SAN DIEGO, CA, Feb 13, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Edgeware Analytics, Inc., an innovative provider of profitability tools for business lenders, has announced today that Newtek Small Business Finance, a unit of Newtek Business Services, Inc (NASDAQ: NEWT), is relying on the ScoreEdge(TM) small business loan decision model to improve origination speed and accuracy.

ScoreEdge(TM) is an online, real-time decision tool that provides greater insight into the risk of loan approvals. Edgeware Analytics developed the statistical model by analyzing hundreds of thousands of SBA and conventional loans. ScoreEdge(TM) examines the same application time data available to the loan officer and returns a three-digit score that helps predict the loan's future performance. Newtek deploys ScoreEdge(TM) early in the loan application process to expedite the most credit-worthy borrowers for rapid and accurate approvals.

"Newtek acquires the vast majority of its clients through its alliance partnerships with leading financial institutions including Merrill Lynch, AIG and Morgan Stanley, as well as trade associations such as The Credit Union National Association (CUNA), among others," said Peter Downs, president of Newtek Small Business Finance. "With Newtek's goal of becoming the company small- and medium-sized businesses choose for all of their business services needs, we continually strive to enhance the overall value we provide to these clients. As a result, we have chosen Edgeware's ScoreEdge(TM) to assist with our loan origination process. We expect this product will enhance our loan underwriting procedures by not only providing an additional layer of risk assessment to our loan origination decision-making process, but also will enable us to deliver loan origination decisions more quickly to our borrowers."

"Newtek Small Business Finance is one of the nation's leading small business lenders providing clients with a full suite of financing options including SBA-guaranteed loans," said Mike Rozman, president of Edgeware Analytics, Inc. "Newtek is a technologically savvy finance company with a highly successful alliance network, and we are proud that Newtek has selected and deployed ScoreEdge(TM) into their origination process."

About Edgeware Analytics, Inc.

Edgeware Analytics, Inc., an innovative provider of customized and generic profitability tools to lenders, combines expertise in statistical modeling and credit evaluation to create profit-enhancing predictive models and systems. Used by national lenders, certified development companies, credit unions and community banks; Edgeware's ScoreEdge(TM), ScoreEdge504(TM), RiskRate(TM) and Oscore(TM) products, work in conjunction with a lender's established underwriting procedures to measurably improve the accuracy of small business credit approvals. Edgeware's Small Business Loan Exchange(TM) is an on-line forum connecting small business lenders with deals not fitting their lending criteria to lenders seeking available deals. Additional information can be found at: www.EdgewareAnalytics.com.

About Newtek Business Services, Inc.

Newtek Business Services, Inc. is a direct distributor to the small-to medium-sized business market under the Newtek(TM) brand. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are over 26.8 million small businesses in the United States, which in total represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms, generate 60 to 80 percent of all new jobs annually and create more than 50 percent of non-farm private gross domestic GDP. Since 1999, Newtek has helped these business owners realize their potential by providing them with the essential tools needed to manage and grow their businesses. Newtek focuses on providing its over 84,000 business accounts with access to financial, management and technological resources that enable them to better grow and compete in today's marketplace.

--  Business Lending: Business loans to start up, acquire, or expand a
    business

--  Electronic Payment Processing: Credit card, debit card, check
    conversion, and ACH solutions

--  Insurance Services: Nationwide commercial and personal lines of
    insurance

--  Outsourced Digital Bookkeeping: Bookkeeping and recordkeeping at a
    fraction of the cost of in-house staff

--  Web Hosting: Full service web host including domain registration and
    online shopping cart tools

--  Web Design and Development: Customized web design and development
    services for a powerful web presence

--  Tax Preparation and Advisory Services: Expert tax planning and
    consultation for your business

--  Data Backup, Storage and Retrieval: Fast, secure, off-site data
    backup, storage and retrieval

--  Business Plan Preparation: Professional business plan assistance
    providing a roadmap for success

--  Payroll: Payroll management processing and employee tax filing

For more information, please visit www.newtekbusinessservices.com.

About Newtek Small Business Finance

Newtek's lending division is a full-service, non-bank business lender that is distinguished for its broad array of lending products and customer-friendly application process. Newtek originates loans ranging from $3,000 to $5 million to both startup and existing businesses nationwide. Newtek provides SBA-guaranteed small business loans, accounts receivable financing, commercial real estate financing, business lines of credit and business credit cards. Additional information can be found at: http://www.newtekbusinessservices.com/business_lending/.

Contacts:
Mike Rozman
President, Edgeware Analytics, Inc.
888-672-6730
Email Contact

or

Jayne L. Cavuoto
Newtek Business Services, Inc.
212-273-8193
Email Contact

SOURCE: Edgeware Analytics

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