NEW YEAR KICKS-OFF ELITE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY

1^stWEST Secures Key Position as Sponsor with the New York Private Equity Network

Evergreen, Colorado - February 10, 2004 - 1^stWEST Financial Corporation is pleased to announce that it has become one of a select group of sponsors of the New York Private Equity Network ("NYPEN"). NYPEN is the definitive private equity education, leadership and networking organization in the New York City area. The organization provides unparalleled education and networking events to rising investing professionals in the private equity and venture capital industry.

"1^stWEST is a tremendous addition to the NYPEN team," commented Richard Relyea, President of NYPEN and an investment professional at Halyard Capital. "We have worked diligently to bring to NYPEN a core group of elite sponsors who are leaders in their respective fields and who are committed to the private equity industry. With the addition of 1^stWEST, we are very happy to be adding such a committed leader in the background investigations business."

Other NYPEN Sponsors include: Ernst & Young LLP, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Marsh Inc. and The Weiser Group.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to be involved with an organization that emphasizes education and professional development," said Jerry Oldham, Chairman of 1^stWEST. "With an active and growing member base representing over 300 firms in the New York City area, NYPEN is establishing itself as a central education and networking forum in the New York private equity community."

1^stWEST is a worldwide leader in providing financial background investigations, asset searches and fraud investigations for the corporate finance industry and other professionals in need of satisfying background due-diligence requirements on prospect companies, management teams and principals. 1^stWEST's premier product is a financial background investigation report, the Risk Profile Report. This Report is critical to the due-diligence process by assisting in assessing the possible contingent liability risk that might otherwise reside in an investment decision because of undisclosed financial or character issues of the prospect company, it's managers or owners.

"1^stWEST continues to commit time and resources to other leading and relevant organizations with an emphasis on education, including the Commercial Finance Association (CFA) and the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NASBIC)," stated Jerry Oldham. "These relationships have been a key ingredient to our continued growth and success in the corporate finance industry, and we look forward to further building our presence in the private equity world."

1^stWEST Financial Corporation
32186 Castle Court, Suite 220, Evergreen, CO 80439
T) 866.670.3443  F) 866.670.4531  E) 1stwest@1stwest.com