Bank Extends Successful Down Payment Assistance Program for Second Year CHICAGO and TROY, Mich., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, LaSalle Bank has committed $1 million to help families purchase homes in low- to moderate-income areas. The $1 million is earmarked to help qualified borrowers in the bank's core markets by providing $3,000 per loan for down payment assistance and closing costs. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050211/DEF015LOGO ) "Our down payment assistance program has helped hundreds of families realize the dream of homeownership since we introduced it in June of 2005," said LaSalle Bank Group Senior Vice President Eric Burgoon. "The program was so successful that we have decided to extend it with another $1 million of bank funds. Coupled with our existing Community New Start Program, which offers more flexible underwriting guidelines than a conventional mortgage, the $1 million in down payment assistance will again open doors to homeownership." Through the LaSalle Bank Community New Start Program, the bank can offer more flexibility for mortgage loans than those underwritten with traditional scoring guidelines and will accept alternative forms of credit history, including cell phone bills, rent records, layaway plans, car insurance, and accounts with local merchants or other sources of credit. In certain circumstances, the bank will also look at non-traditional sources of income. In addition to the program's broad credit qualifications, the LaSalle Bank Community New Start Program offers a range of other key features, including: * Minimal down payment: Customers may qualify for low down payments. * Closing cost assistance: The program will offer up to $3,000 in closing cost assistance to qualified borrowers in low- to moderate-income lending areas. * Seller's contribution: A seller's contribution toward the purchase price may be used for closing cost requirements. * Choice of loans: Applicants can choose either, 1) a fixed-rate loan or 2) a loan fixed for the first five years followed by annual rate changes based on either the Treasury or LIBOR index. This program is available for both new construction and existing home purchases. LaSalle Bank's Community Home Lending Group, a team of specially trained lenders with considerable experience working in low- and moderate-income communities in the Detroit and Chicago areas, can provide more details about the LaSalle Bank Community New Start Program and the $1 million in down payment assistance. To reach LaSalle's Community Home Lending Group, call (312) 629-8700 or (800) HOME-800 in Chicago or (800) HOME-800 in Detroit. LaSalle Bank Corporation is headquartered in Chicago with $110 billion in assets. Primary subsidiaries include Michigan-based LaSalle Bank Midwest N.A. and Chicago-based LaSalle Bank N.A. LaSalle Bank Corporation is an indirect subsidiary of Netherlands-based ABN AMRO Bank N.V., one of the world's largest banks with total assets of EUR 855.7 billion with more than 3,000 locations in over 60 countries. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050211/DEF015LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: LaSalle Bank CONTACT: Andrea Lewis (IL), +1-312-904-8122, or Robert J. Darmanin (MI), +1-248-637-2521, both of LaSalle Bank Web site: http://www.lasallebankmidwest.com/

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