Talk City and H&R Block Offer Online Tax Chat Series; Custom Web Events Provide Public Easy Access To Tax Experts

Business Wire, Feb 23, 2000

Business Editors

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2000

Capitalizing on the Internet as an unparalleled service medium, H&R Block, Inc., an industry leader in the world of tax, mortgage and financial services, with the help of Talk City (NASDAQ:TCTY), has developed a series of online chat forums featuring tax tips and financial advice. Designed to help provide the public with expert solutions for their tax and financial needs, the H&R Block "TaxChat" series will cover "IRAs, Investments and Taxes" (February 23 and April 5), "Tax Law Changes" (March 7), "Tax Tips" (March 23) and "Last Minute Tax Tips" (April 12). All events are scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. EST, 7 p.m. CST and can be accessed on www.hrblock.com and www.talkcity.com.

"The key question that major companies with businesses on the Web need to ask themselves is what the all-mighty consumer wants to take away from the Internet experience," said Peter Friedman, chairman and CEO of Talk City. "In a Web-savvy world, customers want to be heard, and they want to respond. Companies must build two-way communication into their Web sites for real-time sharing of information and ideas, thereby creating an experience for their customers to participate in - - one that attracts and keeps them at their site."

Specializing in Web-based community building and strategic relationship management, Talk City creates scalable interactive environments that help businesses develop and maintain relationships with customers and other audiences. For H&R Block, Talk City will produce live, online chat events with real-time technical support and community-building expertise.

"H&R Block understands the importance and potential of using the Internet to help us provide accessible financial advice and services to our customers," said Gene Goldenberg, senior vice president for software and e-commerce at H&R Block. "With the help of Talk City's business services, we're extending our tax expertise over the Internet and reinforcing our positioning as the nation's trusted name in tax preparation."

Offering businesses turnkey solutions for online event production, customized online community, online customer support, and customer service, Talk City currently maintains ongoing interactive environments for customers in a number of industries, including Starbucks Corporation, the Hearst Corporation, the National Broadcasting Company, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation.

Talk City is a provider of online communities and interactive services for businesses and consumers. Talk City offers businesses a wide range of services that help them develop and expand online relationships with customers, suppliers and employees. These services include designing fully integrated, customized communities, producing online events, conducting online market research and facilitating online meetings. For consumers, Talk City operates a network of consumer online communities located at www.talkcity.com. The network includes 20 topical categories, over 50 themed communities, 50 co-branded partner communities and thousands of user-generated communities. Some of the Talk City's partners include Cox Interactive Media, Compaq's AltaVista, The Hearst Corporation, the National Broadcasting Company, Inc., Microsoft's MSN and WebTV Network.

Founded in 1955, H&R Block Inc. is a diversified company with subsidiaries providing a wide range of financial products and services. H&R Block Tax Services Inc. served 18.9 million taxpayers in more than 10,000 offices located primarily in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom in 1999. H&R Block Financial Advisors and Olde Financial Corporation provide consumers with financial planning and investment products. Option One Mortgage Corporation, Assurance Mortgage Corporation of American and H&R Block Mortgage Company offer a full range of home mortgage products. Through RSM McGladrey Inc., and HRB Business Services Inc., the company has built a national accounting, tax and consulting firm. Block Financial Corporation offers consumer financial products and services, including online tax preparation over the Internet. Quarterly results and other information regarding H&R Block are available on the company's Web site at www.hrblock.com.

Forward-looking information contained herein concern the Company's future prospects and other forecasts and statements of expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward looking statements made by the Company as a result of, among other things, the Company's ability to increase the number of business services clients, expand its business services offerings and effectively implement these services, increase advertising and sponsorship revenues, improve or maintain audience or traffic measurement metrics, maintain differentiation from other online community providers, maintain or improve the number or quality of network partners and customers, attract and retain personnel (including engineers), compete successfully in the marketplace, as well as other risk factors described in the Company's prospectus filed with the SEC and dated July 19, 1999.