FIRST AMERICAN CREDCO's VIE REPORT SIMPLIFIES ONLINE CREDIT PROVIDER ACCESS TO INCOME AND EMPLOYER INFORMATION

April 3, 2000 - Poway, California - First American Credco, a First American Real Estate Information Services, Inc. company, announced today that business partner VIE is now offering credit providers with online access to income and employer information through VIE for Windows.

VIE, a First American Credco business partner, provides income and employer information from state employment security agencies electronically to credit providers who have obtained prior written consent from applicants.

Available immediately, VIE’s new software, VIE for Windows, provides instant access to VIE data by offering simplified login, one-click report printing and batch processing capability, all in an easy-to-use graphical interface. In addition, VIE for Windows offers intuitive interfaces to simplify report ordering, delivers multiple reports through a single order and allows customers to order and receive the VIE Report using TCP/IP protocols.

"This Windows-based, desktop application provides mortgage lenders, consumer finance companies and other credit grantors effortless access to wage and employer information available from participating state databases, while maintaining the security and confidentiality of the data," said Bill Skowronnek, president of VIE. "Prior to releasing VIE for Windows, users had to have their own dial-up software to enable them to access our information. We have created this software so that regardless of what type of dialup package users have, they can use VIE for Windows as a stand-alone program to access our data faster and easier."

VIE for Windows, with complete instructions for installation and use, will be available for download at www.vieforwindows.com starting April 10.

First American Credco, a subsidiary of The First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), is the nation’s leading provider of specialty credit reporting and information management products. A long-time innovator in the field of mortgage credit reporting, the company has a strong track record of technological solutions and diverse product offerings. First American Credco serves financial institutions and mortgage banking companies by providing Residential Mortgage Credit Reports (RMCRs), Prequalifying Credit Reports, Modified Prequalifying Reports, and Business Reports. In recent years, the company has created strong positions in the consumer and automotive industries, by applying its credit reporting expertise to these fields.

The First American Financial Corporation, based in Santa Ana, Calif., is the nation’s leading provider of business information and related products and services. The corporation’s three primary business segments include: title insurance and services; real estate information and services, which includes mortgage information services and database information and services; and consumer information and services, which provides home warranties; automotive, subprime and direct-to-consumer credit reporting; property and casualty insurance; property and automotive insurance tracking services; resident screening; pre-employment screening; lender-placed flood and hazard insurance; investment advisory; and trust and banking services. Information about the company and an archive of its press releases can be found on the Internet at www.firstam.com.

Source: Company Press Release

Items in italics added by ACCESS Staff.