Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA – July 24, 2008 – Westlake Financial Services announces expansion into the North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana markets. With these three additions, Westlake will originate automotive loan contracts in a total of 34 states across the United States. Contracts will be accepted beginning August 1, 2008 from these new markets.

Vazquez continues by stating the new states will be “a perfect opportunity to showcase our improved Platinum and Preferred programs, in addition to our flagship Standard program, still considered to be among the deepest in the industry.”

Richard Damschen, Marketing Analytics and Business Strategy Manager, says Dealer enthusiasm for Westlake is strong in these markets. “We already have Dealers calling us to establish business relationships,” he says. “We look forward to providing North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana with Westlake’s industry-leading service.”

Westlake also announced the regionalization of its origination departments. Ian Anderson, Senior VP of Production and Business Strategy, explains, “We wanted to bring the personal aspect back to the Dealer experience. Even though we have local reps in the field, Dealers still contact our offices directly for certain issues, and we want that experience to be just as personal as their interaction with their local reps.”

Westlake’s origination departments consist of Marketing Operations, Sales, and Acquisitions. Each of these departments has been split into six teams, each servicing Westlake’s six U.S. regions (Pacific Northwest, West, Central, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and South East).

“When Dealers call our office, they will be speaking to a much smaller group of people on a consistent basis,” says Vazquez. “Dealers will get to know their Westlake team much better and it will feel much more like calling a local branch, rather than calling into a large corporate headquarters.”

“It all goes back to another Westlake goal of providing Dealers the best of both worlds,” Anderson concludes, “They get the personalized service of a smaller company, with the financial strength and stability of a large one.”

North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana will be part of Westlake’s “Central Region.” New Jersey is a future expansion state.

To learn more about Westlake Financial, including markets served and financing products available, visit www.westlakefinancial.com.

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