Press Releases > 03/31/2008 FirstAgain Gains Traction...

FIRSTAGAIN GAINS TRACTION IN VACATION OWNERSHIP INDUSTRY WITH HIGHLY COMPETITIVE CONSUMER LOANS FOR TIMESHARES, FRACTIONALS AND DESTINATION CLUBS

Online Consumer Lender Offers Excellent Credit Buyers Unsecured Loans at Nearly Half the Rate of Conventional Timeshare Lending; Developers Benefit from Expedited Financing

SAN DIEGO - March 31, 2008 - FirstAgain LLC, an online consumer lender focusing on individuals with excellent credit, is redefining the way vacation ownership properties are financed with its AnythingLoan, a completely paperless, unsecured loan that is an ideal alternative to more costly and limited timeshare, fractional and destination club financing and refinancing options.

FirstAgain is addressing the fast-growing vacation ownership market by offering a convenient, competitively priced consumer loan product. According to an annual benchmark study by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the average interest rate on a timeshare loan is 14.1 percent. FirstAgain offers timeshare loans starting at 7.49 percent—nearly half the industry average and competitive even with home equity alternatives that are becoming scarcer today given the housing market woes and tightening lending standards.

"Financing options for vacation ownerships are limited and getting more so every day," says Gary Miller, cofounder and CEO of FirstAgain. "Not only does FirstAgain provide a revolutionary unsecured loan product with a low interest rate, we are relentless in making sure we provide our customers with their best lending experience ever."

When it came time for Larry Rubenstein of Holland, Pa., to refinance one of his three timeshares, he turned to FirstAgain and reduced overall costs substantially. "I was able to get a 7.99 percent interest rate for an AnythingLoan, as opposed to the 12.99 percent offered by a well-known timeshare resort, saving me about $3,000 over the loan period," says Rubenstein. "Plus the money was in my account the same day for a truly great loan experience."

According to Jim Tousignant, founder, president and CEO of Ultimate Resort, the leader in the private luxury destination club industry, FirstAgain empowers consumers with low-rate, hassle-free loans at a time when there are fewer financing options. "FirstAgain's AnythingLoan provides welcome relief to consumers who don't want to use restricted home equity credit lines or high-interest personal loans to cover the costs of club membership and dues payments," he says. "By partnering with FirstAgain, Ultimate Resort can generate more sales in a competitive environment while saving our members thousands of dollars on destination club purchases."

FirstAgain's traction with consumers and developers is expected to drive partnerships and triple-digit growth in loan originations this year vs. last year. To date, the company has amassed thousands of highly satisfied customers as it continues to gain ground in the vacation ownership market along with other fast-growth industry segments.

About FirstAgain

FirstAgain LLC is redefining consumer lending for individuals with excellent credit. The San Diego-based company has developed a completely paperless, online loan experience for applying, approving, signing, funding and servicing unsecured personal loans. FirstAgain's AnythingLoan can be used for any purpose, including home improvements, vehicle purchases, educational and medical expenses, timeshares, vacation ownerships, marine products, loan refinancing and anything else. The AnythingLoan finance amounts range from $7,500 to $100,000 with low rates, same-day funding and an unparalleled customer experience. FirstAgain was founded by the pioneering veterans of PeopleFirst, a company which grew into the nation's largest online auto lender prior to its sale to Capital One in 2001. The company operates nationwide and has financial investments from Merrill Lynch and Arsenal Capital Partners. For more information, please visit www.firstagain.com.


Media Contact
Christie Huff
christie.huff@firstagain.com