Apple and MBNA Introduce Instant Financing for Customers

CUPERTINO, California—August 9, 2000—Apple® and MBNA today introduced instant financing that allows qualified customers to make monthly payments on Apple products, including the entirely new line of desktops recently debuted at Macworld New York.

Through the program—which enables monthly payments as low as $19.99 for the new $799 Indigo iMac™—customers can apply for financing and receive immediate notification at the point of purchase. The program is available now through Apple's online Apple Store™(www.apple.com) in the United States, and is currently being rolled out to Apple authorized resellers.

“Apple is all about making the best technology more accessible to consumers,” said Fred Anderson, Apple's CFO. “We are proud to work with MBNA, a recognized pioneer in providing immediate web-based loan decisions, to give more people a chance to experience our revolutionary products.”

Loans up to $25,000 are available to qualified customers with a choice of four payment terms: 24, 36, 48 and 60 months. Customers will be able to reaccess their account without reapplying for a loan, enabling future purchases of Apple products with ease.

“Apple represents innovation and quality,” said Gregg Bacchieri, senior vice chairman of MBNA. “We look forward to providing Apple customers with the innovative and high quality services they expect from MBNA.”

Apple's new product line includes the revolutionary new Power Mac™ G4 Cube, an all-new iMac family in stunning new colors (Indigo, Ruby, Sage, Graphite and Snow), dual-processor Power Mac G4s, a new family of displays, and the new optical Apple Pro Mouse and Apple Pro Keyboard, which come standard with all Apple desktops.

MBNA Corporation, a bank holding company and parent of MBNA America Bank, N.A., a national bank, has $76.3 billion in managed loans. MBNA, the largest independent credit card lender in the world, also provides retail deposit, consumer loan and insurance products. MBNA.com (www.MBNA.com) provides credit card, consumer loan, retail deposit and shopping services.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.

Press Contacts:
Lynn Fox
Apple
(408) 974-6209
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Steve Boyden
MBNA
(302) 432-1480
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© 2000 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Apple Store, iMac and Power Mac are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.