2008-10-28 20:32:04 -

www.teressolutions.com - For Teres Solutions, Inc. Media Contact: Karl Scholz, 512-493-0909 karl.scholz@virtualprdirector.com or Teres Solutions, Inc. Company Contact: Tim Kelly, 512-218-4200 info@teressolutions.com Teres Solutions(TM), Inc., a leading provider of direct and indirect lending software to credit unions and financial institutions, today announced the availability of a new retail lending module for its industry-leading SAIL(R) loan origination platform. The module -

named SAIL Merchant Lending - allows credit unions, CUSOs, banks and finance companies to provide retailers, merchants and professional service providers the ability to submit point-of-sale loan applications around the clock. Lenders can respond with automated instant approvals or human-reviewed approvals on consumer loans for goods and services. The new SAIL module connects local lenders and merchants providing more opportunities for lenders to grow their businesses by tapping into the lucrative retail finance market. Lenders can also increase their membership base, cross-sell additional products, assume a greater role in their local economies, and foster relationships with local businesses.

One of the first customers deploying the new module is Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU). A leading financial services provider headquartered in Lake Jackson, Texas, TDECU has $1.3 billion in assets and more than 114,000 members.

"The opportunity to expand our loan portfolio into the retail market will give us a unique edge in our local area and beyond," said Lance Wortham, VP of Business Services of TDECU. "The SAIL Merchant Lending module provides us a powerful weapon to help us conveniently serve our members while deepening our relationships with member businesses in new and exciting ways. This is an enormous asset in the changing credit union lending landscape."

The Teres Merchant Lending module includes the following key features:

-- Instant Point-of-Sale Loan Approval - allows lenders to provide merchants with secure instantaneous finance approval for customer purchases, such as home appliances, home improvements, furniture, jewelry, lifestyle loans and many other types of goods and services - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Lenders can also specify loan officer review of loan applications.

-- Web-based Interface - allows lenders and merchants to input, process, approve and access loan applications securely through any web browser - making it faster and more convenient to process loans with minimal technology investment.

-- Efficient Two-way Communications - Lending personnel and merchants can interact through two-way messaging and tracking of applications in process ensuring a quick response to all loan applications.

-- Document Delivery - The SAIL Merchant Lending module can deliver pre-filled, non-editable loan and new account documents to the merchant for completion at the point-of-purchase, giving the lender control of the loan documentation.

-- Multi-Loan Support - Allows the support of many kinds of merchant, retailer and service provider loans, including open-end loans, closed-end loans and new credit card accounts.

"As more and more credit unions, banks, and financial institutions recognize the need to expand their businesses beyond traditional channels into emerging markets such as retail finance, we're responding with automated solutions that help make this transition easier," said Tim Kelly, CEO of Teres Solutions. "We look forward to working with our credit union, CUSO and other financial institution customers to help them grow their customer and member bases and achieve success in the merchant finance market."

For more information on Teres Merchant Lending and SAIL software, visit www.teressolutions.com.

About Teres Solutions, Inc.

Teres Solutions, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRIF, was founded in 2002 for the express purpose of developing direct and indirect lending software products that define the state-of-the-art for the financial institution market. Its Software Application for Integrated Lending (SAIL) direct and indirect lending products allow financial institutions to streamline lending decisions, increase revenue through enhanced loan application processing efficiency, improve dealer and member relations, and augment loan tracking and reporting capabilities. Teres Solutions has been recognized as a Microsoft certified partner with accredited core competencies. Visit www.teressolutions.com for more information on Teres Solutions, its products and services.

SAIL is a registered trademark and Teres Solutions is a trademark of Teres Solutions, Inc. All other company and product names mentioned are used only for identification and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Technology Allows Credit Unions and Financial Institutions to Tap
into Lucrative Retail Point-of-Sale Finance Market