BENEFICIAL CORPORATION RAISES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND 9.3% TO $0.47 - SEVENTH STRAIGHT YEAR OF INCREASE -.

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 17, 1995--The board of directors of Beneficial Corporation (NYSE: BNL) today voted to raise the quarterly cash dividend on the Company's common stock by 9.3% to $0.47 from $0.43 per share, the seventh consecutive annual increase in the company's common share dividend. The annual dividend rate after the increase will be $1.88 per share, up from $1.72. Finn M.W. Caspersen, chairman and chief executive officer, commented, "The board's action today reflects the continued strength of our consumer finance business and our optimism about Beneficial's earnings outlook. We remain committed to our goal of increasing total shareholder value over the long term and realize that growth in the cash dividend is an important factor in that equation.

"In that regard, we are proud of the fact that over the 7 1/2 year period since the end of our restructuring in 1987, Beneficial common shares have generated a total return to investors of 17.1% compounded annually, with all dividends reinvested. This compares to annual returns of 13.4% for the S&P 500, and 14.6% for the S&P Financials over the same period," Caspersen concluded.

The dividend -- payable September 30, 1995, to shareholders of record September 1, 1995 -- is the 265th consecutive quarterly dividend for shareholders of Beneficial, which has paid cash dividends without interruption since 1929. The board also declared the regular semi-annual dividend of $2.15 per share on the $4.30 Dividend Cumulative Preferred Stock to stockholders of record at the close of business September 1, 1995, and payable September 30, 1995. The board also declared the regular quarterly dividend of $1.375 on the $5.50 Dividend Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, payable October 31, 1995, to stockholders of record at the close of business October 2, 1995. Beneficial Corporation is a $14 billion, New York Stock Exchange-listed financial services holding company.

Subsidiaries of the Company provide financial services through their various consumer finance, banking and insurance operations located throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. The Beneficial finance system includes more than 1,000 offices offering products and services that meet a broad range of consumer credit needs, including credit-related insurance.

CONTACT: Robert Wade

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