Vancouver, March 21, 2006
Newly designed Credential Direct sets high standards with
low fees and comprehensive tools.

Vancouver, BC - March 21, 2006 - Credential Financial Inc. has launched a newly designed and integrated version of its online brokerage offering ― Credential Direct ― complete with a new look, easier navigation and a number of other significant enhancements.

Credential Direct remains strong in the many areas it has always excelled in ― such as trading and financial planning tools, competitive pricing and user-friendliness ― while adding real-time buying power and account performance among its many new features.

Real-time buying power helps investors maximize their trading opportunities by showing them the dollar amount available to purchase investments either on margin or within their cash account.

“We are one of a handful of online brokers that offer this important account tool, but at Credential Direct buying power updates intraday ― not just once a day,” says Lothar Fabian, Vice President, Credential Direct. “And even more importantly, buying power is available to ALL our traders not just large account holders ― and all at no charge.”

In addition, the ‘new look’ Credential Direct now reports monthly, quarterly and yearly rates of return for each account so investors can easily track performance and the success of their investing strategy.

Technical event analysis has been enhanced with the introduction of new technical event alerts and insights that reveal short, intermediate and long-term stock patterns and opportunities for investment.  

“It’s important to offer an online brokerage that appeals to both the active trader looking for timely market data, industry leading research and analysis, while still providing financial planning tools for the beginner trader ― all at the best price,” says Fabian. “Credential Direct does just that. We have a full complement of tools that appeals to all types of online investors.”

Credential Direct still maintains its consistently competitive pricing and its $250 cap on commissions for web-based market orders ― something no other online broker offers. 

ABOUT CREDENTIAL DIRECT - Established in October 2000, Credential Direct partners with credit unions to provide online brokerage services to their members.  Credential Direct is a division on Credential Securities Inc., the credit union system’s preferred full service brokerage.

ABOUT CREDENTIAL FINANCIAL- Credential Financial Inc. provides integrated wealth management solutions and services to the Canadian credit union system. By partnering with Credential, credit unions can offer their members access to a diverse range of investment and insurance products, as well as investment planning, advice and sound portfolio management. These solutions and services help community-based credit unions compete with larger financial institutions in the marketplace.