GE Money's New Business Center Provides Complete Suite of Online Tools to Help Businesses Effectively Manage Credit Programs

The Business Center is a comprehensive suite of online tools that GE Money partners--retailers, dealers, service providers and contractors--can use to easily manage their credit programs and better serve their customers. It provides them with secure, one-stop access to all the sales, operational, marketing and training tools they need at the click of a button. GE Money's Sales Finance unit launched the new technology July 1.

"This market-leading capability essentially takes our back office and places it on the business' desktop, with real-time sales information, analysis and training tools they can't get anywhere else, to manage their promotional financing programs more productively and profitably," said Mark Hayes, chief marketing officer for GE Money - Sales Finance. "The Business Center has been in development for nearly a year, piloted across 200 programs, and tested and approved by our various Advisory Boards."

Whether businesses want to review the payment estimator with a customer, immediately process applications and sales online, view their daily sales results, drive more traffic through marketing, or strengthen and motivate their sales teams with additional training, they will be able to do it with a single log-in to GE Money's Business Center. The Business Center enables retailers to take full advantage of capabilities that support the four pillars of a successful business:

-- Sales: calculate expected monthly payments for the consumer with the Payment Estimator, apply for credit and process sales online, request a credit line increase - immediately, securely and without the need for a separate credit terminal.

-- Marketing: create custom promotional materials and use GE Money's proprietary Business Locator to promote their business to millions of consumers.

-- Operations: control the level of access for all users and track sales by customer and employee. Reduce waste and fully comply with lending regulations by easily accessing current applications and terms, as well as important program information and resources.

-- Training: provide sales training for their staff using industry-specific training modules that enable sales personnel to learn at their own pace, with lessons that include foundational sales principles, as well as technical instruction on consumer credit, compliance and ways to deliver a better customer experience.

The Business Center site is password protected and segmented into 15 industries, including automotive, consumer electronics and appliances, home furnishings, home improvement, jewelry, sporting goods, outdoor power equipment, and powersports, among others. The site gives the business owner complete freedom to choose when, where and how to utilize the tools.

According to GE Money, the Business Center represents a major shift in using web-based technology to enhance sales and marketing for brick-and-mortar businesses.

"Businesses have told us that they want a complete, online solution that puts all of our tools in one place, along with the control and flexibility they need. As a leader in consumer financing for more than 70 years, GE Money's investment in technology like the Business Center demonstrates our commitment to speed, simplicity and the success of our partners, now when they need support the most," said Hayes.

About GE Money

GE Money's Sales Finance unit, based in Kettering, Ohio, is a part of General Electric Company's GE Capital division, (NYSE: GE). GE Money provides credit card programs and financial services for consumers through dealers; national, regional and independent retailers; associations; contractors; manufacturers; healthcare practices; and service providers in nearly 20 industries including: automotive, consumer electronics and appliances, elective health care, floor covering, home design and improvement, home furnishings, jewelry, music, powersports, outdoor power equipment and sporting goods. More information can be found at www.gemoney.com .

GE (NYSE: GE | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. GE is Imagination at Work. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

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SOURCE: GE Money

At GE Money: 
Cristy Williams, 678-518-2596 
cristy.williams@ge.com