MINNEAPOLIS – (October 4, 2005) – Marquette Financial Companies announced today plans to combine its two asset-based lenders, Dallas-based Marquette Business Credit, and Minneapolis-based Itasca Business Credit, under one umbrella organization, to be known as Marquette Business Credit.

The combination will create one of the largest independently owned asset-based lenders in the U.S. with total credit facilities in excess of $180 million.

Marquette Business Credit will be based in Dallas, Texas with four additional offices throughout the U.S., including an operations/marketing office in Minneapolis, Minn., where Itasca Business Credit is based; as well as marketing offices in Atlanta, Ga., Irvine, Calif., and Moorestown, N.J.

James Casper, who will serve as president of the combined organization, indicated Marquette Business Credit plans to continue to expand its nationwide presence, with up to five additional offices planned. “We are making this change to help us continue to expand across the U.S.,” said Casper. “The combination maximizes and leverages the strengths of our respective organizations. Our focus in this combination is to expand our marketing presence on a national basis,” he said. “We are putting the pieces in place to be the major independent asset-based lender nationwide.”

Jay Jensen, head of Itasca Business Credit, will report to Casper, and will continue to be responsible for operations in Minneapolis. Also reporting to Casper, Michael Haddad will serve as executive vice president, in charge of marketing nationwide. Haddad will oversee sales executives based in Marquette Business Credit’s regional offices in Minneapolis, Atlanta, Irvine and Moorestown.

Marquette Business Credit was established as a de novo company of Marquette Financial Companies in June 2004 by Casper, Haddad, and Jim Johnson, former executives with Guaranty Business Credit Corporation of Dallas. In Feb. 2005, Marquette Business Credit, Inc., acquired $75.3 million in revolving credit and term loan facilities from Capital Factors, Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla. Since its founding last year, the firm has grown to $102 million in total credit facilities, and added marketing offices in Georgia, New Jersey and California.

Founded in 1995, Itasca Business Credit was acquired by Marquette Financial in 1999. Itasca has grown to more than $80 million in total credit facilities and serves business owners in a variety of industries. “Itasca Business Credit has been a successful enterprise, and we look forward to continuing to serve IBC clients with the same level of customer service, with the same staff who have always served them,” Casper said.

Asset-based lending is a key part of Minneapolis-based Marquette Financial Companies’ overall growth strategy, noted Bert Colianni, MFC’s chief operating officer. “Both Itasca Business Credit and Marquette Business Credit are known for their responsive service and their ability to create the right kind of financing for companies. This combination builds on these strengths, combining the best of both into a national platform poised for continued growth,” Colianni said.

The combined firm, Marquette Business Credit, will provide asset-based working capital and term loans to middle market companies with credit requirements ranging from $1 million to $10 million. Marquette’s credit facilities are typically used by companies seeking alternatives to traditional bank lending. Asset-based lending, which relies on a company’s collateral, is used to fuel growth situations, restructurings, recapitalizations and for mergers and acquisitions.

About Marquette Financial Companies
Marquette Business Credit is part of Marquette Financial Companies, a $1.2 billion diversified financial services holding company comprised of specialty financial service businesses. Marquette Financial Companies is part of the Carl Pohlad family's diverse business holdings, which also include significant interest in the beverage industry, real estate, and ownership in Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins.

###