Curian Capital's Managed Accounts Program Added to XCU Capital's Investment Product Line-up; Curian's Comprehensive Technology Platform Allows XCU's Credit Union Members to Enter Managed Accounts Market Quickly.

Business Editors

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 2003

Curian Capital LLC and XCU Capital Corp. announced today that Curian's innovative and technology-driven Managed Accounts program has been added to XCU's line-up of investment products for distribution through its network of credit unions.

"XCU has built its award-winning reputation on delivering superior products and online services to its credit union clients, and by staying ahead of trends in the marketplace," said Mark Allen, president and CEO, XCU Capital Corp. "The steady growth in the Managed Accounts market caused us to examine how XCU could maximize this opportunity as quickly as possible. During our exhaustive due diligence, we discovered Curian's Managed Accounts program. We believe Curian's program, and the outstanding support and training they provide to our representatives, will be a welcome addition to the products currently on our platform. Plus, it gets XCU's credit unions in the Managed Accounts market fast - much faster than we ever anticipated getting there."

XCU Capital is the largest credit union-owned securities broker in the United States with over $1.2 billion in assets under administration. The firm is a subsidiary of XCU Corporation, a credit unions service organization (CUSO), and is owned by 13 credit unions. XCU provides its 24 credit union programs with innovative financial products and services for their 2.4 million members nationwide.

"With Curian's Managed Accounts program, community-based financial institutions can offer institutional asset management at account sizes that represent their typical depositor base," said Kevin Garrow, vice president, Banking and Financial Institutions, Curian Capital. "Historically these accounts have been locked-out of the separate account world. Only larger financial institutions could offer such a program, and then almost exclusively to their affluent customer base. Curian's platform eliminates many of the barriers to entry typically associated with launching a Managed Accounts product, most notably the significant technology investment."

Some of the innovative features on the Curian platform include:

-- Custom Style Portfolios that combine suitability

questionnaires, asset allocation preferences, and

institutional asset management;

-- Customization tools to exclude individual securities or social

sectors, multiple rebalancing options, reinvestment

preferences and customized tax lot selling preferences;

-- A scaleable platform that can serve the needs of retail

brokerage, private banking, or trust by offering these

services with an account minimum of $25,000;

-- A genuinely paperless platform that enables financial

professionals and institutions to run their businesses more

effectively and efficiently;

-- A fee-advance program that allows financial professionals to

make a seamless transition from a commission- to fee-based

business, plus a level fee option;

-- A new permissioning function that allows a client to provide

other trusted advisors with view-only accessibility to their

accounts. This functionality also facilitates a financial

professional becoming the center of their clients' wealth

management team.

-- An un-replicated advisory technology platform that can

facilitate proposing, account application, compliance approval

and funding an account in as short as 24 hours; and

-- Strong sales support, including comprehensive training on

Curian's vast technology platform.

"Partnering with financial institutions is a key component of Curian's overall business strategy, and XCU is an outstanding organization committed to serving the best interests of its members," said James S. Vitalie, J.D., executive vice president, Strategic Development, Curian Capital. "XCU recognizes that Managed Accounts play an increasingly integral role in investors' financial plans, and Curian's efficient technology platform, plus its world-class money management offerings will make the Curian program attractive for XCU's members."

For more information about Curian's Managed Accounts program, financial institutions should contact Kevin Garrow, Vice President, Business Development, Curian Capital, at 800.358.4574, ext. 6455.

About Curian Capital

Curian Capital LLC (www.curian.com) is an indirect subsidiary of the United Kingdom's Prudential plc, a leading international financial services group with $267 billion of assets under management. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Curian is a registered investment advisor providing innovative fee-based Managed Accounts and investment products to financial professionals through a state-of-the-art technology platform.

About XCU Capital

XCU Capital Corporation, Inc. (XCU) is the largest credit-union-owned securities broker in the United States with over $1.2 billion assets under administration, member NASD and SIPC. The firm is a subsidiary of XCU Corporation, a credit unions service organization (CUSO) and is 100% owned by 13 credit unions. XCU provides their 24 credit union programs with innovative financial products and services to their over 2.4 million members nationwide. XCU Capital Corporation was awarded the NACUSO 2000 Financial Services CUSO of the year award.