed by either bank. No advanced dividend was provided. (PR-43-96)
    • The First National Bank of the Panhandle Third And Euclid Streets Panhandle,TX 79068 FDIC Certificate #: 3382 Date Established: 5/6/1927 Bank Charter Class: National Bank Date of Deposit Insurance: 1/1/1934 Primary Federal Regulator: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Primary Internet Web Address: Web site not available This is an inactive institution. Inactive as of: June 14, 1996 Closing history: Merged with Financial Assistance into Acquiring institution: Sun Bank - (17026)
      • Sun Bank 416 Main Sunray,TX 79086 FDIC Certificate #: 17026 Date Established: 7/2/1951 Bank Charter Class: Federal Reserve Member Date of Deposit Insurance: 7/2/1951 Primary Federal Regulator: Federal Reserve Board Primary Internet Web Address: http://www.sunbankonline.com:80/
• Ohio 12/02/2002 NORTH AMERICAN INSURANCE GROUP, INC. 1354973 Corporation For Profit Dec 02 2002 Active Medina; Agent Name Agent Address City State Zip Effective Date Contact Status Richard M Kerger 33 S Michigan St Suite 201 Toledo Ohio 43602 02-DEC-02 Active

BESTBANK Entity ID: 19911088393 Entity Type: TRADEMARK Filing Date: 11/01/1991 Status: DISSOLVED Registered Agent Name: KEYBANK Physical Address: 2616 E 120TH AVE THORNTON Colorado 80233

FDIC Info:

BestBank 2950 Pearl Street Boulder,CO 80302 FDIC Certificate #: 91189 Date Established: 7/20/1982 Bank Charter Class: Federal Reserve Non-member Date of Deposit Insurance: 10/25/1985 Primary Federal Regulator: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Primary Internet Web Address: Web site not available This is an inactive institution. Inactive as of: 7/23/1998 July 23, 1998 Closing history: Bank Closed by Chartering Agent Pending Sale. Acquiring institution: This action did not result in a new institution

• Colorado CHILDREN AGAINST ABDUCTION, INC. 2 COMMENT ONLY REPORT 03/17/1998 CR - 04/01/1998 - 06/30/1998 3 COMMENT ONLY REPORT 07/24/1998 CR - 07/31/1998 - DA 09/30/1998 4 19981137510 TRDNAM 07/28/1998 n/a DENVER WHOLESALE COMPANY 5 19981137509 REPORT 07/28/1998 n/a PERIODIC REPORT 6 19981220828 TRDNAM 12/14/1998 n/a GOLDEN APPLE MARKET 7 19991144416 TRDNAM 08/02/1999 n/a INTERNATIONAL WAREHOUSE (THE) 8 COMMENT ONLY REPORT 03/17/2000 CR - 04/01/2000 - 06/30/2000 9 COMMENT ONLY REPORT 07/21/2000 PR - 07/31/2000 - DA 09/30/2000 10 COMMENT ONLY DISS 10/01/2000 n/a AGENT 2243 S ALBION ST - "Denver Wholesale" Indicted by DEA with Transtar Distributor, Florida, and North American Group, Florida.

Century Financial Corporate Filings

CENTURY FINANCE COMPANY OF COLORADO Entity ID: 19871296483 Entity Type: CORPORATION Filing Date: 12/07/1965 Status: DISSOLVED State of Incorporation: CO Term: PERPETUAL Inactive Date: 06/01/2000

