Banc One Expands Access And Financial Commitment to Women-Owned Businesses.

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--APRIL 2, 1997 --

In Forming An Alliance With Women Incorporated, Bank One

Strengthens Its Ability To Reach and Serve This Growing Segment

Bank One Has Presence in 11 of the Top Markets for

Women-Owned Businesses

BANC ONE CORPORATION (NYSE: ONE) announced today its alliance with Women Incorporated, the largest organization devoted to the needs and concerns of women-owned businesses. Through this partnership, Bank One will inaugurate Bank One's preferred programs for women-owned businesses. Through this alliance, the bank will be the exclusive provider of financial services to members of Women Incorporated in Bank One markets, provide increased access to credit through its Bank One Business Loan by Phone for Women toll-free number, 800-408-2743, and sponsor Women Presidents' Organizations (WPOs), CEO roundtables developed by Women Incorporated, in five cities.

Bank One officials outlined the corporation's products and programs designed to meet the needs of women business owners at a Women Incorporated press conference today at the Denver Convention Center, site of The Business Expo held by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and co-sponsored by Bank One.

"Our partnership with Women Incorporated will allow us to showcase our national business banking capabilities. We intend to leverage this relationship to become the provider of choice for financial services to the fastest-growing segment of the small business market -- women-owned businesses," said Ron Baldwin, General Manager, National Business Banking Group. "Bank One has already demonstrated an enormous commitment to women business owners who today comprise 37% of our business banking client base. By aligning our two national organizations, we will extend the reach and access to financial services for women-owned businesses."

Bank One is currently in 11 of the top markets characterized as fastest growing in terms of increase in numbers of women-owned businesses in research conducted by the National Foundation for Women Business Owners.

Vanessa Freytag, Director of Bank One's Woman Entrepreneur Initiative, described the range of programs that fall under the banner of Bank One Business Solutions for Women. "Before launching this initiative, we carefully studied issues related to women-owned businesses, using our own Bank One methodology of employing primary research and segmentation studies. Our analysis led us to find that access to funds, responsiveness of the banker and ease of use were critical to a successful banking relationship," she said. "With this knowledge, we were better able to address the needs of women business owners."

One outcome of the research is Bank One's dedicated toll-free number for loans, a centerpiece of its alliance with Women Incorporated. Applications are taken over the phone, and in 85% of requests, decisions are made within 24 hours. Women Incorporated will refer its members who live in 11 of the 12 states in which Bank One operates (excluding Illinois) and are interested in loan and credit information.

"In addition to access to credit, women indicate that education is a critical service that needs to be provided by their bank," Freytag added. "We want them to feel confident, comfortable -- and amply prepared -- when they discuss their business needs with their bankers. That's why we are instituting a pilot program in Cleveland, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Houston which creates advisory boards with representatives from key Bank One lines of business. These boards will be responsible for developing a series of customized educational activities, including forums, seminars and national teleconferences, all designed to offer women business owners the information they need to run successful companies."

Delivering on the commitment to provide Bank One Business Solutions for Women, the Bank will mobilize its national capabilities and reach out to 100,000 women-owned businesses in its markets during the next several months. Supporting the Bank's one-to-one approach to delivering financial services, Bank One representatives will meet with business owners and provide them with details about the preferred programs and the partnership with Women Incorporated.

Bank One will also sponsor Women Incorporated's Women Presidents' Organizations (WPOs) in five cities, including Denver. Other cities are Chicago, Columbus, Dallas and Houston. These WPOs, composed of a select group of women presidents and CEOs whose companies have at least $1 million in annual revenues, will meet monthly, giving members exposure to the latest and most innovative business information, presented by distinguished business leaders, futurists and other experts.

"The alliance between Women Incorporated and Bank One is a clear signal that women-owned businesses are a smart investment for today and the future. Women entrepreneurs -- who will make up 50 % of small business owners by the next century -- are increasingly significant stakeholders in the business community. Progressive financial institutions, like Bank One, are responding to the growing number of women business owners by implementing services to meet their needs," said Lindsey Johnson Suddarth, Women Incorporated co- CEO and founder.

BANC ONE CORPORATION had assets of $101.8 billion and common equity of $8.4 billion at December 31, 1996. BANC ONE now operates 1,502 offices in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. BANC ONE also owns several additional corporations that engage in credit card and merchant processing, consumer and education finance, mortgage banking, insurance, venture capital, investment and merchant banking, trust brokerage, investment management, equipment leasing and data processing.

CONTACT: Karen Amrhine/Nancy Israel

Sard Verbinnen & Co

212/687-8080