REDMOND, Wash, Aug. 24, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the launch of the MSN® MoneyCentral™
Loan Center, a complete selection of financing services available at http://moneycentral.msn.com/ that enables consumers to compare, review and select the home loan, automobile loan and credit card that best meets their individual needs. The new Loan Center features mortgage options from HomeAdvisor Technologies Inc. and provides consumers with access to automobile and credit card lenders on LendingTree Inc.’s online loan marketplace.
The MoneyCentral Loan Center extends the site’s personal finance offerings, providing yet another way for consumers to make smarter financial decisions. Now, in addition to tracking account balances, paying bills and managing investment portfolios, consumers can research and apply for mortgage loans, auto loans and credit cards in minutes — all in one place.
“The Loan Center is just one more way MoneyCentral can help families better manage their complete financial situation, from investments and credit to banking and bill payment,”
said Chris Jolley, lead product manager for MoneyCentral at Microsoft.
“MSN is dedicated to providing the most complete collection of leading financial tools and information in one place, and the new Loan Center is an extension of that commitment.”
Leading Technologies Simplify Lending Process
Through a relationship with HomeAdvisor Technologies, the MoneyCentral Loan Center simplifies the mortgage loan application, considerably shortens the approval process and allows customers to lock in their loan online — all in a matter of minutes.
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Guaranteed lowest-priced loans.* The new Loan Center enables users to find the lowest-priced home loan available online and save an average of $2,000 in interest and fees on the average mortgage over the life of the loan.
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Shortened closing period. By automating many of the steps required to approve and finance a mortgage — including credit checks, appraisals, underwriting decisions and pricing — HomeAdvisor™
MortgageDirect technology cuts the time it takes to close a loan from more than a month to as few as 10 days.
For auto and credit card loans, MoneyCentral enables consumers to submit requests to LendingTree’s marketplace of more than 100 leading financial institutions.
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Taking control of the borrowing process. Within one day of submitting a request for an auto loan or credit card, qualified consumers can compare and review offers from multiple lenders competing for their business. This enables consumers to select the loan or credit card that best meets their individual needs.
MoneyCentral Recognized as Leading Financial Portal
Leading industry publications consistently applaud MoneyCentral for its comprehensive, easy-to-use collection of online finance tools and resources. MoneyCentral recently earned the PC Magazine Editor’s Choice Award for Best Overall Personal Finance Web Site (in August), was named Best Personal Finance Web Site by PC World (in July) and was awarded Best Personal Finance Hub and Best Portfolio Manager by Yahoo! Internet Life (in April).
About MSN MoneyCentral
MSN MoneyCentral, located at http://moneycentral.msn.com/ , is a complete online personal finance resource delivering leading financial tools and information in areas ranging from investing and retirement planning to taxes, real estate and bill pay.
The award-winning site offers consumers the ability to complete a wide range of everyday financial tasks, such as paying bills, viewing account balances, tracking investments and staying informed on the latest financial news, in one convenient place online — any time, any place. MSN MoneyCentral helps enable people at all levels of experience to take control of and feel comfortable with their finances, helping them make smart financial decisions.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
* Certain offer restrictions apply. See http://www.homeadvisor.com/financing/finder/guarantee.asp for complete offer details.
Microsoft, MSN, MoneyCentral and HomeAdvisor are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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