• WESTMARK, INCORPORATED Entity ID: 19931136659 Entity Type: CORPORATION Filing Date: 12/10/1993 Status: DISSOLVED State of Incorporation: CO Term: PERPETUAL Inactive Date: 06/01/2000
• Florida Profit SUNSTATE FX AND COMPANY, INC.1877 S. FEDERAL HWY., #108 BOCA RATON FL 33432 Changed 02/05/2001 MAILING ADDRESS 2150 N. OCEAN BLVD 5B BOCA RATON FL 33431 Changed 02/05/2001 Filed 06/01/2000 State FL DISSOLUTION 10/04/2002 Registered Agent PATTERSON, PEGGY 2150 N. OCEAN BLVD 5B BOCA RATON FL 33431
• VECTREN ENERGY DELIVERY OF INDIANA, INC. (Assumed) Legal Name: INDIANA GAS COMPANY, INC.: 20 N.W. FOURTH ST , EVANSVILLE, IN 47708 Status: Active Creation Date: 7/16/1945 Other Names 6/01/2000 INDIANA GAS COMPANY INC (Former) 11/16/2000 VECTREN ENERGY DELIVERY OF INDIANA, INC. (Assumed / County)
• FORT WAYNE PARK FOUNDATION, INC. : P.O. BOX 13201 , FORT WAYNE, IN 46867 Status: Active Creation Date: 2/26/1974 : Other Names 6/01/2000 FORT WAYNE PARK FOUNDATION INC (Former) 1977
• ARTINC 12/07/1965 n/a FINANCE CREDIT CORPORATION OF COLORADO SPRINGS 2 COMMENT ONLY NAMCHG 01/11/1967 n/a FINANCE CREDIT CORPORATION OF COLORADO SPRINGS 3 COMMENT ONLY MRGDOF 01/31/1967 n/a LINCOLN LOAN COMPANY OF COLORADO SPRINGS 4
• 1967 STERLING FREIGHT LINES INC 01/31/1967 07/11/1988

Wyoming CENTURY FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. DBA: Incorporation State: CA Initial Filing: 10/22/1996 Status: INACTIVE Standing: GOOD Defunct Cause: WITHDRAW/DISSOLVE/CANCEL Defunct Date: 03/05/2001 Mailing Address: 28322 HARVEST VIEW LANE TRABUCO CANYON, CA 92769 Registered Agent: CORPORATION SERVICE COMPANY County: LARAMIE Address: 1821 LOGAN AVE. CHEYENNE, WY 82001 President: JEFFREY ALAN MCKELLIPS 4 CROMWELL #200 IRVINE CA 92618 Vice President: Secretary: ALAN M POTT " Treasurer: Director: JEFFREY ALAN MCKELLIPS " ALAN M. POTT "

Colorado CENTURY FINANCIAL GROUP, INC Entity ID: 19971083507 Entity Type: CORPORATION Filing Date: 05/27/1997 Status: REVOKED State of Incorporation: DE Term: PERPETUAL Inactive Date: 11/01/2001: 2646 E 120TH AVE DENVER CO 80233

• 6/03/1909 Ohio MONARCH COIN AND SECURITY, INC. 28938 Corporation For Profit Jun 03 1909 Active Cincinnati Hamilton Ohio On 11/01/2001 corporation changed its name from original name "Monarch Tool and Manufacturing Company" Stephanie L. Hall, President.
• Colorado HARKEN ENERGY CORPORATION Filing Date: 05/17/1979 Status: REVOKED State of Incorporation: DE Inactive Date: 11/01/2001
• Georgia TRANSTAR CAPITAL VENTURES, LLC Officers #450, 3333 PEACHTREE RD. NE ATLANTA, GA 30326 ACTIVE/COMPLIANCE 11/01/2001 04/10/2003 GEORGIA Registered Agent County CHRISTIAN D SHIELDS 3333 PEACHTREE RD NE #450 ATLANTA, GA 30326 FULTON
• U.S. SYSTEMS DISTRIBUTION, INC. : 4202 DAN MORTON DR., #106 , DALLAS, TX 75236 Creation Date: 5/27/1997 Inactive Date: 2/6/2001 Original Creation Date: 1/18/1980 Original Creation State: TX Other Names for this Entity: 5/4/1998 US SYSTEMS DISTRIBUTION, INC. (Former)

