BIGFOOT INTERACTIVE SURVEY RESULTS REVEAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS AMONG FINANCIAL SERVICES EMAIL CONSUMERS

First In a Series of Vertical Market Research Examines Consumer Email Perceptions and Trends

NEW YORK – December 8, 2003 – Bigfoot Interactive, the leading provider of strategic, ROI-focused email communication solutions and marketing automation technologies, today announced the results of a nationwide poll of financial services email consumers. The Bigfoot Interactive OmniTel telephone survey, conducted by NOP World Research across adult users with home Internet access and a personal credit card, examines consumers' perceptions, interests and satisfaction of email communications from their credit card issuers.

Email Satisfaction Findings
The study's findings reflect the direct and positive impact of email communications on customer satisfaction, future purchase intent and the likelihood of recommending credit card issuers to others. Respondents who currently subscribe/receive email showed higher satisfaction rates (94%) than general respondents and displayed a higher likelihood to recommend and purchase additional products from their primary credit card issuer. Nearly eight in ten consumers who subscribe/receive email communications agreed that they are likely to recommend their credit card issuer to others, 78% vs. 69% of general credit cardholders. In addition, nearly four in ten (39%) of adults who currently subscribe/receive email communications agreed they were interested in purchasing additional products from their primary credit card company vs. 29% of general credit card respondents.

Finally, those that currently subscribe/receive email communications conveyed stronger overall satisfaction rates than general respondents when asked whether they agreed that their credit card company respects their privacy (89% vs. 81%) and preferences (85% vs. 77%).

Current Email Communications & Future Interests
Approximately four in ten adults (37%) who have Internet access at home and personally own a credit card indicated they currently receive one or more types of email from their primary credit card issuer. In addition, a quarter (25%) already subscribe/receive service messaging or billing alerts and nearly one in eight (12%), indicated an interest in receiving service messaging or billing alerts - more than any other messaging type -from their primary credit card issuer.

Online bill payment and presentment are expected to be the key drivers of service-oriented email messaging. Jupiter Research predicts the number of households viewing and paying bills online is increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 40%, rising to 68.7 million households in 2008 (Online Bill Viewing and Payment Forecast, 2003-2008, Jupiter Research, November 20, 2003).

Email Concerns
Top concerns among respondents were email fraud and non-receipt of critical communications like billing alerts (false positives). More than three quarters (77%) of respondents who currently subscribe/receive email from their primary credit card issuer agree that they are concerned about email fraud. In addition, four in ten consumers who currently subscribe/receive email also expressed concern about not receiving wanted email from their primary credit card issuer due to antispam filters/blocking set by their ISP/Email Service Providers.

Other highlights include:

• 38% of consumers who currently subscribe/receive email from their credit card issuers are unsure of how to complain to their ISP/Email Service provider if they do not receive a critical email communications from their primary credit card issuer.
• Nearly half of consumers (47%) who currently subscribe/receive email from their credit card issuer indicated they would consider switching their ISP/Email Service Provider if they do not receive critical communications from their primary credit card issuer due to a spam filtering/blocking mistake.

"These results further expose the value and importance of email communications beyond traditional metrics like open and click through rates for all financial service companies currently using or thinking about adding email to the marketing mix," said Al DiGuido, CEO of Bigfoot Interactive. "This study also shines a spotlight on the importance of service messaging and billing alerts for financial services organizations and the need for ISPs/Email Service Providers to ensure delivery of such highly-regarded and anticipated messaging."

According to the President's Commission On Postal Service Report (March 2003), bills, payments and financial statements currently constitute almost a quarter of total U.S. mail volume and close to half of First Class Mail revenues. The report also states that as much as 20% of all payment and presentment is expected to occur electronically rather than through the mail over the next eight years.

Continued DiGuido, "Financial service companies have an obligation to deliver billing alerts and service messaging to consumers in the mediums they prefer. Bigfoot Interactive continues to work with leading ISPs to build the email delivery solutions that financial companies need with the reliability and delivery assurance consumers expect."

For a complete summary of findings from the financial services survey, including the executive summary, please email Michael Della Penna at mpenna@bigfootinteractive. The survey is based on interviews conducted from October 24 - 26, 2003. The sample consists of 1,000 completed interviews, and all respondents were 18 years of age and older. The findings are based on 483 adults with Internet access at home and 282 adults who indicated they personally own a credit card.

About Bigfoot Interactive
Bigfoot Interactive (www.bigfootinteractive.com) is the leading provider of strategic, ROI-focused email communications solutions and marketing automation technologies. Through its combination of innovative technologies, professional services and vertical market expertise, Bigfoot Interactive helps marketers acquire, grow and retain profitable customer relationships through highly relevant and personalized email communications. The company's end-to-end suite of industry-specific products and services includes scalable email campaign technology, delivery optimization, marketing automation tools, turnkey integration solutions, strategic consulting, and creative expertise to produce email programs that generate measurable results throughout the customer lifecycle.

Since 1997, Bigfoot Interactive has developed successful permission-based email programs for more than 150 top companies, including Expedia, American Honda Motor Co. and The Washington Post/Newsweek Interactive.  Privately held and based in New York, the company's investors include JPMorgan Partners, Flatiron Partners, Hudson Ventures, Mitsui & Co., Grey Ventures, HPJ Media Ventures and Syndicat Technologies.

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