Public Relations >> Press Release, September 24, 2004

Press Release

SSACRAMENTO - September 24, 2004 - The California Bankers Association (CBA) today announced the addition of MPI Coin to its list of Endorsed Partners. MPI Coin, through its Coins of America program, offers collectible state quarters in unique presentations.

"The State Quarters are highly sought after and extremely collectible," said CBA's vice president of Marketing Reva Gould. "Banks that start their programs now will be well positioned to take advantage of the excitement and interest generated by the release of the California State Quarter early next year."

The first State Quarter of the year in 2005 will be the California State Quarter, which will be made available in January. The California State Quarter pays tribute to naturalist John Muir and features Half Dome, which is one of the world's most famous rock formations and is found in Yosemite, the national park Muir helped to create. In addition to the image of Half Dome, there is an image of a soaring California condor.

For banks, the main benefit of the State Quarters is consistent return visits. Most people who buy the quarters will start a collection. A new quarter is released every 10 weeks, and collectors quickly get in the habit of stopping by their local branch five times a year to buy the latest release. This will continue through 2008, and maybe beyond as the U.S. Mint is considering producing a series of quarters in 2009 celebrating Washington D.C. and the United States Territories.

ABOUT MPI Coin
Since 1996, Coins of America has helped financial institutions across the country use coins and coin sales to attract new customers and make new connections to their existing accounts. "It's an idea that worked from the start," says MPI Coin president Andrew Schwartz. "Californians are always attracted to an opportunity to shop. And coin sales are an obvious extension of a bank's core services. Put them together, and you've got a unique way to promote yourself that also returns a profit."

MPI Coin takes U.S. Mint and other specialty mint coins, adds their own packaging to create unique coin products, and sells them to banks at wholesale prices. Banks use the coins for premiums, promotions and direct sales, helped by the marketing materials that MPI Coin provides free of charge.

Information about CBA
Established more than 110 years ago, the California Bankers Association (CBA) is one of the largest state banking trade associations in the country. CBA leads the way in developing relevant educational and legislative solutions to some of California's more pressing financial and banking issues, including financial privacy, predatory lending, usage fees, and financial elder abuse. CBA's membership includes more than 300 of California's commercial, industrial and community banks and savings associations.

For further information, visit www.calbankers.com or contact Anissa Yates at 916/441-7377.