CENTURY FINANCIAL CORPORATION, INC. Entity ID: 19981219976 Entity Type: CORPORATION Filing Date: 12/11/1998 Status: GOOD State of Incorporation: CO Term: PERPETUAL Inactive Date: N/A Last Report: 01/27/2004 Agent Name: RODRIGUEZ THEODORE F Physical Address: 2281 E 90TH AVE THORNTON Colorado 80229 PO Box: None

CENTURY FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. ** ** code needs explanation. Entity ID: 19991125869 Entity Type: CORPORATION Filing Date: 07/02/1999 Inactive Date: 05/01/2002: CORPORATION COMPANY (THE) Physical Address: 1675 BROADWAY DENVER Colorado 80202 Address: 28322 HARVEST VIEW LN TRABUCO CANYON CA 92679 Secondary Address: 2556 N SAN MIGUEL ORANGE CA 92867

• TEAM ASSOCIATES, LLC DBA: Incorporation State: DE Initial Filing: 05-01-2002 Status: ACTIVE Standing: GOOD Defunct Cause: FORCE ACTIVE Defunct Date: Mailing Address: PO BOX 2216 SCHENECTADY, NY 12301-2216 Registered Agent: Name: C T CORPORATION SYSTEM County: LARAMIE Address: 1720 CAREY AVE. SUITE 200 CHEYENNE, WY 82001
• CAPITAL AUTOMOTIVE L.P.Date: 01/27/1998 State of Incorporation: DE Inactive Date: 05/01/2002 cf Key Automotive/KeyBank

Colorado CENTURY FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. Entity ID: 20001023229 Entity Type: CORPORATION Filing Date: 02/03/2000 Status: REVOKED State of Incorporation: DE Inactive Date: 08/01/2005: 320 WALWORTH LN EUTAWVILLE SC 29048

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 28, 2003 FORMER BESTBANK EXECUTIVES INDICTED FOR FRAUD DENVER –

John W. Suthers, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, Phillip B.J. Reid, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Denver Office, James D. Vickery, Special Agent In Charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation, Denver Field Office, and Samuel M. Holland, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, FDIC, announced today that a federal grand jury in Denver has returned a 95-count sealed indictment charging five individuals and two related companies with fraud in connection with the failure of BestBank, located in Boulder, Colorado.

BestBank was declared insolvent by the Colorado State Banking Commission and the FDIC in July of 1998, making it one of the largest bank failures in the United States in the last 10 years. Depositors’ losses exceeded $200,000,000. The FDIC’s bank insurance fund covered all depositors’ losses except for $27,000,000 of deposits which exceeded the $100,000-per-account insurance limit.

Named in the indictment unsealed on 5/28/2003 May 28, 2003 are:

EDWARD P. MATTAR, III, age 63, of Deerfield Beach, Florida MATTAR was owner, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of BestBank

THOMAS ALAN BOYD, age 50, of Niwot, Colorado BOYD was President and a Director of BestBank

JACK O. GRACE, JR., age 50, of Hermosa Beach, California GRACE was Chief Financial Officer and a Director of BestBank

GLENN M. GALLANT, age 45, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida GALLANT was an owner and operator of CENTURY FINANCIAL

DOUGLAS R. BAETZ, age 52, of Key West, Florida BAETZ was an owner and operator of CENTURY FINANCIAL CENTURY FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., of Oakland Park, Florida CENTURY FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., of Oakland Park, Florida

MATTAR, BOYD, GALLANT, and BAETZ each received more than $5,000,000 during the course of the alleged fraudulent scheme. Each of them faces a possible mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life in federal prison. GRACE faces up to 30 years in federal prison.

CENTURY FINANCIAL faces fines of up to twice the amount gained from committing the offense.

When BestBank failed in July of 1998, its largest asset was a portfolio of subprime credit card accounts with a reported value of more than $200,000,000. Subprime credit card borrowers are high risk borrowers with poor credit histories. The credit card accounts were funded by BestBank using money from depositors.

