U.S. Bank Opens Small Business Center On the Internet; Provides Essential Services Beyond Basic Banking That Helps Businesses Run and Grow

Business Wire, March 28, 2002

Business & High-Tech Editors

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 2002

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB)

The U.S. Bank Small Business Center is open and ready to offer small businesses tips and tools via the Internet for needs that reach beyond the basic banking services. The center will help business customers increase their revenues and public presence, help protect against fraud and enhance their online capabilities.

The U.S. Bank Small Business Center, in partnership with DigitalWork, allows users to obtain credit reports to evaluate suppliers, have a custom web site created for their business, distribute banner advertisements to generate traffic, purchase lead lists for direct mail campaigns and distribute news releases.

The U.S. Bank Small Business Center is at www.usbank.com/smallbusinesscenter. While there, businesses may "Learn About It" and understand the service before purchasing it, and sign up for the service, paying with a credit or debit card. All of the services can be done online and most start at less than $100 per transaction, providing even startup businesses with a low cost option. Users will also have the help of an online chat facility, along with email and a customer service number.

"Small businesses need and deserve a simple and streamlined way to accomplish a variety of tasks without worrying about multiple invoices and multiple points of contact," said Kent Stone, executive vice president of small business at U.S. Bank. "The small business center makes many of these essential services available in a convenient package."

The U.S. Bank Small Business Center web site will also provide updated news and stock quotes, links to financial tools and calculators and advice for small businesses on topics that are relevant to their day-to-day operations, such as managing cash flow. Users may even personalize the page by customizing the news, stock quotes and links on the page.

DigitalWork is the leading developer and operator of turn key, fully hosted online business centers for banks, financial institutions, ISPs, and other small business aggregators. DigitalWork builds, hosts, and maintains custom web sites as well as provides over 35 online business services, in functional areas such as marketing, sales, advertising, HR, finance, and IT, that are private labeled and deeply integrated within an online business center web site. Utilizing a proprietary XML based web services platform, all of the small business services are delivered on a private labeled basis to the small business end user via a single login, profile, user interface, and billing/payment environment.

Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), with assets in excess of $171 billion, is the 8th largest financial services holding company in the United States. The company operates 2,186 banking offices and 4,937 ATMs, and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. U.S. Bancorp is home of the Five Star Service Guarantee which assures customers of certain key banking benefits and services or customers will be paid for their inconvenience. U.S. Bancorp is the parent company of Firstar Bank and U.S. Bank. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com and Firstar Bank at www.firstar.com.