Increases in our signature loan contribution, or signature loan fees less bad debt and direct transaction expense, led the improvement with growth of 95% or $7.7 million.
Joe Rotunda, President and CEO, EZCORP

EZCORP announced net income increased to $9,168,000 ($0.64 per share) for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, up from $3,705,000 ($0.27 per share) for the 2005 fiscal fourth quarter. Total revenues for the quarter increased 19% to $87,355,000 compared to $73,183,000 for the prior year period.

The prior year results include an unfavorable impact of approximately $0.04 per share due to losses associated with hurricanes Katrina and Rita and expenses directly related to the Company's conversion of 181 Texas EZMONEY locations to a credit services organization.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Joe Rotunda, stated, "The fourth quarter was our seventeenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year earnings growth. Increases in our signature loan contribution, or signature loan fees less bad debt and direct transaction expense, led the improvement with growth of 95% or $7.7 million."

Rotunda continued, "We opened forty-six EZMONEY locations during the fourth quarter, making this fiscal year the third consecutive year of opening more than 100 stores."

Rotunda concluded, "In fiscal 2007, we plan to continue expansion of our store base by opening approximately 100 new EZMONEY stores and several additional Mexico locations."

On November 3, 2006, the Company's Board of Directors declared a three- for-one stock split of its two classes of common stock to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 27, 2006. Shares resulting from the stock split are expected to be distributed on or about December 11, 2006. All share and per share figures disclosed in this announcement are presented before the stock split.

EZCORP operates 334 payday loan locations.