BestBank attracted depositors by offering above market interest rates. From 1994 through July 1998, the defendants allegedly engaged in a business operation that made more than 500,000 BestBank credit card loans to subprime borrowers.

In July of 1998, the Colorado State Banking Commissioner and the FDIC determined that the value of the subprime credit card loans maintained as an asset on the books of BestBank was overstated because delinquent loans were fraudulently made to appear non-delinquent. BestBank’s liability to its depositors exceeded the value of its other assets, making it insolvent.

According to the indictment, BestBank entered into agreements with CENTURY FINANCIAL and BAETZ and GALLANT to market BestBank credit cards to subprime borrowers. CENTURY FINANCIAL sold $498 travel club memberships, marketed first through Universal Tour Travel Club and later through All Around Travel Club (AATC).

In almost every instance, those who signed up for the travel club did not pay cash for their membership. Instead, BestBank and CENTURY FINANCIAL offered to finance a travel club membership for subprime borrowers using a newly issued BestBank VISA credit card. The credit limit for the subprime borrowers as provided by the bank was $600.

BestBank also charged fees, which immediately brought the borrowers close to the credit limit. Less than half of those who signed up for the travel club received their membership materials. The indictment alleges that the defendants carried out a fraudulent scheme in several ways. Most people did not pay the mandatory $20 service fee required before the account was funded.

Over 50 percent of the subprime borrowers’ accounts were non-performing. BestBank and CENTURY FINANCIAL, in many instances, did not send the subprime borrowers their credit card or monthly statements. The indictment further alleges that BAETZ, GALLANT, and CENTURY FINANCIAL fraudulently concealed the subprime borrowers' non-performance and delinquency rates by reporting non-performing accounts as performing.

Allegedly, BAETZ and GALLANT paid $20 to some accounts so they would appear to be performing when in fact they were not. The indictment includes an asset forfeiture count, which seeks $100,000,000 to compensate victims for the loss as a result of the bank’s failure.

“In a situation when a bank’s insolvency is caused by fraud, it is important that the government respond by prosecuting those responsible in order to preserve confidence in our national banking system,” United States Attorney John Suthers said.

“The defendants in this case personally made a tremendous amount of money at the expense of Americans who rely on our banking system. It is critical we attempt to get some of that money back, and send those responsible to prison,”

Mr. Suthers said. “Today’s arrests should send a clear message that the FBI, working with its federal law enforcement partners, will vigorously investigate allegations of financial malfeasance, such as this one, where banking officials misappropriated corporate funds for substantial personal gain,” said Phillip B.J. Reid, Special Agent in Charge of the Denver FBI office.

“Today’s indictment sends a loud message that business practices, like bank fraud, are not acceptable,” said James D. Vickery, Special Agent In Charge for the IRS Criminal Investigation, Denver Field Office. “Financial institutions and their officers will be held accountable. The victims here today are not just the depositors of Best Bank, but all members of our community,” said Vickery.

“The indictment is the product of a complex investigation involving multiple agencies over a long period,” said Samuel M. Holland, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations for the FDIC. “It sends an important message to those who would attempt to unlawfully manipulate the nation's banking system. It would not have been possible to reach this point without the leadership of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado, to whom we express our appreciation.”

The charges alleged in the indictment include: Bank Fraud, False Bank Reports, and Wire Fraud which carry potential maximum penalties of not more than 30 years in prison and/or a $1,000,000 fine. Money Laundering carries a potential maximum penalty of not more than 20 years in prison and/or a fine of $500,000. Conspiracy and Securities Fraud both carry a potential maximum penalty of up to 5 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine. Tax Evasion carries a potential maximum penalty of up to 5 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine. Failure to File a Tax Return carries a potential maximum penalty of not more than 1 year in prison and/or a $25,000 fine. Continuing to Commit a Financial Crime carries a potential maximum penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, and/or a fine of not more than $10,000,000. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Criminal Investigative Division of the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Haried and Michael Carey, along with Department of Justice Trial Attorney Dorothy Mares. These charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.