For information contact:
Roger Ruthhart (309) 736-3517; grandprix@qconline.com

Modern Woodmen Bank becomes
partner of the Rock Island Grand Prix

ROCK ISLAND, ILL. – The Rock Island Grand Prix, the world's largest karting street race, is excited to announce that Modern Woodmen Bank has become a partner of the Labor Day Weekend event. Presenting sponsors are AT&T and Casey’s General Stores.

Modern Woodmen Bank will be the sponsor of the Registration and Volunteer Center at the Holiday Inn in Rock Island. As an Internet bank, Modern Woodmen Bank can service the needs of racers and race fans no matter where they live.

In the late 1990s, Modern Woodmen of America, a fraternal financial services organization, wanted to expand its rich heritage of meeting members' financial needs. Its goals for expansion included growing its product portfolio with the addition of MWA Financial Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Modern Woodmen. Additionally, Modern Woodmen believed that a bank would complete its product offering and position Modern Woodmen to help members meet their financial goals into the next century.

In December of 2001, the board appointments for the bank were completed and an application for a federal savings bank charter was filed with the Office of Thrift Supervision and the FDIC. Modern Woodmen Bank received all the necessary approvals and commitments in 2002 and opened for business in January of 2003.

Modern Woodmen Bank is primarily a direct bank, one of only approximately 50 direct banks in the United States. Of the nearly 2,500 life and property/casualty insurors in the United States, less than 40 have some type of banking charter. By direct bank, it defines itself as principally conducting business via the Internet, mail, telephone and other electronic means. It has one traditional banking location in the Illinois Quad Cities.

Modern Woodmen Bank is located in Rock Island, the home of Modern Woodmen of America. It employs some of the latest banking technology to position itself as a great banking choice today and into the future. With this technology, Modern Woodmen Bank can meet its members'/customers' banking needs without geographic limitations. Without the overhead associated with operating multiple branch locations, Modern Woodmen Bank can offer its customers outstanding products and services.

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AT&T is the largest telecommunications company in the United States and one of the largest in the world. AT&T is the recognized world leader in providing IP-based communications services to business and the U.S. leader in providing wireless, high speed Internet access, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. As part of its "three screen" integration strategy, AT&T is expanding video entertainment offerings to include such next-generation television services as AT&T U-verse TV. With 55.8 million subscribers, AT&T provides international voice services to virtually every country and territory in the world. It is a global company that sets the industry standard for a new era of integrated communications and entertainment services. The AT&T Foundation has contributed more than $1.8 billion to nonprofit organizations around the country, putting it among the five largest corporate foundations in the United States. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.att.com" www.att.com)

Casey’s General Stores, with headquarters in Ankeny, Iowa, operates 1,645 stores in 11 Midwestern states. The first store was opened in 1968 by founder Don Lamberti. The majority of the group’s stores are in communities with a population of 5,000 or less. Casey’s success has been attributed to clean stores, restrooms and the friendly employees who pride themselves on customer service. Casey’s customers know that inside each store they will find dedicated, helpful and well-trained employees, exceptional prepared food and a clean environment in which to shop.(www.caseys.com)

The Rock Island Grand Prix is hosted by the Downtown Rock Island Arts and Entertainment District which features retail shops, excellent restaurants, live entertainment, dinner theater, art galleries and comedy clubs all within walking distance of the host hotel. Jumer’s Casino & Hotel is just a short drive away. Rock Island is located on the Mississippi River three hours west of Chicago in an area known as the Quad-Cities which straddles the river and the Illinois/Iowa border. It is at the intersection of Interstate highways 74, 88 and 80 and is served by Quad City International Airport in Moline, Ill. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.ridistrict.com" www.ridistrict.com)